Jesus, the embodiment of God's narrative - Term Paper Example

Embodiment of Jesus in the Old Testament The life and deeds of Jesus also have a historical background to them based on the Old Testament. Recount of historical aspects of the bible will help understand more of Jesus and His ministry. This essay seeks to explain Jesus in the context of the Old Testament writings.According to Wright in his book, the challenge of Jesus, there is a debate on the history of Jesus which bring a better understanding on Jesus’ work. Considering the Old testament, it is clear that Jesus engrossed himself into the traditional Judaism and He at many occasions mentioned that He fulfilled history and related fully with the traditional narratives.

Jesus presented himself as a culminating factor to the teachings and prophecies of the old testament, explaining the correlation between the new and old teachings of the bible (Wright 12).A particularly significant example of Jesus in the context of history as observed during his baptism by John. Jesus told John of His need to be baptized by him; this addressed the entire old church, as observed by many other individuals who received the spirit in the old covenant. Jesus received the spirit at His baptism (Jn. 3: 34). The baptism took place in the wilderness, representing an aspect of explaining that Israel existed in exile.

Israel’s exile period existed from Abraham to David then to Jesus. In the old testament, Isaiah talked of when water and spirit would be poured onto the ground of Israel, the covenant would renew (Isaiah 41: 17-20). Jesus baptism acts to fulfill this promise. This baptism also tries to explain a new creation as observed in the creation story where Spirit hovers in a bird like form over watery earth, similar to the experience during Jesus’ baptism.The historical story of Jonah aboard a ship, then into the belly of a whale then onto dry land (Jonah 1), interprets into the burial of Jesus, in a tomb (similar to Jonah in the belly).

Jonah is free after three days and nights, just as Jesus arose from the dead after three days. This acts as acceptance by the New Testament’s embodiment of the Old Testament’s writing.The Old Testament explains of an instance in which Abraham goes to make a sacrifice of his only son to God, Isaac (Genesis 22). This previews the act by God to sacrifice His only Son for the sake of the world (John 3:16). This two instances all talk of sacrifices by a father on his son for a given cause. Jesus fits fully into the story of Abraham in the Old Testament.

The story of Joseph in the Old Testament is well embodied by Jesus’ life in many instances. Joseph is at one time considered dead by his father, only to come back as a ruler in Egypt (Genesis 37-50). Both Joseph and Jesus at one time face rejection from their own, and sold for silver. They both face false accusations to the extent of having false witnesses. It can also be noted that they both sit at the right hand of their respective kingdoms; the throne of Pharaoh and that of God. Joseph is said to have salvaged the gentiles whereas, Jesus brings in salvation to the world spiritually.

There are many other instances in the Old Testament that Jesus embodies in His deeds as written in the New Testament. They help put Jesus life and des into context, ever since the beginning of the world (Wright 52). This gives a continuum from the historical setting of Christ into the New Testament.Works CitedWright. N. T. “The Challenge of Jesus”. London: SPCK Publishing, 2000. Print New International Version .“Holy Bible”. Michigan: Zondervan, 1987. Print