Hermeneutics 101 - An introduction to The Cross: Finding Life in Jesus' Death study

This study of the cross seeks to point out Christ and the gospel throughout the entire Bible. It is important to understand that God hid the gospel in a "mystery" (that is, in story form) in the Old Testament (Ephesians 1:9; 3:3-4; 3:9; 6:19, Colossians 1:26). Our study of the cross seeks to reveal that mystery; that is, to open up the stories of the Bible to show how they point to Jesus, specifically to His death and resurrection, but also to His ascension and ministry in heaven, and to His return.

A note of caution is needed here, because some have taken the concept of the gospel "mystery" and used it to spiritualize away certain facts and stories in the Bible. For instance, creation would then become merely a spiritual story of salvation (the earth was in darkness, void, empty and dead, then it came to life, was filled and began producing fruit). While the illustration is a good one, it is wrong to say that the story of creation is only a spiritual teaching and to deny that creation didn’t really happen in a literal, seven-day period. Similarly, the story of the ark might be used to merely teach spiritual truths about Christ and salvation, instead of being understood in a straightforward manner as God designed it to be. Yes, the story of the ark is a great picture of salvation in Christ, but the story should first be understood as a literal, historical event. The flood actually happened, the waters literally covered the entire earth, and all people were wiped out except Noah and his family, just as the Bible says.

This spiritualizing away of the creation story, the flood, and many other actual, historical events leads to disastrous results, whereby the Bible ceases to teach in a literal and straightforward manner, and all stories become merely "object lessons" of spirituality. Spiritualizing in this manner destroys trust in God’s Word because the student is always encouraged to try to figure out the "this means that" of the stories. The wood of the ark means the cross, the water of the flood means God’s wrath, etc. While we can learn these spiritual lessons, it is important to acknowledge that the stories themselves are true events.

So, during our study of the cross, we will be pointing out numerous ways in which the gospel was hidden in a mystery in the stories of the Old Testament, but we do not mean to imply that the stories didn’t actually happen. We affirm that the Bible stories are literal events (unless clearly stated to be parables), and that the Bible is an historically accurate account of God’s dealing with man, as well as containing spiritual truths about the cross, sin and salvation, etc.

Hermeneutics is the art and science of biblical interpretation. It is a science because there are rules which may be followed to draw proper conclusions out of the text itself. Rules such as these are important to apply to every passage we study:

1-To whom was the (human) author writing?
2-What was the message he conveyed to them?
3-What were the cultural settings, customs, traditions, etc., at the time of the writing? How do they affect our understanding of the passage?
4-How does the passage, and the teaching drawn from it, fit in contextually with the previous and next chapter, the previous and next book, and the context of the Bible as a whole?
5-What would the passage have said to the specific people to whom it was written? How would they have understood it?
6-Is the passage history, poetry, prophecy, wisdom literature, or one of the gospels or epistles? How does the recognition of each of these genres affect the interpretation of the passage?
7-What was God saying in this passage? Not what is God saying "to me", but rather, what is God saying?

These and other rules can be applied to each passage of the Bible to help us come to a proper interpretation.

But hermeneutics is not only the science of biblical interpretation, it is also an art. Here the personal element comes in as we learn how to properly interpret and apply a particular passage of Scripture. Humans have a tendency to view all things, including the Bible, through the lens of their own experience, understanding, education and viewpoints. When it comes to interpreting the Bible, it becomes imperative to try to remove personal biases, so that the proper biblical interpretation might come through. We may improve this with practice; therefore interpreting the Bible is also an art.

I’ve titled this introduction "Hermeneutics 101" because I believe the following is the first, basic, and most important part of interpreting Scripture, and it is especially true of the Old Testament where the cross is hidden in a mystery. Let’s begin with John chapter 5 verses 39-40:

Jesus said to the religious people of His day:

³⁹ You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
John 5:39-40 (NIV)

So, here is our overall premise: the Word of God was given to reveal the glory of God’s character. It does that best in revealing the sinner’s need through the Law, and then in revealing Jesus Christ as the Solution to the need. More specifically, our basic hermeneutic is that Moses and the Prophets (in other words, the entire Old Testament) wrote about Christ. Jesus said, "...the Scriptures testify about me." This is true, not just in the well-known passages of the Old Testament (Exodus 17, Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, Zech. 12, etc.) but in hundreds and thousands of places throughout the entire Bible. The Cross study seeks to examine and reveal Christ and the gospel not only in the well-known passages, but in the parts that are less-known, but that just as clearly reveal the "mystery of the cross" in story form.

