WHERE IS JESUS IN SCRIPTURE?

For January 5:

WHERE IS JESUS IN SCRIPTURE?   

(THE Story)   

So, let’s begin with Scripture.  When Episcopalians read and hear and pray Holy Scriptures,  we see not just a library of holy books, we hear a whole story, spoken, written,  preserved and shared for a PURPOSE (We will explore what Holy Scripture is “for” next week.)  That HOLY PURPOSE is that we KNOW God, not just KNOW ABOUT God.  All of Scripture affirms that God CAN be known. When Christians ask: “Where is Jesus in the Bible?’  we are saying that the whole Bible, Old and New Testaments, does not just point to its own story or stories ABOUT God. The whole Bible points us to the STORY OF JESUS, present in  Creation,  Israel’s history,  Incarnation, Resurrection,  Church History and Salvation History. All the way from “In the Beginning” in Genesis to  Revelation’s final blessing, “Come Lord Jesus.”  That’s what makes “Where is  Jesus?’ one of the foundational questions of our biblical faith.  So let’s survey the biblical landscape, to see the foundational questions  Christians have asked for 2000 years. The questions MATTER only if they matter to us and to our faith today.

Watch “Beyond Belief” clip by Diana Butler Bass, 
Episcopal author and historian

               

Here are the questions we Christians and we Episcopalians have asked. (Note some links for further study and reflection are added.)

“Where is Jesus in  Holy  Scripture?”

 

 Watch Video Discussion

In the Old Testament?

• Before  Creation?   Gospel of John, 1:1-5

• In  Creation?    Colossians 1: 15-20

• In  the story of Israel?

• In  the Prophets’ words?  Hebrews 1:1-2

             

In the New Testament?

•   In the Incarnation?  Philippians 2:5-7; Galatians 4:4-5 ;  

  Romans 1:1-4

         

•   In His early life?  Luke 2:22–40; Matthew 2:19-23; Luke 2:42-51

             

•    In  His earthly ministry?  See the geography of Jesus in His earthly ministry:

                               

•    After His Resurrection?

               

•    After  the Ascension?   Acts1:11

                These two messengers said: "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven."  If you want to know when you can follow Him, His Spirit will come to say, “It is here. It is now,” …but you have to keep moving, not upward but inward and then outward in His Way.   
                                                           –From an Ascension sermon by Fr. Stephen

            Extra Credit on Ascension:  

COMMENTS (below):   Which of the scriptures or comments on Jesus (above)  speaks most powerfully to your own faith and experience of Christ? Why?

(Click on comments link below.)


Click for Other Postings:
Episcopal 101 Homepage
Where is Jesus? Introduction
Where is Jesus in Church History?
Where is Jesus in the 21st Century?
Where is Jesus in Your Life? 
Questions People Ask About Jesus