Jesus preached Jesus: “beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27).

If we are going to preach Christ, then we must do what Christ Himself did.  To preach Christ is to open up the whole of Scripture and show how it all points to and connects with our Savior.

Our Lord reiterated this when he said, “These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me” (Luke 24:44).

Jesus showed us that the whole Word of God testifies that He is the Son of God, the promised Christ, the glorious Redeemer. Jesus says that He is the great end and ultimate fulfillment of all that the Old Testament writers were expressing. He is the focal point and central theme of Holy Scripture. As our model for ministry, Jesus shows us that the essence of preaching is the preaching of His own person, and the apostles followed in His footsteps.

They were true disciples, approaching their work no differently from their Lord. They were content to be like their Lord, following the same path without deviation. They preached Jesus of Nazareth from the whole Bible as God’s Messiah. They preached Him in the fullness of His person and work: Jesus as Christ, promised, living, dying, rising, and reigning was their theme and song (1 Cor. 15:1-4).

We see it in all the records of apostolic ministry. From the moment of Paul’s conversion, we find him in synagogues, preaching the Christ, that He is the Son of God (Acts 9:20), and persuading men that Jesus was that very Christ (v. 22). [1]

Rob Ventura and Jeremy Walker

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End notes:

[1] Rob Ventura, Jeremy Walker, A Portrait of Paul: Identifying a True Minister of Christ [Grand Rapids: Reformation Heritage Books, 2010] , 96. 97.

See also:

MARCUS BORG AND CHRISTIANS WHO DON’T BELIEVE IN JESUS

YOU LOVE JESUS; GOOD FOR YOU, BUT WHICH ONE?

NO BOUNDARIES IF YOU LOVE “JESUS”