It’s About to Happen

Today’s Through the Bible Reading: Joel 3; Malachi 1-4

“…and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come …” Malachi 3:1

The Old Testament contains 39 books, 929 chapters, and 23,145 verses (in the King James). And after today’s reading you will have read every single one of them. Great job! (If you missed a day or two, no problem. You’ll get ’em next year won’t you?)

As we’ve seen so clearly, the Old Testament is one big picture book with all the pictures, prophecies, foreshadows, and typologies pointing to the person of Jesus Christ. Remember, Jesus is the very essence of the Scriptures. The Old Testament points to Him and the New Testament reveals Him. After all, He is the Word made flesh (John 1:14). We looked for Him, and we certainly found Him! Soon we’ll see Him not in foreshadows, but in the flesh!

But first, let’s take one last look for our Messiah as prophesied by Malachi. For in Malachi 3:1 we read:

“Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to His temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, He shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.”

Indeed, God sent His messenger! John the Baptist prepared the way and declared the glorious entrance of the Messiah.

“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” John 1:29

In Malachi, God promised a resolution of righteousness.

“But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings…” Malachi 4:2

Jesus, the Sun of Righteousness, is our Light and brought healing in His hands.

“because of the tender mercy of our God, whereby the sunrise shall visit us from on high to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.” Luke 1:78-79 ESV

Reading all the way through the Old Testament is no small feat. But the real power is found not from simply getting through the material or even in seeing the pictures of Jesus. Rather, the power comes through trusting wholly in the One pictured!