Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament by Christopher Wright

Wright Review

Summary

Knowing Jesus Through the Old Testament by Christopher J.H. Wright, proves to be a work that firmly illustrates not only the necessity of the Old Testament in the contemporary world, but also the necessity of the Old Testament for a fuller more accurate understanding of who Jesus is. The latter sheds tremendous light on a more accurate understanding of Jesus’ teachings.

Another big question that exists not only within evangelical circles but in popular culture today is “who is Jesus really?” Unfortunately, the Christian world that exists today seems to worship a Jesus that is more or less an “identikit human being.[1]” Largely due to the media and entertainment industry the predominant image in the minds of American Christians is a blue eyed, fair skinned, blonde haired Jesus, that walks around with an err of passivity, and mysticism. Wright begins his book by providing a more accurate picture of who Jesus really is.

The author begins by explaining that Jesus, contrary to popular belief, is a real Jew, who grew up in a real Jewish culture, around very real Jewish People. This section in the book really provides the reader with a greater sense of realness to Jesus. Instead of being a person who once lived very far removed from where contemporary culture is, it allows the reader to know that Jesus was a real person, in a real time, in a real place, who came for a very real purpose.

Wright goes on to explain that that real purpose was the fulfillment of the Old Testament. For example, he suggests that from the time of the patriarchs to the time of the exile, there are three features that are central to the Biblical narrative. First, the Biblical Narrative affirms that the God of Israel is in sovereign control of all of world history not simply the life and happenings of Israel. Secondly, the “moral character and demand of Yahweh” is featured. And finally, that Adonai “cared little, if at all, for the external rituals of the faith of his people in the absence of practical social obedience to his moral demands.”[2] Wright goes on to affirm that Jesus’ message speaks to all three of these features in the New Testament, thus making complete what Israel could not accomplish.

Another main premise in Wright’s book is that the Old Testament was the means by which Jesus understood Himself.[3] He also suggests that since Jesus understood Himself through the lens of the Old Testament, then we too should view Jesus through the Old Testament. One of the most exciting parts of the book breaks down Jesus’ Baptism and confirmation by God. Wright illustrates that when God says in Matthew, “This is my Son, whom I love, the one in whom I delight.” Wright finds that this phrase is echoed from the Old Testament in Psalm 2[4], Isaiah 42:1[5], and Genesis 22. All three of these passages further illustrate that the plan for ultimate redemption through Jesus was not derived with His entrance into earth via flesh. Instead, the salvific plan existed from the very beginning. The strongest and most direct of these passages, of course, is the Genesis passage, where Abraham brings Isaac to the altar to provide the ultimate sacrifice and God says, “Take now your son, your only son, whom you love, Isaac, and go to the land of Moriah; and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains I will show you.[6]” By those words appearing in Matthew, all the Jews reading them, or having heard them read, would have automatically associated Jesus with Isaac. The only difference is that Jesus was the Isaac story fulfilled. But having this understanding is only available through knowing the Old Testament story of Abraham and Isaac, and by knowing this story one can realize that Jesus is providing the sacrifice that has been needed from the very beginning.

Jesus is not only the fulfillment of the Old Testament narrative, but He is also the fulfillment of the moral code as well. Wright uses Jesus’ interaction with Satan during His forty days in the wilderness to illustrate this. He suggests that Jesus’ response expresses at the most fundamental levels where the Jews always fell short. Wright suggests that all of Jesus’ responses to Satan illustrate a trust in God that Israel was never able to attain to. Jesus’ response illustrates that His morals, values, priorities, and convictions come direct from Moses’ teaching of Israel while they were in the wilderness. This further illustrates that Jesus was the making full of the Law that was provided for Israel through Moses. This simply means that in responding to Satan the way He did, Jesus was able to illustrate that He was excelling where Israel in the past simply could not, or did not.

In summary, Wright from cover to cover is illustrating that Jesus is very literally Word in flesh. Even when Jesus claims the title “Son of Man,” he is claiming that He is the Word manifested, the perfect man, God’s Law lived out practically for the world to see. In order that not only the Jews, but the world might see that the life we live is incomplete, and can only be experienced to the full by living as much like Jesus as possible.

By and large, the main teaching that is heard from evangelical leaders in the States today is primarily from the New Testament. This is not all bad, however, there is one vital point that can be missed easily. It can be safely assumed that every writer in both the Old and the New Testaments, either were Jewish or were highly influenced by Jewish culture. Jewish Culture revolved around the Old Testament with special attention to the Torah. So it is also safe to assume that every author in both Old and New Testaments is writing with an extremely strong background rooted in the Old Testament. Now, if this is true how much more is it important that the New Testament is taught with a high view and high understanding of the Old Testament? Is the New Testament not just a further extension of the Old? The better question maybe, is it possible to teach the New Testament well without having a high regard and high understanding of the Old Testament?

This book as well Divine Conspiracy by Dallas Willard should be a must read for all Christians.[7] For without a good understanding of where Jesus comes from in the Old Testament, it is impossible to fully understand the weight and significance of his presence and work here on earth. For example, it simply does not make since that Jesus could somehow pay the penalty for all sin for all people. How does one man do that? Can my sin be taken away by my best friend Eric? Absolutely not! However if someone were to learn that Jesus was in the kingly line of David, and essentially assumed the position of King. Then they could further learn that whoever was the king over Israel would be a representative for the Israeli people. Then they may learn that as a representative of Israel to God, the actions of that king were seen as the actions of the people. So, if the King of Israel was obedient then the people of Israel were seen as obedient in the eyes of God. But if the King was evil, he too was a representation of the people to God. So, Jesus comes on the scene as the King of not only Israel, but of the world. So, His actions are accredited to the people. So how does one man die for the sins of the masses. It is easy to see that he was the representative for mankind, in His death on the cross He represented the people and their sin. So, when He was punished for sin it was not only the sin of a few, but of the world. Now, in terms of being Christian there is something to be said for personal responsibility, personal decision, and personal commitment that will be left for discussion in a further paper. But, his just to illustrate that without a proper understanding of how Jesus fits into the Old Testament, it is difficult to fully understand what salvation really is, and how it really works.

This is just one of the many Christian Doctrines that are better understood through having a proper understanding and respect of the Old Testament. With a proper understanding of the Old Testament and its theology, comes a greater respect for the goings on of the work of Jesus and the New Testament in general.

---

[1] Wright, Daniel J. Knowing Jesus through the Old Testament. Pg. 3

[2] Ibid. Pgs. 19-20

[3] Ibid. Pgs. 104

[4] This reference in particular identified Jesus the Son of God as the Davidic King. According to Wright this was a part of a ceremonial blessing or inauguration of the Kings that followed David on the throne. Obviously, by choosing these particular words, God is illustrating that Jesus is not only the Fulfillment of Isaac, but also the new and long awaited for King both Spiritually and Physically.

[5] This passage in Isaiah is about the one called the “servant of the Lord,” however this “servant of the Lord” is introduced by the same method as that of an introduction of a King. As the series of songs increase, it is obvious that the Servant accomplishes His calling not by a “kingly power” but through “frustration, suffering, rejection and death.” Wright - 106

[6] Gen. 22:2

[7] Maybe someone should come up with a manual that you get when you decide to follow Jesus. If so, I have a list of must reads that are essential to that manual.