Introduction — The Bible Is About More Than Bible Stories
When many people study the Bible, they see a collection of individual stories. They read about Adam and Eve. And they learn from Noah’s obedience. Also, they are inspired by David’s courage. Again, they admire Joseph’s wisdom and faithfulness. Then they move into the New Testament and study the life and teachings of Jesus.
Certainly, there is much to learn from all these people.
However, the Bible is more than a collection of inspiring stories about remarkable men and women.
There is one Person who stands at the center of it all.
Jesus Christ.
From Genesis to Revelation, the Scriptures progressively reveal God’s plan of redemption through His Son. Therefore, to study the Bible without seeking to know Christ is to miss the heart of the Book.
Jesus Himself made this clear after His resurrection. Speaking to two of His disciples on the road to Emmaus, the Bible says:
And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself. — Luke 24:27 (NKJV)
What an extraordinary Bible study that must have been!
Jesus began with Moses. Then, He moved through the Prophets. And throughout the Scriptures, He showed them the things concerning Himself.
This tells us something important: Jesus is not merely found in the four Gospels. He is the central thread running through the entire story of Scripture.
So, as you study the Bible, do not only ask, what can I learn from this person? Ask also, What does this passage reveal about Christ? That question can open the Scriptures to you in a deeper and more beautiful way.
Jesus Is the Center of God’s Revelation
To understand why Jesus is central to Scripture, we must first understand who He is.
The Bible tells us:
God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son… — Hebrews 1:1–2 (NKJV)
God spoke through the prophets. He revealed Himself through dreams, visions, laws, covenants, and miracles. Yet His ultimate revelation came through His Son. Jesus did not simply come to give us another message from God. He came as the fullest revelation of God Himself.
The writer of Hebrews goes on to describe Him as:
“…the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person…” — Hebrews 1:3 (NKJV)
Therefore, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. If you want to understand God’s love, look at Jesus. And if you want to see God’s compassion, holiness, power, mercy, and grace in action, study Jesus.
This is why knowing Christ should never be a small part of Bible study. He is central.
All Scripture Points Toward Christ
Jesus made a remarkable statement to those who searched the Scriptures diligently.
He said:
You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. — John 5:39 (NKJV)
The people Jesus addressed knew the Scriptures. They studied and searched them. Yet they failed to recognize the One to whom those Scriptures pointed.
This is a warning for every student of the Bible.
It is possible to study Scripture and gain information without growing in the knowledge of Christ. You can know Bible history, memorize verses, and understand biblical events. Nevertheless, if your study does not draw you closer to Jesus, something essential is missing.
The Scriptures testify of Him.
Therefore, Bible study should lead beyond information into relationship. As you read, ask the Holy Spirit to help you see Christ more clearly. For the more you truly know Him, the more deeply your entire Christian life will be transformed.
Christ Was Present in God’s Plan From the Beginning
Jesus did not suddenly appear when Matthew opened the New Testament.
God’s plan for Christ began unfolding from the earliest pages of Scripture. After sin entered the world, God spoke of a coming Seed who would deal with the enemy.
He said to the serpent:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel. — Genesis 3:15 (NKJV)
This promise points forward to the ultimate victory of Christ. Although the enemy would wound Him, Jesus would ultimately crush the power of the serpent.
From that moment, the story of redemption began to unfold: the sacrifices, covenants, prophecies, and promises. All became part of the unfolding revelation of God’s plan to redeem humanity through Christ.
Consequently, when you study the Old Testament, remember that you are not reading a disconnected history that has nothing to do with Jesus. You are watching God’s redemptive plan unfold step by step.
Seeing Christ in the Old Testament
Some believers enjoy studying the New Testament but struggle to understand why the Old Testament is important.
They may see its laws, sacrifices, kings, prophets, and historical events as distant from their present Christian experience. Yet Jesus showed that the Old Testament Scriptures spoke concerning Him.
After His resurrection, He said:
These are the words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me. — Luke 24:44 (NKJV)
Notice the three broad divisions mentioned:
The Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms.
All contained things concerning Christ.
This does not mean that every detail in the Old Testament should be forced into a symbolic meaning. Neither should we invent connections where Scripture does not support them.
However, we should understand that God’s redemptive plan consistently moves toward Christ.
For example, the Passover lamb points us toward Jesus, the Lamb who gave His life for the redemption of humanity.
John the Baptist declared:
Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! — John 1:29 (NKJV)
Likewise, the sacrificial system reveals the seriousness of sin and humanity’s need for atonement. The kingship of David points toward the coming eternal King. Also, the prophets anticipated the Messiah. And, the promises of redemption find their ultimate fulfillment in Christ.
Therefore, the Old Testament becomes even more meaningful when we study it with an understanding of God’s unfolding plan.
Jesus Reveals the Character of God
Perhaps you have read parts of the Old Testament and wondered what God is truly like.
At times, people struggle to reconcile their limited understanding of certain passages with the love and compassion they see in Jesus. However, Jesus gave us a clear answer. When Philip asked Him to show them the Father, Jesus replied:
“He who has seen Me has seen the Father…” — John 14:9 (NKJV)
What a profound statement.
Jesus reveals the Father to us.
When you see Jesus touching the sick, you see the compassion of God. See Him forgiving sinners, you see the mercy of God. Also, when you see Him confronting hypocrisy, you see the holiness of God. And when you see Him willingly going to the cross, you see the love of God.
Therefore, studying Jesus helps us understand the character of the God we serve. And as your understanding of God’s character grows, your faith in Him will grow as well.
Study the Words of Jesus Carefully
If Jesus is the center of Scripture, then His words deserve careful attention.
Many believers know what Jesus said generally but have never taken time to study His teachings deeply.
