Scripture Always Points to Jesus
One of the core convictions of the Christian faith is this: we see God most clearly in Jesus. In his life, his death, his resurrection—this is where God is revealed. Scripture is what points us there, but it’s in Jesus himself that the fullness of God comes into focus.
On the Road to Emmaus
One of the most powerful moments where this comes through is in Luke’s story of the resurrected Jesus walking with two disciples on the road to Emmaus. They don’t recognize him at first, and they’re confused about everything that has happened. But Jesus is almost incredulous—how do they not understand that the story has always been pointing toward him? Luke writes that Jesus explained to them “all of the scriptures concerning himself.”
But notice—this isn’t just about prophecy, as if Jesus is flipping through the Hebrew scriptures and proof-texting himself into a few verses. Something deeper is going on. Jesus is showing them that the larger narrative of scripture has always been leading toward incarnation. Toward God showing up in the story.
Two Layers of the Story
That’s why it’s helpful to see the Bible as a story with two layers. On one level, it’s kings and nations, laws and prophets, history as it unfolds. But on another level, there’s a deeper narrative arc—the endgame that gives all those moments their meaning. The throughline that has always been leading us to Jesus.
This is important for us at Commons. We want to be intellectually honest and spiritually passionate, but when we say “Jesus at the center,” this is what we mean. Not that we hunt for a handful of verses that seem prophetic, but that the entire arc of the story leads us to what Jesus reveals about God.
Finally Seeing Clearly
Throughout human history, we have been learning about God. Catching glimpses. Piecing things together. As Paul put it, seeing “through a glass darkly.” But now in Jesus—in the cross and in resurrection—we finally see clearly.
Where we once thought God might be violent, now we see God is self-giving love. Where we thought God played favorites, we learn God’s embrace is for all. Where we feared God might hate us, Jesus shows us nothing could be farther from the truth.
The New Testament writers run with this. John calls Jesus the Word of God—the full expression of what God wants to say. Hebrews says he is the exact representation of God. Paul says he is the image of the invisible God. Over and over, the point is made: Jesus is divine love made visible.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Here’s the real shift though: once we grasp this, it changes not only how we read scripture, but how we see everything. Jesus reframes the entire story, past and present. Christianity is not some balancing act between the weight of scripture and the peace of Jesus. Christianity is the conviction that all scripture, all history, all of life points us to Jesus. And it’s his way in the world that we follow—unreservedly.
