All Patterns Converge on Christ

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1-2). He became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). In Him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily (Col 2:9).

Because He is the eternal Word, God did not add Him later. He was foreknown before the foundation of the world (1 Pet 1:20). God completes the story of Scripture in Him (Luke 24:27, 44-45). Therefore, every promise, every pattern, every covenant finds its end in Him.

God promised the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent's head (Gen 3:15). Jesus is that seed, born of a woman, under the law (Gal 4:4). Therefore, He disarmed the rulers and authorities and triumphed over them (Col 2:15).

Adam was the first man and the head of the human race (1 Cor 15:45). Through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners (Rom 5:19). Yet Jesus is the last Adam (1 Cor 15:45). Through one man's obedience the many will be made righteous (Rom 5:19). Where Adam failed in the garden, Jesus succeeded in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-11; Rom 5:12-19).

God promised Abraham that in him all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:3). God promised further that in Abraham's seed all nations would be blessed (Gen 22:18). Jesus is that seed of Abraham (Gal 3:16). The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed, which is Christ (Gal 3:16).

God called Israel His son (Ex 4:22). God brought Israel out of Egypt (Ex 12:51). God led Israel into the wilderness and tested them there (Ex 16:1; Deut 8:2). Israel did not remain faithful (Ps 78:37; Heb 3:16-19). Likewise, God brought Jesus out of Egypt (Matt 2:15). Jesus entered the wilderness (Matt 4:1). The tempter tested Jesus in the wilderness (Matt 4:1-3). Yet Jesus obeyed where Israel failed (Matt 4:4, 7, 10). He answered the tempter with words from Deuteronomy (Matt 4:4, 7, 10; Deut 8:3, 6:13, 6:16). Therefore, Jesus completes the story of Israel (Matt 2:15; Rom 15:8).

God raised up Moses as prophet and mediator (Deut 18:15-18). Moses said the Lord would raise up a prophet like him from among the brothers (Deut 18:15). Jesus is that prophet (Acts 3:22-23). The people saw the sign and named Him the Prophet who is to come into the world (John 6:14).

God established the priesthood under Aaron (Ex 28:1; Lev 8). Those priests offered gifts and sacrifices that could not perfect the conscience (Heb 9:9; 10:1-4). Yet Jesus is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek (Ps 110:4; Heb 7:17). He offered Himself once for all (Heb 7:27; 9:12). Therefore, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb 1:3; 10:12).

God promised David a seed whose throne would be established forever (2 Sam 7:12-16). Jesus is the son of David (Matt 1:1). The Lord said to His Lord, Sit at My right hand (Ps 110:1). Jesus is that Lord, and God has made Him both Lord and Christ (Acts 2:34-36).

God established the Old Covenant with blood (Ex 24:8). God gave blood on the altar for atonement (Lev 17:11). Yet the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sins (Heb 10:4). Jesus declares His own blood is the blood of the New Covenant (Matt 26:28). God forgives sins through that blood (Matt 26:28; Heb 9:22). Therefore, Jesus completes the covenant and the sacrifice (Heb 9:11-12; 10:1-10).

God commanded the Passover lamb without blemish (Ex 12:5). Its blood was applied so that death would pass over (Ex 12:13). Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world (John 1:29). Christ our Passover has been sacrificed (1 Cor 5:7).

God commanded the Day of Atonement, when the high priest entered once a year with blood (Lev 16:34). Jesus entered the holy place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption (Heb 9:12). He is the propitiation for our sins (Rom 3:25; 1 John 2:2).

God gave the manna in the wilderness (Ex 16:15). Jesus is the true bread from heaven (John 6:32). Whoever eats of this bread will live forever (John 6:51). God gave water from the rock (Ex 17:6). Jesus is the spiritual rock that followed them (1 Cor 10:4). God lifted up the bronze serpent so that those who looked would live (Num 21:8-9). Likewise, the Son of Man must be lifted up so that whoever believes in Him may have eternal life (John 3:14-15).

God dwelt in the tabernacle and the temple (Ex 40:34; 1 Kgs 8:10-11). Jesus is the true temple (John 2:19-21). In Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Col 1:19).

God created all things through Him (John 1:3; Col 1:16). God created all things for Him (Col 1:16). He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together (Col 1:17). Therefore, the Creator enters His own creation (John 1:14). The One who gives life to all gives His own life (John 10:11, 18). Humanity rebelled against Him (Rom 5:10; Col 1:21). Yet He provides the means of reconciliation (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18). God reconciles all things to Himself through the blood of His cross (Col 1:20).

The Servant of the Lord was pierced for our transgressions (Isa 53:5). The Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all (Isa 53:6). He was cut off from the land of the living (Isa 53:8). Jesus is that Servant (Matt 8:17; Acts 8:32-35).

He does not only point to the fulfillment of God's purposes. God completes those purposes in Him (Eph 1:10). He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that He Himself will come to have first place in everything (Col 1:18). God puts Him at the center of redemption (Col 1:17-18; Eph 1:10).

Therefore, read the Scriptures (John 5:39). See how the promises converge on Him (Luke 24:27; 2 Cor 1:20). See how the covenants converge on Him (Luke 24:27; Heb 8:6-13). See how the patterns converge on Him (Heb 10:1). See how the law, the prophets, and the Psalms speak of Him (Luke 24:44).

Jesus Christ is Lord (Rom 10:9; Phil 2:11). Therefore, repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). Whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Yet whoever does not believe stands condemned already, and the wrath of God remains on him (John 3:18, 36). This is the testimony, that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son (1 John 5:11).