Road Trippin With Rachael

What is Biblical Theology

It’s almost funny to try and define Biblical Theology, because of course,  theology should be biblical. But what we mean when we use the term biblical theology is that we are looking at how our understanding of who God is has developed over the course of the revelation of scripture. For example, by the time we make it to the crucifixion we have a much more developed view of God beyond that he is the creator that we see in Genesis. If we apply this theological lens to the coming of Christ at Christmas time, then we can see how God has continuously been developing our understanding of who the Messiah will be and his advent all throughout Scriputer. As we seek to look at the topic of Christmas from this perspective, we need to try to keep in mind that in our modern day mindset, we know that Christmas is coming; but when scripture was being written, they didn’t  have that. They knew that there was someone who would someday come, but they only had what they had to go on. 

Although not an exhaustive list, we will be looking at Old Testament passages pointing to the coming of Jesus and his purpose. 

Christmas in Genesis

From the perspective of God showing us more and more of who the Messiah will be and as we develop a healthy biblical theology of Christmas, the best place to go is to the beginning.  In Genesis 3:15 we are given our first prophecy of who the offspring of the woman was going to be. He would be one who was going to crush the head of the serpant’s offspring, even though his heel was going to be bruised. He will not be one to fall easily. Genesis 22:8 is the account of Abraham declaring to Isaac when they went up the mountain to make an offering that the Lord would provide. Finally, Genesis 49:8-12 is Jacob giving a blessing to Judah, saying that kings would come from him, and his brothers will bow down to him. 

Christmas in Exodus

As we move to the next book of the Bible, we come to the institution of Passover. If you are familiar with the story of Moses, then you will remember that Moses went to Pharaoh in Egypt multiple times, doing signs and miracles through the power of God to show who God is to Pharaoh, and to convince him to let the Israelites leave Egypt. 

What we see of who God is in Exodus 11-12 echoes Genesis 3 – that to be redeemed from sin requires the life of something that is innocent. The little lamb was meant to be as perfect as he could be; the little lamb would die to keep those who are in the household safe. We see that it takes something sinless, something innocent, and something to give their life to cover the consequences of sin – even when that sin isn’t one that we have committed, we’re still bound by the consequences of Adam’s choices. 

Christmas in Leviticus

Similar to the lamb from the Exodus story, so too do we see that thre has to be something that will be paying for the sins that the Isrealites committed. Specifically, the people of Israel were to sacrifice a lamb. Lambs had layers of meaning for the Israelites. Israel was a people of shepherds (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob). The Israelite patriarchs had their wealth in their flocks. A lamb was a sign of the next generation of wealth. It was also a means of providing food, wool, and could be used as a form of currency. It was precious. It was also innocent with no way of protecting itself. 

When we look at the Biblical Theology that is surrounding lambs and how they are showing us who God is, we see that it takes something that could do no wrong, who was undeserving of what would come their way to be the payment for sin. Christmas time is when we celebrate the birth of an innocent baby, who could do no wrong, who would not be deserving of what would be coming his way. Jesus would be precious.

Christmas in Ruth

You may be asking what the book of Ruth could possibly have to do with Christmas, but what we see about God is that he doesn’t turn people away. Ruth had no reason to think that she would be welcomed when she returned to the land of Israel with Naomi. Yet, God brings her in, blesses her, and makes her a part of the family of Israel. Scripture even ends the book with the reminder that Ruth would be a part of the line of David – who would be a man after the heart of God. Remembering that Biblical Theology reveals more about God as we move through scripture, what is revealed here is that all are welcomed who truly wish to be a part. During Christmas when we are celebrating the birth of Christ, the story isn’t only about Mary’s labor and delivery, it is also about how the most lowly of society is invited to be the ones to bear witness to his birth, to see the angels announcing the coming of Messiah, and to tell others about what they saw. Christ is for everyone who would believe and come to him. 

Christmas in II Samuel

Moving along to II Samuel, Chapter 7 records the covenant God made with David – that there will be someone to sit on the throne of Israel from David’s line. As we approach this through the lens of Biblical Theology, we see that God promises to preserve David’s line and to bless it. Now David didn’t know that the fulfillment of this was going to be Jesus, but he knew that, like Abraham, there would be a blessing that would come through his family. He didn’t know how, or what was about to come in the sesessive generations, but he knew that God is faith, and he proved that over and over again. 

We can look back and see how this was the promise that there would be a special descendant born, and this is the first time we see a promise of the Messiah coming from a specific family line. We had previously been told he would come through Abraham, then later it was declared that he would come from Judah as the tribe, but now we are told that he is going to be coming through David and the line of kings. God shows his faithfulness to generations, and specifically blesses the family of someone who pursued him. God blesses, and keeps his promises. But there is something else that we also see – God reveals more and more of his plan for salvation as we go. As I said about Abraham, Judah, and David – if you notice, the promises and blessings become more and more specific. That is something that we learn of God, too. God shows us what we need to know for where we are at in his plan. 

Christmas in Isaiah

When we come to Isaiah, which is such a rich text, God shows how he will sometimes give us a shadow of what is to come. In Isaiah 7, the king of Judah is given  a sign – a virgin shall give birth to a son. Now, this is a two-fold prophecy (which we know because we are looking back in time). “Virgin” can mean a young woman or a woman who has never been sexually active with a man. During Isaiah’s time, a young woman has a baby. When we look later down the time line, we see a Virgin – a woman who has not been sexually active – has a baby, who is called Immanuel.  The king of Judah received the sign in his day that God was with the people, and centuries later, the world receives the sign that God is still with us. 

Christmas in Micah

As we look at Micah, we see that God even cares about the details. God chose not only the people, tribe, family, and name, but God also determined the place. A small town south of Jerusalem would become the place where the Messiah would be born. Scripture calls him a ruler of Israel, and verse three says that Israel will be abandoned until this king appears. Micah, as a minor prophet speaks greatly of the time that surrounds the going into, during, and immediately after the time that Israel will be in exile in Babylon. In what we refer to as the intertestamental period, there are no prophets. God puts the people in a time of waiting, just as Micah said. They will be abandoned without a word from God during those long centuries. But when the Messiah comes, at the appointed time in the appointed place the realization at God’s faithfulness is all the sweeter – because it reminds us that even in the silence God is working.  

Genesis 3:15; Genesis 22:8; Genesis 49:8-12; Exodus 11-12; Leviticus 4; Leviticus 23; Ruth 1-4; II Samuel 7; Isaiah 7:14; Isaiah 11:1; Micah 5:2