Ancient cultures wrote histories to clarify their identity. How did they come into being? What distinguished them from other nations or clans? And what was their vision of the future?
These questions also motivated the writers of the Scriptures. The Old Testament explains why Israel exists. It describes God’s intention for His people and records His interactions with them.
Likewise, the New Testament accounts for the church. It tells Christians they are who they are because of the work of the Lord Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit.
The members of ancient societies weren’t foolish. They knew the difference between honesty and deception; they could distinguish truth from error. While DNA tests and video recordings weren’t available, our forebears made use of what they had to define reality and their place in it.
Much like we do today.
One of the main ways the ancients kept track of events and their meanings was through stories. Narratives about origins, ancestors, and experiences helped people make sense of the world around them. These enabled societies to survive and thrive in conditions they didn’t always enjoy.
Following this pattern, the Bible explains the reason for the existence of Israel. The book of Genesis tells us:
“The LORD had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’” – Genesis 12:1-3
God made a nation for Himself through which He would bless everyone else. His people suffered in Egypt but He delivered them, made a covenant with them, and set them in a land He’d promised them.
The people failed to live up to their covenant privileges and responsibilities, so God punished them and kept warning them through prophets. Imitating the surrounding nations, the Israelites wanted a king, and the Lord granted them their wish. But that didn’t work out so well!
Soon after the death of King Solomon, the nation split itself apart. Ten tribes in the northern region retained the name of Israel but they had no temple nor any inclination to worship God alone. So steeped were they in idolatry that the Lord allowed the Assyrians to destroy and deport them in 722 BC. The southern kingdom, consisting of Judah and Benjamin, hung on for a little longer. But the three sins of idolatry, immorality, and injustice cost them 70 years of exile in Babylon.
Although some of the Jews were able to return to the land and rebuild Jerusalem and its temple, things weren’t the same. The temple was second-rate, and the presence of God didn’t fill the Holy of Holies. Even the Ark of the Covenant was gone! It was as if God had abandoned His people.
But He hadn’t.
“‘Who of you is left who saw this house in its former glory? How does it look to you now? Does it not seem to you like nothing? … 9The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the LORD Almighty.” – Haggai 2:3, 9
Even though God promised greater glory, it didn’t seem that He’d lived up to His Word.
Until Jesus arrived.
Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” 20They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21But the temple He had spoken of was His body. 22After He was raised from the dead, His disciples recalled what He had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. – John 2:19-22
The temple God intended was the body of His Son. And although crucified, Jesus didn’t remain dead. He triumphed over the grave!
His resurrection had two magnificent effects. First, it demonstrated Christ’s identity. Here’s how Paul describes this good news:
Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God– 2the gospel He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3regarding His Son, who as to His earthly life was a descendant of David, 4and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by His resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. – Romans 1:1-4
The resurrection reinforces the status of Jesus Christ as God’s Son. He is Lord; He rules over creation.
Second, by God’s grace, we are crucified and raised with Jesus, and this changes our identity.
“We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5For if we have been united with Him in a death like His, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection like His.” – Romans 6:4-5
We now find the meaning of our lives in Christ’s plan for us. He is forming the church as His temple.
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of His household, 20built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. 21In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit. – Ephesians 2:19-22
As you come to Him, the living Stone–rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to Him– 5you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. … 9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light. – 1 Peter 2:4-5, 9
What God planned for Israel he achieved through Jesus Christ. And He offers this gift to the whole world. All of us may come to Jesus and find forgiveness for our misdeeds and failures. The gospel absorbs our stories; we find meaning and new life in Christ.
No one deserves membership within the people of God. It’s a club no one has a right to join. But paid the price for all humanity. Regardless of our histories, we can finish our story by accepting the gospel. The good news of Jesus becomes our story. It deals with our past, secures our future, and directs our present.
We find ourselves in Christ.
Join the club–the way is now open!
I am so blessed to have joined this club so many years ago. I can hardly describe the blessing my life has been.
Amen, Barb! Jesus paid for our membership, so nothing should keep people from joining!