How does John 1:45 encourage us to study both Old and New Testaments? John 1:45 – The Bridge Verse “Philip found Nathanael and told him, ‘We have found the One Moses wrote about in the Law, the One the prophets foretold—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.’” (John 1:45) • One sentence links Moses, the prophets, and Jesus. • Philip treats the Old Testament as a unified, reliable witness pointing straight to Christ. • The discovery of Jesus is announced in language drawn from both the Law and the Prophets, pulling the entire canon into view. Seeing Jesus on Every Page • The Law (Genesis–Deuteronomy) foretells Him—Genesis 3:15; Deuteronomy 18:15. • The Prophets echo Him—Isaiah 53; Micah 5:2. • The Psalms sing of Him—Psalm 22; Psalm 110. • John 1:45 sums this up: the Scriptures already had Jesus in them; Philip simply recognized the fact. New Testament Confirmation • Luke 24:27: “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was written in all the Scriptures about Himself.” • Luke 24:44–45: “Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms… Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” • Acts 3:18: “But in this way God has fulfilled what He foretold through all the prophets, saying that His Christ would suffer.” • 2 Timothy 3:15–16: “From infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed…” These verses echo John 1:45, showing the apostles read the Old Testament as an inspired roadmap to Jesus, while writing the New Testament as its Spirit-breathed fulfillment and explanation. Why We Need Both Testaments • Continuity: The Old Testament plants the promises; the New Testament records their fulfillment. • Clarity: The New Testament quotes and interprets the Old, guarding us from misreading it. • Certainty: Prophecies kept over centuries verify the reliability of God’s word. • Completeness: Doctrines such as creation, sin, atonement, covenant, and kingdom unfurl across both halves of the Bible. Practical Steps for Integrated Study 1. When reading the Gospels, trace the footnotes back to the Old Testament passages cited. 2. When in the Old Testament, watch for types and prophecies—people, events, and symbols that foreshadow Christ. 3. Keep a running list of “promise–fulfillment” pairs (e.g., Isaiah 7:14 / Matthew 1:23). 4. Use whole-Bible reading plans that alternate between Testaments, letting each illuminate the other. 5. Memorize key bridge verses—John 1:45, Luke 24:27, 2 Timothy 3:15—to anchor your confidence that every inspired page leads to Jesus. John 1:45 invites us to open Genesis and Revelation alike with expectation: the same Christ is speaking throughout, and His voice is clear from the first verse to the last. |
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