Answer
The Bible is God’s Word to us (Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16). Studying God’s Word shows us who God is and what He has done. The Bible also reveals what matters to Him, how we are to live, and our purpose in His plan of redemption. Jesus is also called the Word (John 1:1), and He is “the image of the invisible God” (Colossians 1:15) in whom all God’s fulness dwells (Colossians 1:19). Jesus is the theme of the Bible. Jesus is in every book of the Bible because everything in the Bible ultimately points to Him (see John 5:39).
From the beginning pages of Genesis to the end of Revelation, Jesus is present and active. Although the Son of God did not come to earth until a specific point in history, He is integral in both the Old and New Testaments. The Old Testament reveals our need for a Savior and predicts His coming, setting the stage for His entrance into the world. He appears in prophecy and in Christophanies—pre-incarnate appearances of the Son of God (Genesis 16:7–14; 22:11–18; Judges 5:23; 2 Kings 19:35; Daniel 3:25). The New Testament describes His coming, His work to bring salvation to our sinful world, and His ongoing work as we await God’s kingdom and the restoration of all things (Acts 3:21; Revelation 21:1). We can see Jesus in every book of the Bible in the following ways:
Genesis — Jesus is the Word of God, creating the heavens and the earth; He is the promised Seed of the woman
Exodus — Jesus is the Passover lamb
Leviticus — Jesus is the high priest and representative of the tabernacle; He is the lampstand, He is the showbread, and He is the sacrifice on the altar
Numbers — Jesus is the pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night and the smitten rock that gives living water
Deuteronomy — Jesus is the prophet greater than Moses
Joshua — Jesus is the Commander of the Army of the Lord, leading His people into the Promised Land
Judges — Jesus is the true and final judge
Ruth — Jesus is the kinsman redeemer
1 & 2 Samuel — Jesus is the anointed shepherd king who slays the giant
1 & 2 Kings — Jesus is the righteous King of Kings and Lord of Lords
1 & 2 Chronicles — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the kingdom
Ezra — Jesus is the faithful restorer of the temple
Nehemiah — Jesus is the redeeming rebuilder of the walls
Esther — Jesus is the sovereign protector of His people
Job — Jesus is the living redeemer and our true comforter
Psalms — Jesus is the Good Shepherd who hears our cries
Proverbs — Jesus is wisdom
Ecclesiastes — Jesus is the meaning of life
Song of Solomon — Jesus is the loving bridegroom coming for His bride
Isaiah — Jesus is the promised Messiah; the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace; the Suffering Servant wounded for our transgression and bruised for our iniquities
Jeremiah — Jesus is the Potter and the Righteous Branch
Lamentations — Jesus is the weeping prophet
Ezekiel — Jesus is the river of life, bringing healing to the nations
Daniel — Jesus is the fourth man in the fiery furnace
Hosea — Jesus is the ever-faithful husband pursuing His unfaithful bride
Joel — Jesus is the restorer of what the locusts have eaten and the One who will pour His Spirit on His people
Amos — Jesus is the burden-bearer and the true restoration
Obadiah — Jesus is the judge of all the earth and mighty to save
Jonah — Jesus is the salvation of all lands and the prophet cast out in the storm who spent three days in the depths
Micah — Jesus is the promised Messiah born in Bethlehem
Nahum — Jesus is the avenger of God’s elect
Habakkuk — Jesus is the reason for rejoicing and our strength even when the fields are empty
Zephaniah — Jesus is the preserver and restorer of His remnant and kingdom
Haggai — Jesus is the desire of all nations
Zechariah — Jesus is the cleansing fountain and the pierced Son whom every eye on earth will one day behold
Malachi — Jesus is the Sun of Righteousness, rising with healing in His wings; He is the refiner’s fire
Matthew — Jesus is the King of the Jews
Mark — Jesus is the Servant King
Luke — Jesus is the Son of Man
John — Jesus is the Son of God, the Word made flesh who dwelt among us, and the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world
Acts — Jesus is the risen Lord, bringing salvation to all nations
Romans — Jesus is our justification and the righteousness of God
1 Corinthians — Jesus is the Rock
2 Corinthians — Jesus is our triumph, sanctifying the church
Galatians — Jesus is the liberation that fulfills the law and sets us free
Ephesians — Jesus is the head of the church who gives us God’s armor
Philippians — Jesus is our joy
Colossians — Jesus is the firstborn of all creation and the head of the church
1 Thessalonians — Jesus is coming again with a trumpet and a shout to meet believers in the clouds
2 Thessalonians — Jesus is believers’ patience as they await His return
1 Timothy — Jesus is our mediator between God and man
2 Timothy — Jesus is the Seed of David, raised from the dead, and our salvation
Titus — Jesus is our blessed hope and our faithful pastor
Philemon — Jesus is our Redeemer, restoring us to effective service
Hebrews — Jesus is our High Priest and the author and finisher of our faith
James — Jesus is the One at work in our faith in action
1 Peter — Jesus is the Living Stone, the Chief Cornerstone, and the Rock of Offense
2 Peter — Jesus is the faithful, longsuffering Lord, not willing that any should perish but offering salvation to all
1 John — Jesus is love and the true and eternal God
2 John — Jesus is the truth by which we walk in love
3 John — Jesus is all that is good and a hospitable host
Jude — Jesus is the One who keeps us from stumbling and presents us blameless with great joy
Revelation — Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and end, the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
