The New is in the Old concealed, the Old is in the New revealed - Mon 4 Dec

This is an adage which I heard a Bible teacher use some years ago. Allow me to explain: the old testament contains many hidden clues and references to what’s going to happen in the new testament; the new testament “blows the cover” of the old, and explains its relevance. Taken together we grasp the whole picture and gain perspective.

In other words, we can find God’s plan for the salvation of the world through the Messiah, in many, many places in the Old Testament. The clues are liberally scattered and those who seek still find. The whole series of books that makes up the Old Testament is proclaiming that Jesus is coming. On the other hand the story of Jesus in the New Testament makes a great deal more sense, and comes into sharp focus, once we begin to grasp the old. Many times Jesus quoted from the Old Testament. Many of his parables were drawn directly from there. He knew the book from back to front and he knew the central role he was playing. Boldly he proclaimed himself to be the fulfilment of scripture: Luke 4:16-21

This week I’m going to review four books from the Old Testament and will demonstrate just how close to the surface these links are. I hope and pray that you will be inspired to read and to dig for nuggets of gold and springs of water.
I will review Genesis, Ruth, Proverbs and Esther.

Finally for today, let me recommend an ideal present for a loved one or even for yourself: The Bible In One Year! Available in good bookshops, the Bible is broken down into sequential daily readings of both old and new testaments. With a commitment to read for 15-20 minutes a day, you will read from Genesis to Revelation in one year. No better way to get an overview!