Before you jump to conclusions based upon the title, let me first explain my question. It seems relatively common for people to categorically summarize various truths pertaining to all aspects of life. Sweeping generalities are probably the most used figure of speech (irony yes). One such statement that I have heard is that the Bible is all about Jesus or all about the gospel. The question is whether this is an accurate statement.
My contention is that such a statement actually denigrates the Bible which can be so much more. While there are verses that state "these things are written that you may know you have eternal life," those phrases apply specifically to their immediate context and book. I don't believe that it is proper hermeneutics to apply that phrase to the entire Bible.
The option which I believe is far more fair is also more powerful. Since I am prone to ramble in my blog posts, I will seek to keep this relatively short. From the moment when God intervened and created time and existence for the world, He has moved and acted for a purpose. It is clear through Scripture that this purpose is for all of creation to glorify Him. For this reason, he shaped one feature of His creation with a choice.
Mankind, thus free to choose to obey, could offer a far greater glory to God than could nature. However, mankind chose to sin and with the subsequent curse brought destruction upon all of creation. Now, nature itself points glory to God and proves God. Yet nature, with no choice of its own, awaits a change in history in which it will be restored to a perfect state.
What is left is mankind. Since mankind was free and initiated the fall from perfection, any attempt to rectify the plight of mankind must be dramatic. It is this progress toward redemption that occupies a growing place in Scripture until the climax in the Gospels as Christ dies and rises. However, history continues on. And the Bible itself progresses through more instruction until it closes with Revelation. It is in the book that we see a restoration of nature and a re-establishment of a perfect relationship between God and man. The difference at the close of the Bible as opposed to the beginning is that at the end, the remnant of God's creation of choice will be forever evident in hell.
But it is the story of God's love and purpose for creation which occupies the totality of Scripture. The Bible answers the question of why we are here and where we are going. The Bible tells of the Holy Trinity and the decision to create and to love and to desire glory. And the Bible describes how God shapes history to bring about people who love and glorify Him. In it we see the creation and sustaining nature of God the Father. We see the humility and redemption of Christ the Son. We see the communication and power of the Holy Spirit.
The whole of Scripture tells us about God and His work and goal in creation. By reducing the Bible to all about Jesus lessens the true power of Scripture. Yet it is true that Jesus is seen in progressive revelation at many places in the Bible, but so is God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Don't begin to separate and highlight just one aspect. By so doing, you will little by little begin to feast on the parts of Scripture that make sense to what you are looking for. Instead, search all of Scripture and ask "What do I learn about God and His work on earth in this passage?" By so doing, you will open up every part of the Bible and see so many things. This is why my passion is to teach the Old Testament. It is because I want people to see how much we learn about a mighty God in every single page.
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