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Readings: Genesis 1:1-8, 23-2:3; Hebrews 1:1-3; 11:3; 4:12-13; John 1:1-4, 14
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For so many people the Old Testament is a closed book. All they know of it are a few foggy, semi-mythical sounding stories from the days they sat in front of flannel graph in some basement Sunday School somewhere. The Old Testament for most is an oddment of strongman Samson, white bearded Moses, sword brandishing Joshua, maybe scaredy-cat Gideon, and the like. It’s a fun book. But it’s a confusing book. Even well meaning Christians will assert that it’s as though there are two different gods at work between the Old Testament and the New Testament. After all, the New Testament God is so loving and compassionate. Whereas this Old Testament God seems like a wrathful, smiting God.
Yet Christ our Lord said the Old Testament was about Him. It revealed Him. He was at its center! (John 5:39; Acts 10:43) Which begs the question: what was the Second Person of the Holy Trinity—the Son of God begotten from all eternity, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God—doing before He took on flesh in the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary? Well, dear friends, we are going to answer that this year. We are going to spend this Church year going through the historical accounts of the Old Testament, looking for Jesus, the Son of God in every historical account. And finding Him we will ask where is the Law of God and the Gospel of God in this narrative? For St. Paul tells us that these events occurred for our instruction. (1 Corinthians 10:11) So let’s learn!
In the name of the Father and of the +Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For so many people the Old Testament is a closed book. All they know of it are a few foggy, semi-mythical sounding stories from the days they sat in front of flannel graph in some basement Sunday School somewhere. The Old Testament for most is an oddment of strongman Samson, white bearded Moses, sword brandishing Joshua, maybe scaredy-cat Gideon, and the like. It’s a fun book. But it’s a confusing book. Even well meaning Christians will assert that it’s as though there are two different gods at work between the Old Testament and the New Testament. After all, the New Testament God is so loving and compassionate. Whereas this Old Testament God seems like a wrathful, smiting God.
Yet Christ our Lord said the Old Testament was about Him. It revealed Him. He was at its center! (John 5:39; Acts 10:43) Which begs the question: what was the Second Person of the Holy Trinity—the Son of God begotten from all eternity, God of God, Light of Light, very God of very God—doing before He took on flesh in the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary? Well, dear friends, we are going to answer that this year. We are going to spend this Church year going through the historical accounts of the Old Testament, looking for Jesus, the Son of God in every historical account. And finding Him we will ask where is the Law of God and the Gospel of God in this narrative? For St. Paul tells us that these events occurred for our instruction. (1 Corinthians 10:11) So let’s learn!
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