The Bible isn't about you

Using a clip from Tim Keller’s talk at the 2007 TGC conference, Heath McPherson created using the art of Gustave Doré (and others):

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing Him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes His people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk His life, but gave His life to save His people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

The Bible’s really not about you—it’s about Him.

HT: Justin Taylor

The Tree

In God's mind (mens dei) there is an eternally preestablished relationship between the word (verbum) "tree" (lignum) in Exodus 15:25 and a real "tree" (res) that is understood to be a sign (signum) pointing to the cross (Vulgate: in ligno) in Acts 5:30. When, in Exodus 15:25, the Lord pointed (wayyorehu) Moses to the tree (lignum) that would make the water sweet, He was pointing to a real thing (res) that itself, as a thing (res), pointed to the cross (res). That cross (res), according to Augustine, points to the "sweetness" of salvation and eternal life.

John H. Sailhamer
The Meaning of the Pentateuch
Revelation, Composition and Interpretation
pg 79

Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Something worth preaching

“The motto of all true servants of God must be, ‘We preach Christ; and Him crucified.’ A sermon without Christ in it is like a loaf of bread without any flour in it. No Christ in your sermon, sir? Then go home, and never preach again until you have something worth preaching.”
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
1876

Isaiah 54:10

An Excerpt From An Encouraging Email From An Encouraging Friend

....Your insight into IC and the feast at Cana warmed me greatly tonight. XC has truly revealed to us truth and grace. A splendid comparison with Moses, worthy of the Theologian himself. You are a Cappadocian at heart, but much more Christ-like, Greg of Nazianzus was a total Jerk.

Blessings of the Thrice Holy Trinity upon you my dear friend.

SA


(Shane has his own blog here. It's definitely worth subscribing to.)