Christ, the Center of the Scriptures

Traveling down the road to Emmaus, Cleopas and another disciple talked about the recent events of Jesus’ crucifixion. The Savior joined them, although they did not recognize Him at first, and they spoke of their hope that Jesus would redeem Israel, a hope apparently dashed by His death (Luke 24:13–21). Today’s passage says that these disciples also knew about the women’s report of our Lord’s empty tomb and that His body was no longer in the grave (vv. 22–24). Apparently, these followers of Jesus had not yet understood that He had been resurrected and that His death and resurrection were a necessary part of God’s plan.

We may infer as much from Jesus’ rebuking them for not understanding the necessity of the Messiah’s crucifixion and resurrection. These things should not have surprised them, for the prophets had foreseen them (vv. 25–26). Our Lord’s calling attention to the prophets here is vital because it demonstrates the importance of God’s Word for a right understanding of Jesus’ resurrection and for saving faith. In themselves, the empty tomb and even the resurrection of Jesus explain very little. Without the divinely inspired interpretation of these events, we cannot grasp their redemptive significance. Only by knowing and believing the Scriptures can we understand what Christ has done. The church father Cyril of Alexandria comments, “The law was necessary to make ready the way and the ministry of the prophets to prepare people for faith in this marvelous act, so that when the resurrection really took place, those who were troubled at its greatness might remember what was said of old and be induced to believe.”

After pointing out that the Scriptures foresaw the necessity of Christ’s death and resurrection, Jesus took the two disciples on a tour of the Law and the Prophets, explaining how they predict and interpret the Messiah’s work (Luke 24:27). Thus, we see that Jesus is the very center of the Scriptures. The Bible reveals Him in all His person and work, and we cannot accurately comprehend the Scriptures without understanding them in light of what Jesus has done and taught. Matthew Henry writes: “You cannot go far in any part of scripture but you meet with something that has reference to Christ, some prophecy, some promise, some prayer, some type or other; for he is the true treasure in the field of the Old Testament. A golden thread of gospel grace runs through the whole web of the Old Testament.”