Jesus on Every Page—David Murray

INTRODUCTION

Isn’t the Old Testament distinctly Jewish? Why would believers in the church age study the Old Testament prophets, law, and history when we now have the New Testament? Questions, like these, need answers. David Murray, in his book Jesus on Every Page, explains his journey discovering Christ in the Old Testament, and answers the “Why read?” question by writing “an accessible guide to the increasingly popular subject of Jesus in the Old Testament” (1). In Jesus on Every Page, Murray offers an excellent starting point for Christians who want to explore Jesus in the Old Testament scriptures.

an accessible guide to the increasingly popular subject of Jesus in the Old Testament

Far from an academic manual, Murray shares his personal journey of discovering Christ in Old Testament canon and how it led him to worship. He then organizes his Christological insights into “ten simple ways to seek and find Christ in the Old Testament.” His book Jesus on Every Page enriches readers both theologically and devotionally, offering a fresh perspective on the relevance of the Old Testament text for modern Christians.

FOUNDATION

David Murray begins with a foundation for his thesis that Jesus can be found on every page of the Old Testament text in Part One, providing four Gospel keys from Jesus, Peter, Paul, and John. Jesus’s declaration that Moses and the Prophets testified of him is referenced first, followed by the evidence from I Peter 1:10-12 that Peter “totally agreed with Jesus” when he acknowledges that the prophets predicted the sufferings of Christ and preached the gospel of Jesus in their Old Testament message (19). Furthermore, Murray contends that the book of Galatians, written by the great Apostle Paul, shows how the covenant of Sinai comprised a covenant of Grace, also agreeing with Jesus. Unfortunately, the Jews perverted the Old Testament law, and in Galatians 3-4, Paul distinguishes “between the Old Testament rightly understood [e.g., grace-foreshadowing] and the Old Testament as warped and perverted by Judaizing legalists” (26). Finally, Murray explains that the Apostle John taught that grace was present in the Old Testament, but Jesus “intensified and magnified” that grace through his incarnation (38). The four gospel keys outlined in Part One of Jesus on Every Page support Murray’s ten ways to seek and find Christ in the Old Testament and affirm the on-going relevance of the Old Testament canon.

FINDING CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

The principal contribution of the book is found in chapters 7-16. In this part of the book, Murray describes in detail the Christocentric nature of the Old Testament. In chapter nine, the author points out the obvious theophanies, or bodily appearances of Christ as the “Angel of the Lord.” He then shares the anticipations of Christ in aspects of Creation, Old Testament Characters, and the Mosaic Law. In chapter eleven, Murray relates the patterns of Old Testament history that anticipate the future Savior. Additionally, he shows how the prophets anticipate Christ in chapter twelve, and Murray’s careful explores Old Testament types of Christ in chapter thirteen. Finally, Jesus on Every Page concludes with explanation of Christ in the covenants, as well as the genres of wisdom literature and poetry in the Old Testament. Murray’s ten simple ways of discovering Christ in the Old Testament resonate with accessibility and balance. The author equips readers with guide rails and insights for exegetical discovery, carefully guiding them to responsible exegesis of the Old Testament. In the growing collection of Christo-centric writings, Jesus on Every Page offers a layman’s guide that will benefit all students of the Old Testament.

ten simple ways to seek and find Christ in the Old Testament

CRITIQUE

Although Murray’s book is strong in many aspects, some readers may find Jesus on Every Page openly removed from their theological positions. As a Reformed pastor and professor, Murray does not vail his rigid covenantal perspective of Scripture. Chapters six and ten may present areas of disagreement for those who do not share his theological beliefs. In these chapters, Murray’s discusses the law of Moses, biblical interpretation, the covenants, and frequently references the Westminster Confession of Faith, revealing his reformed presuppositions. However, his framework does not significantly influence the overall thrust of the book—the ten ways to seek and find Christ in the Old Testament. While some non-reformed leaders may hesitate to recommend his work, I believe both Reformed and non-Reformed readers will benefit greatly from his Christological insights.

CONCLUSION

With no shortage of biblical theology resources available to modern Bible students, Jesus on Every Page offers a unique and accessible layman’s guide for discovering Christ as the central theme of the Old Testament. Regardless of theological training, David Murray’s essential insights in Old Testament Bible study serve the whole church. Jesus on Every Page is a must read for all Christians who love Christ and His Word.