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If the Bible weaves together, how do I find threads throughout Scripture? Follow clues from a few key places in the Bible to gain skills for finding connections to Jesus throughout the Old and New Testament.

Treasure hunting in the Bible?

I’m a huge fan of reading the Bible, not because I’m super spiritual, but because I love a good treasure hunt. Believe it or not, I’ve found several in the Bible the more familiar I become with what’s in it. Here is one example of a treasure hunt I stumbled upon while doing some Bible study homework. I’ll take you on the journey, then give you some tips and key places to keep in mind so you can find threads and make your own discoveries.

Starting in 1 Peter

While reading a passage in 1 Peter I came across a verse that made me think of Jesus. Peter was a disciple of Jesus who wrote two letters, 1 and 2 Peter, which are found in the New Testament.

The passage from 1 Peter is this one:

“For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God.” 1 Peter 3:18 NIV

The phrase in that verse that caught my attention was “suffered once for sins.”

Hebrews and the high priest

In Old Testament times the people through the priest offered sacrifices for sins. In my Bible reading I remembered that Hebrews in the New Testament talks about Jesus as high priest offering the sacrifice once and for all. I hopped over to Hebrews and skimmed until I found the section referencing the high priest.

“Unlike the other high priests, [Jesus] does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself.” Hebrews 7:27 NIV

Jesus sacrificed once for all

Jesus sacrificed once for all when he offered himself.

This reminded me of the Old Testament laws in Leviticus. Chapter 16 describes the day of atonement. Aaron, the brother of Moses, was the first high priest.

Leviticus and the linens

In this passage from Leviticus chapter 16, God spoke to Moses, giving him instructions to tell his brother Aaron regarding how to approach the Most Holy Place. Aaron was the high priest who entered into the most sacred place to offer sacrifices on behalf of the people.

“He [Aaron] is to put on the sacred linen tunic, with linen undergarments next to his body; he is to tie the linen sash around him and put on the linen turban.” Leviticus 16:4 NIV

“Then Aaron is to go into the tent of meeting and take off the linen garments he put on before he entered the Most Holy Place, and he is to leave them there.” Leviticus 16:23 NIV

The disciples and the empty tomb

When I read verse 23 it reminded me of Jesus or rather what the disciples found in the empty tomb:

“Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.” Luke 24:12 NIV

Did you see which disciple ran into the tomb and saw the linens left there?

Finding the thread

In the Leviticus passage, Aaron left the sacred linens behind. This was after he completed his priestly role for that particular day. Jesus completed the role once and for all and left the linens behind in the tomb.

For Jesus, once and for all had finished the work. Of atoning for sins.

Key passages

Rather than just telling you about these scripture correlations, I want to give you tools to find threads like these yourself. Keep Leviticus 16 and Hebrews 7 on speed dial. Knowing these two passages provides insight to deep connections throughout scripture. Remembering the resurrection story in Luke 24 draws us to the disciples who spent time with Jesus.

When we look for the treasure in scripture, we can spend time with Jesus too.

For a little more insight on Leviticus, look here:

How to survive the journey through Leviticus

Here’s a brief overview of the whole Bible.

For tips on locating Leviticus, Hebrews, or any other book of the Bible, look here:

5 Quick Steps to Get into the Bible

A surprising spring snowfall brought reminders of Christmas during this Holy Week in which we celebrate Easter. A simple glimpse back brings connection to the events from Palm Sunday to Easter, finding the gift of Jesus in the middle of the celebration.

Christmas

It’s April and it snowed this week. The big fluffy flakes were out of place locally this late in the year. Watching them float to the ground with some retaining their form as they landed was magical. So beautiful in fact that it didn’t matter they came so late in the season. The moment still brought the giddy feeling a winter snow fall brings. While the calendar may already say spring, this surprising weather brought back the magic of Christmas.

Jesus’ birth

As we approach Easter Sunday and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, when he rose to life, we can take a moment to look back at Christmas when we celebrate his birth.

An angel of the Lord spoke to Mary’s husband Joseph in a dream announcing the birth of this gift from God.

“She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 NIV

When the Messiah arrived, an angel announced the good news to the shepherds out in the field:

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” Luke 2:11 NIV

Jesus’ arrival

The shepherds rejoiced at Jesus’ arrival.

Another group of people celebrated Jesus’ arrival. This time as an adult it was his arrival into Jerusalem.

Holy Week

This week is Holy Week, the succession of days from Palm Sunday to Easter. The days between the triumphant procession of Jesus into Jerusalem and the victory in heaven as Christ made a way for us.

Hosanna

At the beginning of the week a joyful crowd greeted Jesus with shouts of praise as he made his way into Jerusalem.

“They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!”

