The Bible isn’t just a collection of individual stories. It is the story of God’s dealings with humanity. It is the one story that makes sense of all our stories and of all human history. And at every stop in this story God reveals things to us about Jesus and ourselves.
It can be very difficult to reduce the whole of Scripture down to the main developments in this one overarching story, but I did just that in a sermon this past Sunday and I thought it might be helpful to reproduce it for you here. I pray this helps you understand how all the individual stories from Scripture fit into the Big Story and why all these stories matter.
1. Creation & Fall
After Adam and Eve fell into sin, God gave them the first hint of the gospel promising them that one of Eve's descendants would crush that serpent the Devil.
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus was God’s Great Rescue Plan from the very beginning.
- What it reveals about us: We’re sinners just like Adam & Eve. We rebel, God pursues.
2. God chooses His People (Abraham)
Galatians 3:7-9 tells us that this promise to Abraham was fulfilled in Jesus.The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you...and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” (Genesis 12:1-3)
Understand, then, that those who have faith [in Jesus] are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. (Galatians 3:7-9)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus is A Blessing for All Nations.
- What it reveals about us: Like Abraham, God wants us to step out of our comfort zones and follow Him on an adventure to bless all peoples with the gospel.
3. God Redeems His People (Moses)
Moses promised that God would raise up another prophet like him for God's people.
The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him... I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their fellow Israelites, and I will put my words in his mouth. He will tell them everything I command him. I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name. (Deuteronomy 18:15, 18-19)
Acts 3:22 tells us that this prophet was Jesus.
...that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you—even Jesus... For Moses said, ‘The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. (Acts 3:20 & 22)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus is God’s Great Redeemer. In the same way that Moses redeemed God's people from slavery to Egypt and led them into the Promised Land, Jesus redeems God's people from slavery to sin and leads us into Heaven.
- What it reveals about us: God sets us free from sin to serve Him. Sin has no power over us.
4. God Chooses His King (David)
God promises David that one of his descendants will be like a son to God and will reign forever.
"When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom...I will be his father, and he will be my son...Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever." (2 Samuel 7:12, 14, 16)
In Luke 1:31-33, the angel Gabriel tells Mary that this forever king, this son of David will be her son, Jesus.
"You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:31-33)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus is God’s Forever King.
- What it reveals about us: God wants us to bow the knee in obedience to King Jesus.
While in captivity in Babylon, Daniel had a vision of a human with divine like attributes who would reign forever in Heaven and be worshiped by all peoples.
"In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14)
In Mark 14:62 Jesus quotes this passage and says that He is Daniel's son of man.
“I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” (Mark 14:62)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus is Daniel’s “Son of Man.”
- What it reveals about us: Jesus was the ideal man. God wants us to live like He lived.
6. Redemption
And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.” Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. (Luke 9:22-24)
- What it reveals about Jesus: Jesus is a Suffering Savior.
- What it reveals about us: God wants us to take up our crosses and share in Jesus' suffering. Whoever shares in His suffering will also share in His glory.
7. The Very Good Ending
In the end, the Big Story of Scripture comes full circle. It ends in a place very similar to where it began. God's people will be back in God's presence dwelling in God's place, a garden-like paradise called Heaven, and enjoying perfect relationship with Him forever. Only this time, sin will not intrude.
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