Twelve years ago this month, I bought my first Bible. I didn’t buy it because I was looking to understand the Christian faith or anything like that. I bought it because I wanted to knowledgeably make fun of my friend, Adam. Instead, I found myself captivated by the Jesus I saw in its pages—a Jesus who taught with authority, who had power over demons and to forgive sins. A Jesus who made extraordinary claims about himself, even claiming to be God himself!
I was amazed at this Jesus, one I’d never truly heard of before. Ultimately, my desire to mock my friend’s beliefs were a part of God’s plan to bring me to saving faith in Jesus Christ. Twelve years later, when I study the New Testament, I still find myself amazed at all Jesus did to rescue humanity from sin and death. I’m even more in awe when I consider how this was God’s plan from the very beginning:
https://vimeo.com/197907995
Throughout the Old Testament, we see glimpses and shadows, pictures and promises, of God’s rescue plan. But at a moment no one expected, the shadow gave way to substance, and God’s only begotten son came into the world, born as a human being. A baby boy named Jesus; the Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world.
Rejoice in this good news, friends—and behold the Lamb, who was God’s plan from the very beginning.