It is a single narrative in which every story, every character

points beyond itself to one who is greater. The story of Adam and Eve is not just about

the first man and woman... there is a true and better Adam

who passed the test in the garden and whose obedience is ascribed to us.

There is a true and better Abel who, though innocently slain,

has blood that cries out, not for our condemnation,

but for our acquittal. There is a true and better Abraham

who answered the call of God to leave all the comfortable and familiar

and go out into the void to create a new people of God.

There is a true and better Isaac, the son of laughter, of grace,

who was not just offered up by his father on the mount

but was truly sacrificed for us all. There is a true and better Jacob

who wrestled and took the blow of justice we deserved,

so we, like Jacob, only receive the wounds of grace

that wake us up and discipline us. There is a true and better Joseph

who, at the right hand of the king, forgives those who betrayed and sold him

and uses his new power to save them. There is a true and better Moses

who stands in the gap between the people and the Lord

and who mediates a new covenant. There is a true and better Rock of Moses

who, struck with the rod of God's justice, now gives us water in the desert.

There is a true and better Job, the truly innocent sufferer,

who then intercedes for and saves his foolish friends.

There is a true and better David whose victory becomes his people's victory,

though they never lifted a stone to accomplish it themselves.

There is a true and better Esther who didn't just risk losing an earthly palace

but lost the ultimate heavenly one, who didn't just risk his life,

but gave his life to save his people. There is a true and better Jonah

who was cast out into the storm so that we could be brought in.

There is a true and better Passover Lamb, innocent, perfect, helpless,

slain so the angel of death will pass over us.

He's the true temple, the true prophet, the true priest,

the true king, the true sacrifice, the true lamb, the true light,

and the true bread. The bible is not a series of disconnected

stories.It is a single narrative that points to one person...

Jesus