This is part ten of my ongoing series about the Story of the Bible. So far, the posts have looked at creation, the fall, God’s promise to Abraham, his covenant with Israel, the consequences of a broken covenant, a ray of hope for the future, and what started off looking like the fulfillment of that hope. This post will continue looking at the fulfillment of Israel’s hope. Although it was not what they expected.
A Quick Review
Israel had fallen far from their golden age under David and Solomon, ending in exile and a partial restoration. But the hope held out by the prophets was still unfilled. For a brief time, the people held out hope that Jesus would be the one who would restore them to their glory days.
But Jesus was executed, and that hope died. Or did it?
Not the End
Three days after Jesus’ execution, something quite unexpected happened. Some women went to the tomb and found it empty. And angels appeared and told them that Jesus was alive.
Later, Jesus began to appear to his disciples, demonstrating to them that he was indeed alive. This renewed their hope in Jesus as the Messiah, the one who would claim David’s throne (Ac. 1:6). Jesus spent 40 days with them, giving further instructions. And then he was gone.
But before he left them, he told them to wait in Jerusalem for the promised Holy Spirit.
Pentecost
As the disciples waited in Jerusalem, the day of Pentecost rolled around. And, on that day, the world changed. The Holy Spirit was poured out on Jesus’ followers, and nothing would ever be the same.
Immediately, they boldly began to proclaim that Jesus was the promised Messiah. Jerusalem was turned upside down as large numbers of people came to faith in Jesus, accepting him as their Messiah.
It did not take long before opposition arose from those who rejected Jesus as their Messiah, and they attempted to stomp out the new Jesus movement. But the more they tried, the faster and wider the gospel spread. It was unstoppable.
While in the beginning, the gospel of Jesus was proclaimed only to Jews, within a few years, the message had reached out to the Gentiles as well. And it quickly spread throughout the Roman Empire, reaching Rome within 30 years. They were turning the world upside-down.
Preaching Jesus
The disciples of Jesus did much more than just pass on the teachings of Jesus, although they did do that. The message they proclaimed was much more radical than that. They declared that Jesus of Nazareth was more than just a great teacher or prophet.
They announced to the world that Jesus was the promised Messiah, the Son of God, God in the flesh. And that in his death and resurrection, he had made a way for humanity, Jew and Gentile alike, to be reconciled to God. Not based on our own efforts but as an act of God’s grace. And they proclaimed a great hope that would only come to fruition in the age to come.
And that is the end of the Bible’s story. Or is it?
What About the Promise to Abraham?
Roughly 2000 years before Jesus, God made an unconditional promise to Abraham. Has that promise been fulfilled now? Or is it still awaiting a final fulfillment?
The next post in the series will reexamine this promise in light of Jesus and the movement he started.
- The Story of the Bible (2/8/2025) - This is an introductory post to a series on the story of the Bible. At least as I understand it. Each post will build on the previous posts.
- A Good Creation (2/15/2025) - God created a good, although not necessarily perfect, world. His creation included all that has been made, both physical and spiritual.
- Humanity (2/22/2025) - Humanity is described as the final work in God's creation, created to be in God's image, and given rule over the rest of the creation.
- The Fall and Death (3/1/2025) - How did God's creation end up in the mess it's in. Genesis tells us humanity rebelled against God, fell from our high place, and faced death.
- An Unconditional Promise (3/8/2025) - Abraham was promised land, descendants as numerous as the dust of the earth, and offspring who would be a blessing to all people.
- A Conditional Covenant (3/15/2025) - At Mt. Sinai, God entered into a conditional covenant relationship with Israel. They would be his people if they obeyed the covenant terms.
- Breaking the Covenant (3/22/2025) - Israel repeatedly broke their covenant with God and eventually faced exile. Was that the end? Or was there still hope for them?
- Holding Out Hope (3/29/2025) - The prophets held out hope, telling Israel God had plans for them despite their rebellion. The promise of land, king, and temple remained.
- A Bump in the Road (4/5/2025) - Expectations were high when Jesus rode into Jerusalem. But by the end of the week, he had been executed as a common criminal. What went wrong?
- Turning the World Upside-down (4/12/2025) - The story of Jesus' death and resurrection turned the world upside-down. He had made a way for all humanity to be reconciled to God.
- Unveiling the Mystery – Fulfilling the Promise (4/19/2025) - This mystery now unveiled in the New Testament is that all who have the faith of Abraham, Jew or Gentile, inherit the promise made to Abraham
- Israel Under the New Covenant (4/26/2025) - God is not through with them. Before the end comes, they will once again experience God’s mercy and experience his salvation.
- What Happens at the End of the Story (5/3/2025) - When Jesus returns, the dead in Christ will rise to life everlasting, unbelievers will face judgment, and all things will be made new.
- The Story of the Bible in Review (5/10/2025) - What is the story of the Bible? It is the story of God working within his creation to produce a humanity made in his image.
