Jesus - The Center of the Bible

                                    "Reading through the Bible from beginning to end is
                                      like watching a painter transform a blank canvas in-
                                      to a masterpiece."
                                                                                  T.D. Alexander


                                                              **********


          The Bible is not just 66 individual books that are disconnected, but one book
     that has a theme throughout -- that while God is holy and loving and merciful, He
     is also righteous and just.


          Jesus is at the center of God's plan in Scripture.  He and His influence are found
    not only in the New Testament, but throughout the entire Bible, including the Old
    Testament.


          WHO JESUS IS

          In Genesis Jesus is the Ram at Abraham's altar
          In Exodus He's the Passover Lamb
          In Leviticus He's the High Priest
          In Numbers He's the Cloud by day and pillar of fire by night
          In Deuteronomy He's the City of our refuge

          In Joshua He's the Scarlet Thread out Rahab's window
          In Judges He is our Judge
          In Ruth He is our Kinsman Redeemer
          In 1st and 2nd Samuel He's our Trusted Prophet
          And in Kings and Chronicles He's our Reigning King

          In Ezra He is our Faithful Scribe
          In Nehemiah He's the Rebuilder of everything that is broken
          And in Esther He is the Mordecai sitting faithful at the gate
          In Job He's our Redeemer that ever liveth
          In Psalms He is my Shepherd and I shall not want

          In Proverbs and Ecclesiastes He's our Wisdom
          And in the Song of Solomon He's the Beautiful Bridegroom
          In Isaiah He's the Suffering Servant
          In Jeremiah and Lamentations it is Jesus that is the Weeping Prophet
          In Ezekiel He's the Wonderful Four-Faced Man

          And in Daniel He is the Fourth Man in the midst of a fiery furnace
          In Hosea He is my Love that is forever faithful
          In Joel He baptizes us with the Holy Spirit
          In Amos He's our Burden Bearer
          In Obadiah our Savior

          And in Jonah He is the Great Foreign Missionary that takes the Word of
                   God into all of the world
          You go on and you see in Micah He is the Messenger with beautiful feet
          In Nahum He is the Avenger
          In Habakkuk He is the Watchman that is ever praying for revival
          In Zephaniah He is the Lord mighty to save

          In Haggai He is the Restorer of our lost heritage
          In Zechariah He is our Fountain
          And in Malachi He is the Son of Righteousness with healing in His wings



          In Matthew Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God
          In Mark He is the Miracle Worker
          In Luke He's the Son of Man
          And in John He is the Door by which everyone of us must enter
          In Acts He is the Shining Light that appears to Saul on the road to Damascus

          In Romans He is our Justifier
          In 1 Corinthians our Resurrection
          In 2 Corinthians our Sin Bearer
          In Galatians He redeems us from the law
          In Ephesians He is our Unsearchable Riches

          In Philippians He supplies our every need
          And in Colossians He's the Fullness of the Godhead Bodily
          In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians He is our Soon coming King
          In 1st and 2nd Timothy He is the Mediator between God and man
          In Titus He is our Blessed Hope

          In Philemon He is a Friend that sticks closer than a brother
          And in Hebrews He's the Blood of the everlasting covenant
          In James it is the Lord that heals the sick
          In 1st and 2nd Peter He is the Chief Shepherd
          In 1st, 2nd, and 3rd John it is Jesus who has the tenderness of love

          In Jude He is the Lord coming with 10,000 saints
          And in Revelation, lift up your eyes, Church, for your redemption
                    draweth nigh, He is King of kings and Lord of lords
                              (Name Above All Names, from God With Us)


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          The Bible is God's Word, and reveals His plan from the beginning --
     salvation for His people through the death, burial, and resurrection of His
     Son, Jesus Christ!