VERSE:
(Jesus) told them, “this is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.”
— Luke 24:46-47

THOUGHT:
When Jesus said this, the only scripture that was written was the Old Testament. Sure the Old Testament is full of great stories, amazing feats, wonderful wisdom and beautiful poetry; but we need to understand the purpose of all of them. Whenever we read the bible, whether it is the Old or the New Testament, we are reading about the person and work of Jesus Christ. We should be able to preach Christ from any book of the bible. The entire message of the Old Testament was about God’s holiness, man’s sinfulness, our need for a savior, and God’s plan of redemption. The New Testament is the fulfillment in the person of Jesus Christ.

APPLICATION:
When you read from the Old Testament, understand that you are reading about the person and work of Jesus Christ. Pray to God that He would give you “eyes to see and ears to hear” the message of Christ no matter where you are reading in the bible.

PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for the wonderful gospel. I thank you for taking my sins, and washing me clean. I thank you for giving me the written testimony of your passion and love in your holy scriptures, and I ask that you open my understanding so that I can see Christ’s glorious work everywhere I read in your word. In Jesus’ Name I pray, AMEN!