Yet Jesus said:
Therefore, whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock. — Matthew 7:24 (NKJV)
Notice that hearing His words is important. However, doing them is equally important. Jesus did not call His followers merely to admire His teachings. Rather, He called them to build their lives upon them.
So when studying the words of Jesus, do not rush. Ask yourself:
What is He teaching here?
What does this reveal about the Kingdom of God, and the Father’s heart?
How should this truth change the way I live?
In this way, your study of Jesus will move beyond admiration into transformation.
Study the Life of Jesus, Not Only His Words
Jesus taught with His words, but He also taught through His life.
The way He responded to people revealed the Kingdom. His compassion revealed God’s heart. His obedience revealed complete surrender to the Father. Even His relationship with His disciples teaches us how to walk with others.
Peter described the life and ministry of Jesus in these words:
“…how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.” — Acts 10:38 (NKJV)
What a beautiful summary.
He went about doing good. Jesus did not merely speak about love, He demonstrated it. He did not only teach about compassion, He showed it. And He did not simply speak about faith, He lived in complete trust and obedience to His Father.
Therefore, as you study the Gospels, pay attention not only to what Jesus said but also to what He did.
Watch how He responded. Notice how He prayed. Observe how He treated the weak and rejected. Study His priorities, and look at His relationship with the Father.
There is much to learn when we carefully observe the life of Christ.
Knowing Christ Should Lead to Becoming Like Him
The ultimate purpose of studying Jesus is not simply to know more facts about Him. It is to become more like Him.
Scripture tells us that God’s purpose is for believers to be:
“…conformed to the image of His Son…” — Romans 8:29 (NKJV)
This is the goal of spiritual growth.
As we know Christ, we should increasingly reflect His character. His love should influence how we treat others. And His humility should shape our attitudes. His obedience should challenge our choices. And His compassion should affect our actions. Gradually, the Word should produce Christlikeness within us.
Paul expressed this desire when he wrote:
“…that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection…” — Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Paul was not satisfied with simply knowing about Christ. He wanted to know Him. And that should be our desire too.
Keep Christ at the Center of Your Bible Study
It is easy to become distracted by secondary matters when studying Scripture.
Debates can become more important than devotion. Knowledge can become more important than transformation. Arguments about Scripture can sometimes overshadow the Christ whom Scripture reveals.
However, Paul reminds us that Christ is central.
“And He is before all things, and by Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church…” — Colossians 1:17–18 (NKJV)
Therefore, keep returning to Him.
As you study the Bible, allow every genuine discovery to deepen your love for Christ. Let your knowledge produce worship. Allow truth to lead you into obedience. And let your understanding of Jesus shape your daily walk with God.
Because the greatest outcome of Bible study is not simply being able to explain Scripture well. It is knowing the One whom the Scriptures reveal.
A Practical Way to Study Jesus
As you read through the Gospels, begin to study Jesus intentionally.
Choose a passage and ask simple but meaningful questions:
What does this passage reveal about Jesus?
What does it reveal about His relationship with the Father?
How does Jesus respond to people in this passage?
What does His response teach me about God’s character?
Is there something in His life that I need to imitate?
What does this passage reveal about His mission?
Then take time to pray over what you have learned.
Do not rush into the next passage simply because you have completed your reading. Stay with the truth, meditate on it, and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal Christ more deeply to you. And then ask God to make you more like His Son.
Reflection — Who Is Jesus to You?
Now, pause for a moment.
Jesus once asked His disciples:
But who do you say that I am? — Matthew 16:15 (NKJV)
This question remains deeply personal.
Who is Jesus to you?
Is He simply the central figure of Christianity?
Do you know many things about Him without truly knowing Him personally?
Or are you growing in your relationship with Him through the Word?
Take time to consider:
- What have I learned about Jesus recently?
- Does my Bible study draw me closer to Him?
- Am I becoming more like the Christ I study?
- Have I allowed knowledge about Jesus to replace a genuine relationship with Him?
- What aspect of Christ’s life do I need to study more deeply?
Your answers may reveal where the Lord is inviting you to grow.
Conclusion — The Greatest Discovery in Scripture
The Bible contains history. It contains prophecy. And there is wisdom, instruction, correction, warning, and encouragement within its pages. Yet at the heart of it all stands Jesus Christ.
From Genesis to Revelation, God’s redemptive purpose points toward Him. Therefore, do not study the Bible merely to accumulate knowledge.
Study to know Christ. Search the Scriptures, but look for the One to whom they testify. Read the Gospels, but seek to understand His heart. Examine His teachings, but allow them to shape your life. And as you continue growing in the knowledge of Jesus, may Paul’s prayer become your own:
“…that I may know Him…” — Philippians 3:10 (NKJV)
Because knowing Christ is not the end of Bible study. It is the reason for it.
Transition
Now that we have explored the central place of Jesus in Scripture, the next chapter takes us into another important reality of our walk with God’s Word.
How do we hold on to Scripture when life becomes difficult?
Because knowing the Word is important. However, learning to stand on that Word during painful and challenging seasons is equally important.
In the next chapter, we will explore:
Studying the Bible During Difficult Seasons
And discover how God’s Word can strengthen, comfort, guide, and sustain us when life does not go as planned.
Jesus is Lord!
–
Please leave your comment below, I would like to hear from you
Visit my site for more spiritual resources.
Connect with me .
Also, connect with me on
Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/stepswithgod
Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/stepswithgod
I am very active on my social media platforms.
God bless you.
–
Ngozi Nwoke
Grace and peace of God be unto you.
Do share this post. If you enjoyed this post make sure you subscribe to our mailing list (Up top right) for free email updates
About the Author
