Jesus is the central theme and focus of all Scripture

Resurrection Sunday found two unnamed, sorrowing disciples walking the seven miles from Jerusalem to Emmaus. As they recounted the tragic events of the last few days, an unrecognized Traveler (the Risen Christ) joined them.¹ But the two disciples did not recognize Him.² Jesus picked up on their conversation, “And He said to them, ‘What are these words that you are exchanging with one another as you are walking?’”³ And they stood still, looking sad. Then they told this Traveler about Jesus of Nazareth. They said that He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed.⁴ We now come to the focus of this study.

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.⁵

This text is the first exegetical gospel sermon after the resurrection. A careful study of this verse reveals an amazing fact. In this verse the Risen Christ proclaims that all the prophets spoke concerning Him! But note carefully how Jesus communicated this truth. “And beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.” Here we have the Risen Lord, Himself, who could have given those two sorrowing disciples a full revelation of who He was and is in direct face to face communication.

But he chose not to do this. Rather, He directed them to the Scriptures, and He made His point by explaining the Scriptures to them. He wanted their faith in Him as the Messiah and fulfillment of the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms not to be based on some supernatural encounter with God or someone’s prophetic utterance. Rather, he directed them to the Scriptures, the Word of God. By doing this Jesus not only gives us much insight as to the use and purpose of Scripture, but He also outlines a method of witness: proclaim the truth of Scripture from Scripture.

Some have missed the above truth by emphasizing the study of Scripture over the purpose of Scripture which is to lead us into relationship with the Lord of Scripture. The Jews of Christ’s day were well-versed in the Scriptures and saw the study of Scripture itself to be a discipline of great merit. To this one-sided practice, Jesus said,

“You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.⁶

That Jesus is the central theme and truth of all Scripture cannot be overemphasized.

—Dale Ratzlaff (1936–2024, Pastor and Founder, Life Assurance Ministries).