It was written to lead us to the Messiah!

For some very excellent and obvious reasons, the holy Scriptures were written to lead us to the Messiah. So when we think about the overall meaning and purpose or intent of the Bible (both the Old and the New Testaments), we must keep this foremost in our minds. For example:

The O.T. was written to prepare the Jews for the Messiah

The Old Testament, which contains 39 books, was written to be a temporary tutor, custodian, or schoolmaster to prepare, train, and lead those who used it to receive the Messiah, especially the Jews. For example,

“But before faith came [faith in Jesus as Christ], we [Jews] were kept in custody under the law [the O.T. Law of Moses], being shut up to the faith which was later to be revealed. Therefore the Law [of Moses] has become our tutor to lead us to Christ [the Messiah], so that we may be justified by faith. But now that faith has come [in Christ], we are no longer under a tutor [i.e. the O.T Law of Moses]” (Ga 3:23-25). “For Christ is the end of the law [the O.T. Law of Moses] for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Ro 10:4).

So for the sake of being right and at peace with God, faith in Messiah, not in the “tutor,” meaning Moses and his law, is what God now requires of His people.

Note: The word “Bible” literally means ‘the books’, it truly is a book of books, that is, sacred books.

The N.T. was written to prove that Jesus is the Messiah

One gospel account testifies to this in its conclusion, saying, “These have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name” (Jn 20:31). So whatever was written in this account was written to help convince people that Jesus is the Messiah, and how this has something to do with receiving eternal life.

Now consider some of the evidence in the New Testament which proves that Jesus is the Christ. In it we find both (a) eyewitness testimony and (b) prophetic proof that Jesus is the Messiah. For example, angels testified to shepherds, saying, “Today in the city of David [Bethlehem Lk 2:4] there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Lk 2:11).

John the Baptist, who was a great prophet (Lk 7:28), testified, saying, “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God” (Jn 1:34). God the Father testified, saying, “This is My beloved Son” (Mt 17:5). Andrew, an apostle of Christ, testified to his brother Peter, saying, “We have found the Messiah” (Jn 1:41). And Peter, another apostle, when asked by Jesus who He was, said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). There are many others in the New Testament who testified that Jesus is the Messiah.

Now the most important prophetic proof in the New Testament about Jesus is this: In His short human life, He fulfilled all of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. This would include all of the prophecies in the Law of Moses (e.g. De 18:15), the Prophets (Isa 53), and the Psalms (Ps 22:6-8, 11-18), especially the prophecies about His death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection from the dead.

Even Jesus said, “ ‘Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?’ Then beginning with [1] Moses and with [2] all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures” (Lk 24:26, 27). And, “All things which are written about Me in [1] the Law of Moses and [2] the Prophets and [3] the Psalms must be fulfilled” (Lk 24:44).

So, the New Testament confirms the fulfillment or the completion of the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah, especially that He would suffer death on a cross for our sins, but then rise from the dead. This is the good news. This is the gospel.

For example, Paul said, “Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you... by which you are also saved. That Christ died [D] for our sins according to the Scriptures [the O.T. prophecies], and that He was buried [B], and that He was raised [R] on the third day according to the Scriptures [the O.T. prophecies]” (1 Cor 15:1-4).

So the gospel is mainly all about the prophetic death, burial, and resurrection [the DBR] of the Messiah for our sins and what this should mean to us in regards to our salvation vs. condemnation.

What does Messiah mean?

1. The “Anointed One” (King)

In the Mosaic Age, the kings of Israel had oil poured on their heads to anoint them as kings, such as Saul, David, and Solomon (1 Sam 9:16; 15:1; 16:12, 13; 1 Ki 1:33, 34). But the Messiah was predicted to be different than these human kings. For example, He would be God’s Son, and for this reason He would be called, “Immanuel” (Is 7:14), which means ‘God with us’. His kingdom would extend from one generation to the next (Is 9:6, 7). He would have greater authority, not just over the Jews, but over all mankind (Is 49:6).

Incidentally, this was the charge against Jesus (Mt 27:37; Jn 19:18-22), and the reason why He was put to death--Messiah, the King--which Pilate had written on His cross in Hebrew [i.e. Messiah], Latin, and Greek [i.e. Christ]. He did not have oil poured on His head to anoint Him as a human king. Yet, the Father anointed Him with the oil of gladness (He 1:8, 9).

2. The Christ (Messiah)

When speaking of the same person, the Scriptures use both the word Messiah (Hebrew) and Christ (Greek). Some Bibles use these names interchangeably even within the same chapter, or they note Messiah means Christ, as in the NAS version of Mt 1:1, 18 and Jn 1:41; 4:25.

3. The Son of God (Deity)

The Scriptures equate the Messiah to the Son of God. Peter understood that Christ was God’s Son. He called Him: “the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Mt 16:16). Even Jesus’ enemy, Caiaphas, a Jewish high priest, equated the Christ to the Son of God. He asked Jesus, “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One [God]?” (Mk 14:61). It is understood and evident, then, that the Christ is God’s Son. This fits perfectly with what Isaiah had said, that the Ruler, the King, would be a son (Is 7:14; 9:6), God’s Son, and therefore, if God’s Son, then Deity. This is why the Jews wanted to stone Him. By claiming to be the Son of God, it is then understood that He claimed to be Deity (SEE Jn 10:20-33). The Son of God is God, but He is not God the Father. Obviously, He is God the Son.

4. The Son of Man (Human)

Specifically, He’s the son of David. For example, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David” (Mt 1:1). He became a human (Mt 22:42; Lk 18:31; He 2:5-9).

Conclusion

The Old Testament, especially Moses’ Law, was written to lead the Jews to the Messiah (Ga 3:23-25). The New Testament proves that Jesus is the Messiah (Jn 1:41). God wants all people everywhere to listen to Jesus Christ, so that they can be saved from their sins which they have committed against God and man. “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased, listen to Him” (Mt 17:5). Make no mistake; the Bible leads all mankind to Jesus Christ, both Jew and Gentile, young and old, male and female, sick and healthy, rich and poor... if they are willing. Are you willing to be led to the Messiah? Why was the Bible written?