Scriptural Reference:
“These are the words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that
all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the
prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me. “Then opened he their understanding,
that they might understand the scriptures [the Old Testament]”
Luke 24:44–45

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof,
for correction, and for training in righteousness,"
2 Timothy 3:16

"Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was
still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the
Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.”"
Luke 24:44

Reflection: As we seek to understand the importance of the Old Testament we will need a brief recap of the Bible as a singular collective. The Bible consists of two collections of books. Within the Old Testament containing thirty-nine books and representing God's promise to Israel. While the New Testament has twenty-seven books and fulfils the promises of the Old Testament. It explains the person and work of Christ by showing how he fulfils the Old Testament.

The unique relationship between the Old and New Testaments can be summed up in Saint Augustine's famous statement highlights it, showing how the old is concealed in the new and the new is revealed in the old. We can see how the Old Testament prepares the world for the New Testament. How all that is prophesied in the old is brought to completion in the new. The importance of the Old Testament is also found in the very fact that the books Christians view as the first half of the Bible is made up of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Torah) and many of the prophetic books of the Jewish faith. As we understand this they were The Bible Jesus Read. Jesus and the earliest church used the Old Testament as their Bible (e.g., Luke 24:44; Acts 24:14; 2 Tim. 3:15), and it remains a significant part of our Scriptures. Jesus emphasised, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfil them" (Matt. 5:17). In fact the authours of the New Testament always state that the God shown in the Old Testament is the same God now revealing himself through Jesus Christ. Where John refers to Jesus as the Word, writing, "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". In this we can read a scriptural thread that establishes Gods' plan for our salvation.

We can read the Lords own words when he tells us that he had come to complete the Jewish Old Testament (Matt. 5:17), which he called "the Law and the Prophets" (Matt. 5:17; Luke 24:26-27). Jesus had come to fulfil prophesies and be the sacrifice for all. We can read, in Luke 24:26-27, where on the road to Emmaus, Jesus met two of his followers after his resurrection. As they walked together, he corrected their lack of faith and instructed them on how to understand the Scriptures. Specifically, he asked them, "Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then, starting with Moses and the Prophets, he explained to them all the passages in the Bible that were about Jesus. We can clearly read how the Old Testament was the very corner stone that the New Testament was built on.

So what can today's Christian's make of this connection? How can we come to terms with what many complain are contradictions? Let's look at what many Biblical scholars have discovered over the years. Scholars who study the Bible have known for a while now about how the Old and New Testaments are connected. In the first century AD, early Christian writers used the language and stories from the Old Testament to understand the significant changes brought by Jesus, especially the paradoxical idea of Jesus' death. They pondered whether salvation could truly come from the crucifixion. How someone's death could create salvation for others.

We ourselves can see how the writings that were produced (by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) went beyond mere historical accounts; they were a reflection of God's direct engagement with and the divine inspiration he imparted to his covenant people. Christian authours considered themselves as part of God's ongoing relationship with humanity, drawing contemporary significance from the ancient works of Hebrew prophets and scribes. This led New Testament writers to incorporate quotes and references to the Old Testament in their own texts, linking God's past actions with his present work. Within these two testaments we can see the continuation of Gods' perfect divine plan in all things and for all things.

An example of this is found in the link between Isaiah 7:14-16 and Matthew 1:22-23. Where Matthew explains the fulfilment of the Old Testament prophesies of the birth of Jesus Matthew is showing the link clearly in how what was foretold had been fulfilled. Furthermore so there would be no denial of the importance of the Old Testament. Though for our reflections we needn't stop here. As mentioned above, the Old Testament was mentioned throughout the New Testament. So who was the most referred to prophets from the Old in the New? There was Isaiah who is among the most cited prophets in the Bible. His words have been repeated by Jesus, St. Paul, St. Peter, and St. John. The book of Isaiah has been recognised by early Christian communities as a striking prophetic depiction of Jesus Christ. That paves the way for our understanding, acceptance and salvation through the atoning blood of Jesus the Christ.

So then in closing we have seen how God in His divine wisdom guided the creation of the Old Testament as a record of His plans and desires for all of humanity. How the prophets who spoke with were constantly pointing in one direction. That's towards the birth, death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ. While the New Testament is Gods' answer or reply to the Old. As they describe the fulfilment of Gods' plans for our salvation. Just how each step that Jesus took while on earth was headed to Jerusalem, Golgotha and the cross. How, without the Old Testament, we would be lost and confused. But that through the messages left to us within the gospel by those who walked with the Lord; we are able to fully understand the connection.

Our understanding of our salvation can only be found with these two Testaments conjoined as one.

 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father,
It is in the Old Testament,
That we first meet you,
Discover your perfect love,
Uncover your divine plan.

Beloved Jesus,
It is in the New Testament,
That we first meet you,
Discover the life you lived,
And claim our souls salvation.

These two books conjoined,
Help us grow as Christians,
Teach us how to live our lives,
Bring us ever closer to God.

We thank you for ever more.

Amen