Monday, March 4, 2013. I start this blog tonight with a confession! I was planning to resist any good feelings or favorable impressions as I watched "The Bible."  Like a child, I planned to view the first of the five part series, called "The Bible" as presented on the History Channel, as if it was somehow  "good for me." Instead, I was able to switch my views enough to watch with an un- critical eye, to allow myself to become immersed in the event. Oh I will watch again, and I will root for the History channel to get it right. 

It was good enough to make me anticipate the next episode, and to help me admit that, so far, I was favorably impressed, and hopeful that each week would build on the biblical foundation started the first week. For instance, I did love and hate the moment of choice Abe faced in Genesis 22. Isaac his son, his only son was to be sacrificed. My mind raced ahead to God's dilemma in John 3:16. God offered His Son, and later Jesus asked for the cup to pass away, but instead, He chose to die for me!

It  is my goal to hear about Jesus, to find Jesus where HE IS in the OLD Testament as well as in the more obvious New.  To be specific with you, and remember, this isn't a criticism, it is that i was wanting to see Jesus in the first weeks viewing, since i knew HE was there in each page of Genesis and Exodus! It is just that I am in love with Jesus, in love with his words, his Message of forgiveness, of giving, of turning the other cheek. I didn't see much of that the first week. Remember, He didn't come to destroy but to save the world.

This view has changed how I read the Bible. It isn't about , violence, war, turf, but about GOD's love for folks like us. 
I now realize that I don't want to read any page, any story, or to see it portrayed as a novel, without asking this question: "Where is Jesus in that story, on that page"  I have seen HIM in the creation story, Gen 1:26, where we read "let US make man in OUR image..." Our image, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit! They were all present, in that first chapter!

Is Jesus in the fall in Genesis 3? Yes, Jesus is there, HE, the giver of life is the promised remedy to Satan's action. The cost? Right there in the first few pages we see a prophecy, the first one about HIM. In Genesis 3:15 we learn that this specific sin and my own personal sins sent Him to His death on cross. This was an epic battle with Satan and a painful episode for JESUS, because HE loves you and me so much. 

Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament continues into Joshua. We see Rahab, the prostitute, and see the Fall of the wall of Jericho, but ask, "where is Jesus?" HE was there. Matthew 1:5 says she is HIS ancestor, HIS Grandma, yes, that is right, she becomes Jesus' grandma!  Will you join me in reading the Bible, in watching the Bible, to see where JESUS is? 

'll watch the rest, but the wisdom of a statement by my dear wife marge is so true, "the movie is never as good as the BOOK." See you tomorrow. GOD Bless us as we seek to see Jesus in each part of our lives!