Open My Eyes, Lord, and Let Me See Jesus

Jesus is the main character of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. Moses, Abraham, Elijah, Peter, John, and Paul all have their place, but the whole book points to Christ. Like a compass that always points north, the Old Testament keeps pointing to Jesus and his redemptive work. Redemption was not an afterthought. The Lamb was in God’s plan before the world was formed.

The Old and New Testaments belong together. The New is in the Old concealed, and the Old is in the New revealed. Neglecting the Old Testament means neglecting much of the God-breathed Scriptures and missing the background that makes Christ’s sacrifice clear. God’s dealings under the covenants differ, but his character has not changed. His faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah gives believers confidence that Jesus will come again.

Prophecies, pre-incarnate appearances, shadows, and pictures all bring Christ into view. The promised offspring crushes the serpent’s head. The tabernacle, priesthood, sacrifices, and deliverers point beyond themselves to the perfect sacrifice and the greater Deliverer.

Adam and Eve’s fig leaves expose the failure of human efforts to cover sin and shame. God provides the covering through the life of another, pointing forward to Christ. Cain and Abel sharpen the distinction between approaching God his way and doing what seems right. Sincerity cannot replace obedience to God’s provision.

Noah’s ark presents both safety and urgency: judgment comes, and the door does not remain open forever. Jubilee pictures canceled debts, freedom from slavery, and restored fellowship, all made possible through Christ’s atonement. Passover makes the required response plain. The blood in the bowl was not enough; the blood had to be applied. Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient, but salvation calls for personal trust in him. Sin is the problem, Jesus is the solution, and today is the day of salvation.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Both Testaments Form One Beautiful Picture. The Old and New Testaments fit together like a tapestry, not two unrelated books. The sacrifices, promises, and patterns give depth to the reality revealed in Christ. Believers who neglect the Old Testament miss much of the picture God has given of his Son. [33:41]
• 2. God’s Faithfulness Answers Weariness With Waiting. Israel waited a long time for the promised Messiah, but the delay did not cancel God’s word. Christ’s first coming shows that God keeps promises even when generations pass before their fulfillment. That same faithfulness gives the church reason to expect his return rather than grow tired of the promise. [36:27]
• 3. Fig Leaves Cannot Cover Human Sin. Adam and Eve made a covering, but God provided the only adequate one. Religion, good works, and penance cannot accomplish what human effort could not accomplish in the garden. Christ gives his own life so that sinners can receive a covering for their sin and shame rather than keep trying to manufacture one. [48:52]
• 4. Christ’s Jubilee Begins With His Atonement. Jubilee announced canceled debts, restored property, and freedom for slaves. Its connection to the Day of Atonement points to the cost behind the freedom Christ gives. Forgiveness and restored fellowship are not detached from the cross; they become possible because the perfect sacrifice has been offered. [1:07:55]
• 5. The Applied Blood Is Enough. Passover places confidence in God’s provision rather than the strength of a household’s feelings. A fearful household under the blood was no less protected than a joyful one under the same blood. Believers troubled by whether Christ’s sacrifice is enough are directed back to what God promised, not to their own goodness or emotional certainty. [1:14:10]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [24:34] - Seeing Jesus Throughout the Bible
• [32:55] - One Bible and an Unchanging God
• [35:41] - God Keeps His Promises
• [39:15] - Prophecies Pointing to Christ
• [41:52] - Christ’s Pre-Incarnate Appearances
• [42:51] - Shadows, Symbols, and Types of Christ
• [47:28] - God’s Covering for Sin and Shame
• [52:17] - Cain and Abel: Coming God’s Way
• [58:10] - Noah’s Ark and the Coming Judgment
• [1:04:11] - Jesus Becomes the Believer’s Jubilee
• [1:08:52] - Passover: The Blood Must Be Applied
• [1:17:23] - Sin’s Problem and God’s Solution
• [1:21:03] - An Invitation to Trust Christ
• [1:24:37] - Closing Worship and Forgiveness in Christ

1. What two parts of Genesis 3:15 point to Jesus’ suffering and his victory? What enemies does his victory overcome? [39:54]
2. What changes took place during Jubilee, and how do those changes picture what Christ gives to sinners? [01:05:34]
3. In the Passover account connected with Exodus 12:13, what was the difference between keeping the lamb’s blood in a bowl and applying it to the doorway? [01:10:26]
4. In the illustration of two households under the blood—one joyful and one fearful—what was different about their feelings, and what was the same about their protection? [01:14:18]

1. Why does God’s promise in Genesis 3:15 matter for someone who thinks Jesus’ coming was a last-minute solution to human sin? [32:18]
2. How does God’s faithfulness in sending the promised Messiah give believers reason to trust the promise of Christ’s return, even when the waiting feels long? [36:59]
3. Why is Jubilee’s connection with the Day of Atonement important? What does that connection show about the cost of forgiveness and restored fellowship with God? [01:08:22]
4. In light of Exodus 12:13, why should a believer’s confidence rest on Christ’s sacrifice rather than good behavior or strong feelings? How does this distinguish personal trust in Christ from merely knowing about his death? [01:15:16]

1. What has your experience of reading the Old Testament been like? What would be a manageable way to spend time in it this week, looking for how its promises and patterns point to Jesus? [46:59]
2. Where are you finding it difficult to wait on God? How might remembering his faithfulness in sending Jesus help you face that waiting without losing hope? [36:18]
3. Human efforts cannot cover sin and shame. When you feel guilty, do you tend to hide, make excuses, or try to earn God’s acceptance? What would turning to Christ’s provision look like in that moment? [48:12]
4. When you wonder whether God has truly forgiven you, what do you usually look to for reassurance? How could the Passover picture help you return to God’s promise rather than measure the strength of your feelings? [01:14:25]
5. Christ brings forgiveness, freedom from sin’s bondage, and restored fellowship with God. Which of these do you most need to live in more fully right now? What small step could you take, and how could this group support you? [01:06:04]
6. Knowing about Jesus is not the same as personally trusting him. As you consider your own response to Christ, what questions or hesitations would you like to talk through? If you are trusting him, who could you gently invite into a conversation about the hope he gives? [01:20:27]