“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”

“Blessed is the king of Israel!” John 12:13 NIV

Victorious

Riding on a donkey, Jesus fulfilled the words spoken by the Old Testament prophet Zechariah:

“Rejoice, O people of Zion!
    Shout in triumph, O people of Jerusalem!
Look, your king is coming to you.
    He is righteous and victorious,
yet he is humble, riding on a donkey—
    riding on a donkey’s colt.” Zechariah 9:9 NLT

A victory parade suitable for a king.

Shouts

By the end of the week another crowd raised their voices with words meant for Jesus.

“Crucify him!” they shouted. Mark 15:13 NIV

This crowd had chosen his fate. Or had they?

Raised to life

While Jesus was still with his disciples, he told them,

“The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised to life.” Matthew 17:22-23 NIV

Remember

For Jesus’ followers, the days began with a joyous procession. But a few days later the disciples were surprised as their teacher was taken away from them. So much happens in the middle that we can miss if we don’t pause to remember. Remember Jesus washing his disciples’ feet. Remember Jesus breaking the bread and lifting the cup to remind his followers of his body and blood offered for the forgiveness of sins. (Luke 22:19-20, Matthew 26:26-28)

Gift of life

As we move through Holy Week may we pause to remember what Christ did for us and truly celebrate the gift of life He gave for us.

Another perspective on Holy Week:

Holy Week – Palm Sunday to Easter and everything in between

Just getting started with the Bible? Here’s a free resource:

5 Quick Steps to Get into the Bible

We’re in the middle of Holy Week, that span of days from Palm Sunday to Easter.

Celebration

If we merely look at Sunday to Sunday, it appears we move from celebration to celebration. We can easily forget the work of Jesus between these two points.

Less familiar days

There were dark days, sobering days, which may be less familiar to us. These include Jesus’ last moments with His disciples, betrayal, an angry crowd, and death on the cross.

Unless we pause to consider what happened between celebrations as we know them, we may miss the contrast of what happened.

Holy Week

The week began with Jesus’ arrival on a donkey. Our Palm Sunday. A day of celebration.

Later that week Jesus had His last supper with His disciples, who may not have realized how he would be leaving them.

He would soon be crucified, Jesus’ death on the cross.

What happened in between

In our own lives, do we sometimes avoid the dark or hard places?

Do we forget or leave out what happened in between?

This season we’re in has included lots of difficult places.

What has your season of darkness looked like? Do you see signs of Jesus? Can you recognize signs of Jesus along the way?

Revisited

For fun I revisited some of the blog posts I wrote a year ago:

Did anybody notice? Look forward in a new way.

In the middle – where to focus in the midst of change

My life doesn’t look anything like it did a year ago. Is it better? Some of it. Do I miss what’s missing? Some of it. Can I see God’s hand in it? Some of it.

This process isn’t about looking back to see the good.

Perspective

I’m sure the disciples didn’t look back and see that the crucifixion was good. From their perspective.

God knew it was necessary. So much so that Old Testament prophesies foretold what would happen.

Jesus’ arrival on a donkey was foretold in Zechariah:

“This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

“Say to Daughter Zion,
    ‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
    and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

“The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them.” Matthew 21:4-6

Prior to that, on the day of Jesus’ baptism, John the Baptist proclaimed:

“The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!’” John 1:29 NIV

Jesus had already been chosen as the sacrifice, the Lamb of God. He took the fall for us.

But to what end?

By his wounds

From the prophetic book of Isaiah:

“But he was pierced for our transgressions,
     he was crushed for our iniquities;
 the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
     and by his wounds we are healed.” Isaiah 53:5 NIV

By his wounds we are healed.

Healing

For our healing?

For eternal life in Jesus. If we believe, we receive Jesus.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 NIV

This past year has been a hard year. But knowing Jesus is still with us on this end gives us hope.

Hope

We approached last year full of hope. Easter was coming. We made plans for Easter Sunday.

Then all those plans went by the wayside. We didn’t see it coming. That everything would be so much different in the weeks ahead. In the year ahead.

And the disciples didn’t see it coming. They probably thought they had more time with Jesus.

And the people didn’t see it coming. They probably thought a real king was coming.

But God knew it was coming. And He was there through all of it.

God is there

So whether you jump from Palm Sunday to Easter or Christmas to Easter, God is there every step of the way.

From a baby to a king riding in on a donkey to the crucified Prince of Peace hanging on a cross to the resurrected king come to take away the sins of the world.

God with us

God saw it through. And He sees us and He walks with us through our dark days, Emmanuel which means God with us. And He leads us out of darkness into the light if we choose to follow Him there.

He leads us toward healing.

You have been healed

“’He himself bore our sins’ in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by his wounds you have been healed.’” 1 Peter 2:24 NIV

For our healing. That’s something to celebrate.