JESUS IN EVERY BOOK OF THE BIBLE

The Lord Jesus Christ is the heart of Scripture. In His challenge to the religious elite of His time, Jesus said something most appropriate for our day. "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and THEY ARE THEY WHICH TESTIFY OF ME" (John 5:39).

Remove Jesus, and the Bible loses its vitality. That is the meaning of the angel's admonition to John the Apostle, when he fell down before the holy angel in awe. "See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! FOR THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS IS THE SPIRIT OF PROPHECY" (Rev 19:10).

Christ Jesus is to scripture what the spirit is to the body. Once this is perceived the Word of God comes alive to the reader.

Jesus is the SEED OF WOMAN in Genesis, the LAWGIVER in Exodus, and the LAMB in Leviticus. He is the WATER and MANNA in Numbers, the PROPHET in Deuteronomy, and the CAPTAIN OF THE LORD'S HOST in Joshua. In Judges He is the JUDGE, in Ruth the KINSMAN REDEEMER, and in 1st Samuel HIS ANOINTED.

See Him as the KING WITH A HOUSE in 2nd Samuel, the KING THAT BLESSES in 1st Kings, and the ONE DWELLING BETWEEN THE CHERUBIM in 2nd Kings. The Son of God is the MAN OF REST in 1st Chronicles, the CLEANSER OF THE TEMPLE in 2nd Chronicles, and the SCRIBE in Ezra.

He is the BUILDER of Nehemiah, the ONE BRINGING DELIVERANCE in Esther, and the DAYSMAN of Job. In Psalms He is the STONE THAT THE BUILDERS REJECTED, in proverbs He is WISDOM, and in Ecclesiastes THE PREACHER. He is the BELOVED, CHIEF OF TEN THOUSAND, AND THE ROSE OF SHARON in the Song of Solomon.

Isaiah introduces Him as a COVERT, EMANUEL, SON, and SERVANT. Jeremiah speaks of Him as THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS, and declares Him as MY PORTION in Lamentations. In Ezekiel, He is THE PLANT OF REKNOWN, in Daniel THE ANCIENT OF DAYS, and in Hosea MY SON. Joel sets Him forth as THE LORD, Amos as the TABERNACLE OF DAVID, and Obadiah as THE SAVIOR.

In Jonah, Jesus becomes THE SIGN, in Micah the ONE WHOSE GOINGS FORTH ARE FROM EVERLASTING, and in Nahum THE STRONGHOLD. Habakkuk portrays Him as the HOLY ONE, Zephaniah as the ONE WHO TURNS CAPTIVITY, and Haggai as THE DESIRE OF ALL NATIONS. In Zechariah He is the FOUNTAIN OPENED FOR SIN AND UNCLEANNESS, and in Malachi THE SUN OF RIGHTEOUSNESS, RISEN WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS.

Matthew presents Him as THE CHRIST and KING, Mark as THE HOLY ONE OF GOD, and Luke as THE CHOSEN OF GOD. In John He is THE WORD and THE SON OF GOD, in Acts a PRINCE and A SAVIOR, and in Romans the PROPITIATION. 1st Corinthians presents Him as the PASSOVER, 2nd Corinthians as God's UNSPEAKABLE GIFT, and Galatians as THE SEED OF ABRAHAM.

In Ephesians our Savior is seen as THE HEAD OF THE CHURCH, WHICH IS HIS BODY, in Philippians HE WHO HUMBLED HIMSELF, and in Colossians, GOD'S DEAR SON. See Him in 1st Thessalonians as THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, in 2nd Thessalonians as THE COMING LORD, and in 1st Timothy as GOD MANIFEST IN THE FLESH. In 2nd Timothy He is the RIGHTEOUS JUDGE, in Titus THE GREAT GOD AND OUR SAVIOR, and in Philemon THE GIVER OF GRACE.

See Him as the MEDIATOR, TESTATOR, and INTERCESSOR in Hebrews, as THE LORD OF GLORY in James, and as the CHIEF SHEPHERD in 1st Peter. In 2nd Peter He is the DAY STAR, in 1st John our ADVOCATE and ETERNAL LIFE, and in 2nd John the SON OF THE FATHER. In 3rd John our Lord is THE TRUTH, in Jude He THAT IS ABLE TO KEEP YOU FROM FALLING, and in Revelation THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!

Yes, Jesus is all in all. In Him and Him alone "dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily" (Col 1:19; 2:9). What the world needs is not a position, but a PHYSICIAN, not a doctrine but a DELIVERER, not a movement but a MOVER, not a sect but a SAVIOR, not as routine but RIGHTEOUSNESS, not a dead letter but a LIVING HOPE.

If you want to put some life into your church, let Jesus into it! He is seen in Revelation standing on the outside of His own church pleading for someone to open up to Him (Rev 3:14). God knows He is the center of things. The Holy Spirit knows He is the Head over everything, and that Scripture pulsates with introductions to Him.

All of the holy angels know it also. It is the human race that is woefully deficient in this area. It has settled for lesser things, and thus forfeited the only Way to God. The professed church must become more Christ-centered. It must shine the light upon Him, for that is where God the Father has placed the emphasis.

Bantering about words, levels of authority, and other secondary matters must not be given the chief theological seat! If God has enthroned Jesus--and He surely has--woe to the person, group, or movement that elevates the church, issues, position, or even study to the place reserved for Jesus.

Lift Him up! Proclaim His Person and accomplishments! GIVE HIM THE GLORY DUE HIS HOLY NAME! It is before Him that you will ultimately bow the knee, and it is His Name that you will ultimately confess to the glory of God. Start to do it now, and you will receive due credit for it!