“knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:20-21
One of the sure marks of a single, divine mind behind the Bible are the patterns and parallels that appear upon closer inspection of its text. For instance, Matthew and Luke tell us that Jesus came into the world in a virgin womb, which was protected by a man named Joseph (Matthew 2; Luke 2). All four Gospels tell us that at His death, Jesus was placed into a “virgin” tomb, protected by another Joseph (Matthew 27:57-59; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-53; John 19:38-42). Luke goes on to tell us that 40 days after Jesus exited the virgin’s womb at His birth, He was taken to the Temple in Jerusalem to be presented to the Lord (Luke 2:22-24). Likewise, forty days after Jesus exited the virgin tomb, He presented Himself in Heaven (Luke 24:50-51; Acts 1:1-11). The patterns and parallels extend beyond the borders of the New Testament of course. Original man Adam, for instance, was called the son of God (Luke 3:38). He was put to sleep and had his side opened that he might receive a bride (Genesis 2:20-23). Jesus, the Son of God by nature, slept the sleep of death on the cross (Matthew 27:50; Mark 15:37; Luke 23:46; John 19:33-34). A Roman spear opened His side that He might receive a bride, which is the church (Ephesians 5:25-32). In the days of Noah, the ark was mankind’s only salvation from worldwide judgment (Genesis 6-9). Today, Christ is mankind’s only salvation from a coming worldwide judgment (2 Peter 3:3-7). Noah’s ark was “baptized” in the flood waters. It was lifted up between heaven and earth as it provided salvation for its passengers (Genesis 7:17). Similarly, Jesus was lifted up between heaven and earth on the cross in order to provide salvation for the world (John 3:14-15; 12:32-33). A dove returned to the ark after its “baptism” (Genesis 8:8-10). After Christ’s baptism by John, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in bodily form like a dove (Luke 3:31-32). The parallels and patterns are seemingly endless, all of them pointing us toward the Lord Jesus (John 5:39). As you search the Scriptures today, may God Himself reveal many more portraits of His dear Son and our blessed Lord and Savior.
God bless you today, my dear church family,
Pastor John
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