Jesus is…

I loved “writing” words in the air with sparklers as a little kid.  I didn’t know it was possible to actually capture the words with a camera until I saw the DiscipleMakers Interns put their sparkler skills to work.

Jesus is the Light!  Amazing how sparklers can be used to hammer home a lesson God has been teaching me: It is all about Jesus.  What is?  Everything!  This life is not primarily about us – it is all about Jesus.  The Bible isn’t primarily about us and what we should do.  It is about Jesus, and what He has done.

After Jesus’ resurrection, he took a stroll with a couple disciples on the way to Emmaus.  Luke records  the discussion in 24:27, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”   One of my first questions when I get to heaven is to ask Jesus exactly what he said on that walk.

On one of my bike rides to campus I was Listening to a sermon by Tim Keller.  He gave me a little insight into what Jesus might have explained as he quoted from an obscure leaflet Sinclair Ferguson had written…

Jesus is the true and better Adam who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is imputed to us.

Jesus is the true and better Abel who, though innocently slain, has blood now that cries out, not for our condemnation, but for acquittal.

Jesus is the true and better Abraham who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar and go out into the void not knowing wither he went to create a new people of God.

Jesus is the true and better Isaac who was not just offered up by his father on the mount but was truly sacrificed for us. And when God said to Abraham, “Now I know you love me because you did not withhold your son, your only son whom you love from me,” now we can look at God taking his son up the mountain and sacrificing him and say, “Now we know that you love us because you did not withhold your son, your only son, whom you love from us.”

Jesus is the true and better Jacob who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved, so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace to wake us up and discipline us.

Jesus is the true and better Joseph who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him and uses his new power to save them.

Jesus is the true and better Moses who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord and who mediates a new covenant.

Jesus is the true and better Rock of Moses who, struck with the rod of God’s justice, now gives us water in the desert.

Jesus is the true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer, who then intercedes for and saves his stupid friends.

Jesus is the true and better David whose victory becomes his people’s victory, though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

Jesus is the true and better Esther who didn’t just risk leaving an earthly palace but lost the ultimate and heavenly one, who didn’t just risk his life, but gave his life to save his people.

Jesus is the true and better Jonah who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

Jesus is the real Rock of Moses, the real Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless, slain so the angel of death will pass over us. He’s the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest, the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light, the true bread.

A twitter post by Tullian Tchividjian captures the essence of what we all must learn: “Though we are loved, we aren’t the point!”  For me, as I go through each day, joy comes when it is all about Him and I simply bask in His light.

When looking for the transcript of the sermon, I found a Youtube video some made with it…