The following clarifies exactly what we mean: It is taken from Jesus in the Bible - Finding Jesus in Every Book of the Bible, by Kenneth Boa.

"Believe it or not, Christ permeates the Scriptures. He is the living Word (John 1:1) of whom the written Word speaks constantly. Everywhere we read, we find hints, glimpses, foreshadowings, veiled references, graphic pictures, whispered allusions, and prophetic mentions of Jesus. He moves through all the pages of the Bible, not just in the Gospels or in the apostles’ epistles. Look carefully, and you will see Him again and again in the poets and prophets." (page ix) ¹

The "everywhere" includes Leviticus, 1 and 2 Chronicles, Ruth, Judges, etc. and all the 39 books of the Old Testament. Those books contain the "hints, glimpses, foreshadowings, veiled references," and all the rest.

If we want to be biblically accurate in our interpretation of scripture, specifically the Old Testament, we must begin with the understanding that "these are the Scriptures that testify about me" (Christ). Some people may see that there are, indeed, clear foreshadows and prophecies about Christ, but they might miss the "hints, glimpses and whispered allusions" that are sprinkled throughout the Scriptures.

"Mobile Hermeneutics Class"

Please examine the following passage of Scripture:

Luke 24:13-31 ESV
(13) That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem,
(14) and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened.
(15) While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them.
(16) But their eyes were kept from recognizing him.
(17) And he said to them, "What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad.
(18) Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?"
(19) And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people,
(20) and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him.
(21) But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened.
(22) Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning,
(23) and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive.
(24) Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."
(25) And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!
(26) Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?"
(27) And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.
(28) So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther,
(29) but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
(30) When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them.
(31) And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight.

Jesus gave a mobile biblical hermeneutics class when He walked the Emmaus road with His disheartened disciples. Had these disciples previously seen the "hints, glimpses, foreshadowings and whispered allusions" to Christ in all the Scriptures, they would have understood things much more clearly. But they needed help to understand the Bible, so during this portable classroom, Jesus took His disciples to the written Word of God, the Old Testament, and opened up their understanding on how to interpret the Bible. In essence, He alluded to the above statement that, "everywhere we read we find hints, glimpses, foreshadowings, veiled references, graphic pictures, whispered allusions, and prophetic mentions of Jesus." Then He took them to the stories and showed them how to interpret the Scriptures in a Christ-centered way. He took them to the clear references and bold prophecies, yes, but since He chastised these believers for being slow to believe "all that the prophets spoke," He no doubt took them to a few "veiled references" and "whispered allusions" also.

Next, Jesus stated His main principle for biblical interpretation, so that once He was physically gone, they would know how to accurately interpret their Old Testament Bibles. He said:

²⁷ And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
Luke 24:27 (NIV)

We should highlight and underline the last two words of that verse: "...concerning Himself." The Scriptures, from Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21 are "concerning Himself." The Old Testament is history, yes, but it is also His story, and during our study of the cross we will be watching His story unfold. Correct biblical interpretation begins where the Book of Revelation begins by stating that these Scriptures are "a revelation of Jesus Christ." And this "revelation of Jesus Christ" is not just in the book of Revelation nor in the clear prophecies; not just in well-known and much-talked-about passages, but also in "shadows and hints and veiled references," in passages that might be considered more obscure.

When Jesus finished his mobile class on biblical hermeneutics, He performed a miracle; He opened their eyes! That is, He illumined their understanding so that they might see Him. The exact words are:

³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him.
Luke 24:31 (NIV)

This same miracle must be performed today. When God opens our eyes to Christ we "recognize Him" in the clear prophecies, yes, but we also recognize Him in the veiled references. After the miracle of grace where Jesus opens our eyes (illumines our understanding), we see Jesus, just as the Greeks asked to do ("sirs, we would see Jesus"-John 12:21). We see Him when we read our Bibles, and we see Him everywhere. We see Him in the story of creation, in the story of the ark, in the Passover Lamb, in the uplifted serpent, the smitten rock, the sacrifices of the Tabernacle, in the stories of Samson, and Esther, and Nehemiah, and David, and all the other hundreds of passages that "concern Himself."

