Letter to Mark
From idontknownuthin
Dear Mark,
Twenty-six years ago I taught hermeneutics in seminars prior to teaching evangelism. Understanding the reasons for one’s faith is critical to a rational presentation of the gospel. After showing the methods for literal interpretation and emphasizing a clear and solid understanding of the authors’ intentions, I concluded with a statement, based in faith, that all scriptures spoke of Christ, and so we should look for him everywhere.
This simple assertion was based upon “And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Lu 24:27 AV)
I believe that God has blessed that simple faith, and has blessed me richly by permitting me to see the outline, and perhaps some of the details of that sermon on the road to Emmaus.
I studied briefly with a rabbi, which experience I found most unsatisfactory. His methods were strange and his conclusions always wrong, since they missed the salvific message of Christ.
When I returned to my own studies, pictures of Christ popped out everywhere. I have since realized that I am using his methods, but applying them to the Old and New Testaments together, whereas he was blind to Christ since he would not look at the New Testament.
Tamar
The first clear picture of Christ that I saw was in the story of Tamar in Gen 38. It is difficult to find meaning in the literal interpretation and the best interpreters are relegated to concluding that the narrative shows that Jesus was descended from some colorfully sinful people, or that “What goes around comes around”.
However, there are hints to a deeper meaning:
The name Timnath means "appointment" and Tamar met Judah before Timanth. It is appointed unto man, once to die, and Mary met God before Christ's appointed time.
Tamar was promised a goat, Mary was promised a scape goat, "for he will save his people from their sin."
Both Tamar and Mary wanted an assurance of the promise.
Tamar was given the rod, and Mary was told "The power of God..." Tamar was given a signet ring, and Mary was told "He will be called the Son ..." In Numbers we find out that an empty vessel without bracelets is unclean. Tamar was given bracelets (was clean) and Mary was told "The Holy Ghost will come upon you (not unclean)
When they were discovered to be pregnant both were threatened. When the father was discovered, they both were honored.
Judah was told "There was no prostitute here" Joseph was told not to be afraid to take Mary.
Tamar had twins… Mary had the God-man.
The names of the twins means "Breaking forth" "rising sun" and Jesus was called "Dayspring"
Pharez was a usurping second son (in a long line) and Jesus was the second man who obtained the promise. (Adam being the first man, and he did not obtain the promise).
We immediately sense a picture of the birth of Christ.
Now what just happened?
Hearing, Seeing, Walking
The Jewish word ‘Torah’ is most commonly used to speak of the first five books of the Bible, however, the meaning is deeper than this. “Torah’ includes the full revelation of God. This is expressed in the ideas of hearing, seeing and walking.
When God met Israel at the mountain he first spoke to them, but they could not hear him. He showed them the works of his hand in the written law in the stone tablets, but they could not see him, so he “walked” among them as a pillar of smoke and fire.
Paul, in his letter to the Romans, tells the same story in different words. All men are without excuse because God has spoken to them (He is made manifest). He then has shown them the works of his hand (all creation testifies...). And now he walks among us as the Son.
These three witnesses testify for us or against us. When we are deaf, we cannot hear the voice of the Shepherd. We do not respond to our instinctive knowledge of God. When we are blind, we do not respond when our intellect has been engaged, and reason demands that we acknowledge God. We are lame, when we are unable to live as Christ would have us live because we are shackled with the chains of sin, or burdened with the yoke of the law of sin and death.
By sensing that in the story is a shadow of the birth of Christ, you have just experienced hearing. It is likely that you already hear His voice in many parts of the Bible, but that it is a distant voice that isn’t clear.
We sense that the parting waters of the Red Sea and the Jordan River, the cleft rock, the torn veil are all parts of the same picture of Christ, but the picture isn’t clear. This is hearing.
We notice that there is a strange pattern of inheritance among the Hebrews where the second son gets the inheritance and we know there is something hiding just beneath the surface that speaks of Christ. We observe that the pattern of the second wife being the loved, but can’t connect it to Christ. These are the muffled words of God, indiscernible in content, but recognizable by His voice.
Seeing
At my age I am beginning to not hear so well. I find that it is helpful to my understanding if I look at the person speaking. This is no different for our spiritual nature. The muffled words of Christ become clear when we look at Him when he speaks.
When we engage our intellect, and examine to see if the word is true, then the words we heard become clear. I believe the methods I learned from the rabbi are intellectual exercises that permit us to see. The rabbi was unable to see Christ simply because he refused to look at Christ. He refuses to read the New Testament scriptures and apply the methods of seeing upon them.
I am writing this to you to share the wonderful gift this rabbi has given me. I know you share the same simple faith expressed above, that all the scriptures speak of Him. I hope I am able to communicate the gift in such a way that you too can experience the joy and delight of seeing our Lord in the shadows of the Old Testament.
