⏱️ Estimated Reading Time: 6 min read
Seeing Christ in All of Scripture
Author: Dave Jenkins
Show: Contending for the Word Q&A
Date: April 19, 2026
Show Summary
In this Weekend Reflection, Dave Jenkins explains how Luke 24:25–27 reveals one of the most foundational truths for reading the Bible: all of Scripture points to Jesus Christ. This episode helps listeners see how reading the Bible with Jesus at the center strengthens faith, guards against moralism, and anchors believers in His finished work.
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Key Scriptures
- Luke 24:25–27
- John 5:39
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
Episode Highlights
- Why Luke 24 is foundational for reading the Bible rightly
- How the Emmaus road reveals the unity of Scripture
- Why all of Scripture points to Jesus
- How a Christ-centered reading guards against moralism
- Why seeing Jesus in all of Scripture strengthens faith and assurance
Full Article
Many Christians read the Bible regularly. They know the stories, the commands, and the promises. Yet even with faithful reading, it is possible to miss the central message of Scripture.
That is exactly what we see in Luke 24:25–27.
Two disciples are walking on the road to Emmaus. They are not ignorant of Scripture. They are not indifferent to the events surrounding Jesus’ death. In fact, they are deeply troubled because they cannot make sense of what has happened.
They know the facts. But they do not yet see how it all fits together.
The Problem: Knowing Scripture but Missing Its Center
As Jesus walks with these disciples, He does not immediately reveal His identity. Instead, He addresses the deeper issue: they have read the Scriptures, but they have not understood them rightly.
Their confusion is not due to a lack of information. It is due to a lack of proper interpretation. They have failed to see the center of Scripture.
This is not just their problem. It is ours as well.
We can read the Bible as a collection of moral lessons, historical accounts, or inspirational stories. We can focus on what we must do, how we should live, or how we can improve. And in doing so, we may read faithfully, but we will not read fully.
The Solution: Jesus Opens the Scriptures
Jesus responds by doing something remarkable. Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interprets to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.
This moment is foundational for how we read the Bible.
Jesus does not introduce a new method. He does not offer mystical insight. He does not shift their focus to personal application first. He opens the Scriptures and shows that they have always been pointing to Him.
The Law reveals our need. The Prophets announce His coming. The entire Old Testament prepares the way for the Savior.
The Bible is not a disconnected collection of writings. It is a unified revelation of God’s redemptive plan, centered on the person and work of Jesus.
What It Means to Read the Bible This Way
Seeing Jesus in all of Scripture does not mean forcing Him into every verse in unnatural ways. It does not ignore the original context or flatten the meaning of the text.
Instead, it means reading each passage within the unfolding story of redemption.
We ask:
- How does this passage reveal God’s character?
- How does it expose human need?
- How does it point forward to the Savior or flow from His finished work?
When we read the Bible this way, we begin to see its unity. We see how every part contributes to the whole. And we understand that Scripture ultimately leads us not to ourselves, but to the One who fulfills it.
Why Seeing Jesus in All of Scripture Matters
Reading the Bible with Jesus at the center reshapes how we understand every passage. It keeps us from reducing Scripture to moral lessons and instead directs us to the gospel, where our hope and assurance are found.
This is not merely a theological insight. It has profound implications for how we live.
It guards us from moralism. If we read the Bible primarily as instruction for self-improvement, we will either become prideful when we think we succeed or discouraged when we fail. But when we see that Scripture points to Jesus, we are reminded that our hope is not in our performance, but in His.
It strengthens our faith. Faith grows when we see the consistency of God’s plan across all of Scripture. The promises of the Old Testament find their fulfillment in Jesus. God’s Word is trustworthy because it is unified and fulfilled in Him.
It anchors our assurance. Our confidence is not grounded in how well we understand or obey, but in what Jesus has already accomplished. His life, death, and resurrection secure our standing before God.
A Better Way to Read the Bible
The Emmaus road reminds us that the problem is not the Bible. The problem is how we read it.
When Jesus opens the Scriptures, everything changes. What once seemed confusing becomes clear. What once felt disconnected becomes unified. What once led to discouragement becomes a source of hope.
This is what happens when we read the Bible with the right center.
Conclusion: Hearts That Burn Within Us
Later in Luke 24, the disciples reflect on their experience: “Did not our hearts burn within us while He talked to us on the road, while He opened to us the Scriptures?”
That is the result of seeing the Bible rightly.
When we see how all of Scripture points to Jesus, the Word comes alive, not because of our insight, but because of Him. The Bible becomes coherent, compelling, and deeply encouraging.
As you read Scripture, do not settle for merely gathering information. Seek to understand how the whole of God’s Word points to the Savior.
Takeaways / Reflection Questions
- Do I read Scripture primarily looking for myself or for Jesus?
- How does seeing Him at the center of Scripture strengthen my faith and assurance?
- In what ways has God used His Word to deepen my trust in Him this week?
Related Resources
For more from the Contending for the Word Q&A podcast, visit:
Contending for the Word Q&A Podcast
Or explore the series on YouTube:
Contending for the Word Q&A YouTube Playlist
Call to Action
If this episode encouraged you, consider sharing it with someone who needs to be reminded that all of Scripture leads us to Jesus.
Dave Jenkins is happily married to his wife, Sarah, and lives in beautiful Southern Oregon. He is a writer, editor, and speaker who loves Christ, His people, the Church, and sound theology.
Dave serves as the Executive Director of Servants of Grace Ministries and the Executive Editor of Theology for Life Magazine. He is the Host and Producer of the Equipping You in Grace Podcast and a contributor to and producer of Contending for the Word.
He is the author of The War of Worldviews: Truth, Lies, and the Battle for the Christian Mind (Theology for Life, 2026), Contentment: The Journey of a Lifetime (Theology for Life, 2024), The Word Matters: Defending Biblical Authority Against the Spirit of the Age (G3 Press, 2022), and The Word Explored: The Problem of Biblical Illiteracy and What To Do About It (House to House, 2021).
You can connect with Dave on Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, YouTube, or subscribe to his newsletter.
When he is not engaged in ministry work, Dave enjoys spending time with his wife, going to movies, sharing a meal at a favorite restaurant, or playing a round of golf with friends. He is also a voracious reader, particularly of Reformed theology and the Puritans, and is often found working through a stack of new books from a wide range of Christian publishers.
Dave earned his M.A.R. and M.Div. from Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary.