You see, this walk on the Emmaus Road was really a picture of the way those two disciples had been studying their Bibles. As they walked along that road, Jesus was right there with them, but they did not discern Him. He was so close, He was speaking, but they did not recognize Him. That was how they had studied their Old Testament Bibles. They would open the pages and read the words, but they did not discern Christ. He was right there in all the clear prophecies, foreshadows, hints, whispers and allusions, but they did not recognize Him. See what an amazing "object lesson" that walk on the Emmaus Road was? And my friend, how is your discernment? Do you read your Old Testament and see Christ? Or are you in need of having your eyes opened, too?

Earlier I mentioned that this manner of interpreting the Bible is of first importance. Let me share with you where I get that:

¹ Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. ² By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. ³ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵ and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve. ⁶ After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. ⁷ Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles,
1 Corinthians 15:1-7 (NIV)

Paul stated that the cross of Jesus Christ is of "first importance" and that His death and resurrection were "according to the Scriptures." The "Scriptures" he mentions here are the Old Testament Scriptures, those where the cross of Christ is "hidden in a mystery." In other words, when reading the Old Testament, we read of Jesus’ death for our sins and His resurrection from the dead, and that gospel (and that manner of interpreting the Old Testament) is of "first importance."

In The Cross study, I have tried to make the point, both with Scripture and with the writings of other men, that proper biblical hermeneutics is all about seeing Jesus. After all, if we are supposed to "fix our eyes on Jesus" (Hebrews 12:2) then when we read the Scriptures, any of them, we should see Him. We should be like the people in the synagogue who, after Jesus read the Word from Isaiah, "fixed their eyes on Him" (Luke 4:20). We should be like the three disciples who, after hearing Moses and Elijah on the mountain, "saw no one but Jesus only." This is the right and proper way to interpret the Bible. "And when they lifted up their eyes, they saw no one but Jesus only" (Matthew 17:8). We see Him as the eternal God, as the second Member of the Trinity, as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world, as the King and Sovereign of the universe.

Now that we have briefly looked at this subject in the scriptures, let me add that I seldom have an original thought. Each and every one of the stories I reference in The Cross study has either originated from, or is confirmed by the writings of other men such as Charles Spurgeon, Arthur Pink, Matthew Henry and many others. This should not surprise us, for when Jesus "opens our eyes" we all recognize Him together, and we all rejoice and experience burning hearts of love for Him just as the disciples did on the Emmaus Road (Luke 24:32).

One warning is needed here, and it comes again from the book Jesus in the Bible - Finding Jesus in Every Book of the Bible, by Kenneth Boa:

". . .we must be careful not to get so caught up in the exciting subplots of the Bible that we miss the main plot - God’s cosmic plan to recapture the glory He deserves and to rescue the creatures He loves by sending Jesus Christ. The main character of the Bible is Christ. In the words of the apostle Paul, ‘He is before all things, and in Him all things consist’ (Col. 1:17). If this statement is true, (and it is), then Christ is the underlying presence who gives coherence to the entire story of the Bible." (page 4) ¹

There is caution issued here, and that caution is to make sure we do not miss Christ! When you read of the rock being struck in the wilderness, don’t miss Christ and His life-giving death. When you read of the scapegoat bearing the sins of the people away into the wilderness, don’t miss Christ and His removal of our sins. When you read of the Tabernacle don’t miss Him Who came to "tabernacle among us" (John 1:14). When you read of Jonah being taken from the ship and thrown into the deep where he remained for three days and three nights, don’t miss Jesus Who died for His people, was buried, and rose again on the third day. I cannot find any warnings in Scripture about seeing Christ, nor the cross, “too much” in the Scriptures, but warnings abound about missing Him. Indeed, let’s not miss Christ in any of the books of the Bible.

This manner of biblical interpretation yields sweet fruit and rich rewards to those who embrace it. The Emmaus Road of Biblical Interpretation is "Hermeneutics 101" and should be a life-long walk; a walk where our hearts burn with love for Jesus Christ because He is opening the Scriptures to our hearts and opening our eyes to Himself. Let’s walk on that road all our lives.

Mike Cleveland

¹"Jesus in the Bible - Seeing Jesus in Every Book of the Bible" by Kenneth Boa, published by Thomas Nelson, Inc., 2002.