The Bible has a single message: Christ. There are 66 books, each written by different authors and for different reasons. But think about it. Genesis talks about creation and the fall, and then immediately in chapter 3, we see the first prediction of the solution for the fall (see v. 15). It’s the first messianic prophecy.
Then you go through the Old Testament. You find the prophets announcing a deliverer who would come from the tribe of Judah, from the house of David, who will rule over the earth.
Next you come to the New Testament. You have four stories presenting Christ, the Gospels, followed by the book of Acts, which tells you about the followers of Christ who develop communities in different parts of the world.
Then there are the epistles written by Paul, John, and Peter, which talk about the practices and doctrines of the church, and how believers are to act. Then you have Revelation, which reveals that Jesus is coming back to fulfill all of those prophecies, coming to rule and reign. It’s all about Him.
The Bible, at its irreducible minimum, is about one person and two events: Jesus Christ and His first and second comings. His first coming dealt with the issue of sin; He’ll return to rule and reign with those who have been cleansed from their sin.
After Jesus rose from the dead, He met two forlorn, discouraged disciples on the road to Emmaus from Jerusalem. He was walking with them, but they didn’t know it was Him (see Luke 24:13-35).
“And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself” (v. 27). And afterwards, they said, “Did not our heart burn within us while He talked with us on the road, and while He opened the Scriptures to us?” (v. 32). As Jesus revealed Himself in Scripture, and they saw how each point connects to the next, it all made sense. Their hearts burned.
Don’t you wish you could have heard that teaching—about the centrality of Christ, from the One who is the center of it all?
When Jesus said, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you” (Matthew 6:33), the Center of Scripture was pointing to the central truth of a fulfilling life.
Listen. Happiness is never found by direct pursuit.
The more you do as you please, the less you’ll be pleased with what you do. If you really want pleasure and joy, don’t seek pleasure and joy.
Seek after God, and all these things will be added to you. It’s not by direct pursuit. It’s by pursuing God.
