Focus on the Locus of the Gospel: Exodus
Scripture: Exodus 3:1-12 Moses at the Burning Bush
Like my Bible, your Bible features an Old Testament and a New Testament. Which is more important to a disciple of Jesus Christ? When reading the Old Testament, does your mind wander? Do you question why a Christian should study the Old Testament?
Two more questions:
- When did Christianity begin?
- What has the Old Testament to do with Christianity?
Jews ordinarily think of the Old Testament as the Jewish Bible, the Torah. Christians ordinarily consider the New Testament as the Christian Bible, The Gospel.
One scholarly study counts 855 Old Testament verses quoted in the New Testament.
The Boy Jesus in the Temple — Luke 2:41-52
41 Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. 42 When He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. 43 When the days of the feast were complete, as they returned, the Child Jesus remained behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know of it. 44 But supposing Him to be in their company, they went a day’s journey. Then they searched for Him among their relatives and acquaintances. 45 When they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, searching for Him. 46 After three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. 47 All who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and His answers. 48 When they saw Him, they were amazed. And His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You dealt with us like this? Look, Your father and I have anxiously searched for You.”
49 He said to them, “How is it that you searched for Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” 50 But they [his parents] did not understand the word which He spoke to them.
Luke 2:41-50 MEV
Jews speak of the Torah and the Tanakh (alternate spelling: Tanach). The Torah is the first five books of the Old Testament: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The Tanakh is the whole Jewish Bible that includes the Torah. Our three-week study of Exodus is from the Torah.
In the above Scripture, Luke 2:41-50, 12-year-old Jesus was teaching the most learned men of Israel the Word of God. From which Bible was Jesus teaching the Temple elders?
A fourth question. What did God have in mind when he created mankind? God knew us before we were formed in our mothers’ wombs [Jeremiah 1:5]. Our spirits have two possible destinations when we die: Heaven or Hell.
Jewish believers generally mark the beginning of Judaism with the marriage of Abraham and Sarah [Genesis 18]. Christian believers generally mark the beginning of Christianity around 40 AD [Book of Acts, 30-62 AD].
Do keep in mind how Jesus only preached to Jews. All twelve apostles were Jews. Saul, a hater of Christians [Jewish converts], became the thirteenth, the last apostle around 34 AD and began his ministry to the Gentiles around 37 AD.
My Opinion
Judaism and Christianity are inseparable in the eyes of our Creator. As per Romans 11:11-31, Christians are grafted into the chosen people represented by the olive tree. From my studies of the Word of God, I believe Jewish and Gentile believers will constitute the Kingdom of God.
In Exodus 3:1-12, Moses had a personal encounter, a revelation of the Living God, Jehova, the great I AM.
In Matthew 16:15-20 [circa 29 AD], the Apostle Peter had a personal encounter, a revelation of the Living God. Peter [Greek Petros] means “a piece of rock” as per Strong’s Concordance, Greek 4074. The word rock [Greek Petra] means “a mass of rock” as per Greek 4073.
In Acts 9 [circa 34 AD], Saul had a personal encounter and revelation of the Living God, the beginning of his new life as the Apostle Paul.
In August 1974, John White had a personal encounter and revelation of the Living God. I began a new life, a phenomenal transformation. 49 years later, the transformation continues.
Revelation
What is a revelation? A good dictionary definition: God’s disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for mankind.
In contemporary vernacular, a revelation can be expressed as an Aha! moment. A sudden disclosure of important evidence.
In 1920, after years of research, Marie Curie discovered the element Radium. One story of her discovery related to how she and her assistant used evaporation dishes. There was initial disappointment when she viewed what appeared to be an empty dish. But, when the dish was seen in a darkened laboratory, there was a glow emanating from the dish. The glow was due to a minuscule of radium. The radium revealed itself as light.
Over our three-week study of Exodus in our Life Groups and Pastor Josh Howerton’s teachings, expect a personal revelation, an unshakeable understanding of the Kingdom of God and your role within it.
Summary
God’s big idea is his Kingdom. Have you discovered answers to the two questions asked at the beginning of his Bible study?
Your Invitation
Join us after the regular Saturday evening church service. Our Lanterns of Hope Life Group is located in Room W304 (see map below). All ages, married or single, are welcome.
To pre-register your children, click on this link: LP KIDS PRE-REGISTRATION
John N. White 