How Jesus Fulfills All of Scripture
From Commontary
A book-by-book Summary
In Luke 24:44-49, Jesus claimed that all of “the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms” was about him. This is a comprehensive statement, meant to include all of the Scriptures. He said that he came to fulfill everything that is written in them.
This is often understood as the occasional fulfillment of some messianic prophecies scattered throughout the Old Testament, but Jesus’ fulfillment of Scripture is much more comprehensive than that. It is “plenary,” which John makes clear by calling Jesus the logos (Word). It is not that only a few Psalms are messianic, but all 150 of them!
In this sense, ALL of Scripture find its true meaning in Christ. It is truly Christocentric. We may also say that it is “Christotelic,” in that its goal, fulfillment, and end is found in Christ. All of the Bible is the story of redemption. And all of Redemptive History is about Jesus Christ.
To help the Commontary community in its redemptive-historical, Christocentric reading of Scripture, we have created the following summary of how Jesus fulfills all of Scripture:
Old Testament
Genesis: The promised offspring who will one day crush Satan (Gen. 3:15)
Exodus: The Deliverer; The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)
Leviticus: The High Priest
Numbers: The Shekinah Glory; the one who must be lifted up for the salvation of all who believe (Numbers 21:4-9; John 3:14-15).
Deuteronomy: The Prophet Greater than Moses
Joshua: The Greater Joshua (same name)—Savior and Warrior
Judges: The Perfect Judge
Ruth: The Kinsman-Redeemer of God’s People
1,2 Samuel: The Son of David
1,2 Kings and 1,2 Chronicles: The Perfect, Faithful King
Ezra: Lawgiver and the Fulfillment of the Law
Nehemiah: Rebuilder of Broken Walls
Esther: Our Intercessor
Job: The Redeemer who Lives; the One who Suffered to Defeat Satan
Psalms:
Proverbs: Christ, the Wisdom of God (1 Cor. 1:24)
Ecclesiastes: The Teacher Who Gives Meaning
Song of Songs: The Lover of the Bride
Isaiah: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace; the Child; the Branch; the Man of Sorrows
Jeremiah and Lamentations: The Prophet Weeping Over His City
Ezekiel: The Good Shepherd (Ezek. 34; John 10); Cornerstone of the New Temple (Ezek. 40-47; )
Daniel: The Son of Man
Hosea: The Faithful Husband
Joel: Bringer of the Day of the Lord
Amos: God’s Righteous Justice Rolled Down on Him (Amos 5:24); He Rules with Justice
Obadiah:
Jonah: The Faithful Prophet Who Heeds God’s Call and Loves Those to Whom He is Sent
Micah:
Nahum:
Habakkuk:
Zephaniah: The God who is with us, is mighty to save, and delights in us (Zeph. 3:17)
Haggai: One Greater than Zerubbabel; Builder of the New Temple
Zechariah: The High Priest greater than Joshua (Zech. 3); the Branch (Zech. 6:12); The One they Have Pierced (Zech. 12:10)
Malachi: The Perfect Sacrifice
New Testament
Matthew: The Son of David, the King
Mark: The Servant
Luke: The Son of Man
John: The Son of God
Acts:
Romans: The Righteousness of God, Revealed
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians: The Image of the Invisible God, Firstborn Over All Creation
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews: The High Priest, the Perfect Sacrifice
James:
1 Peter:
2 Peter:
1 John:
2,3 John:
Jude: The One Who Is Able to Keep You From Falling
Revelation: the King of Kings; the Lion of Judah and the Lamb who was slain
