Mark Stouffer on how the Old Testament reveals God’s rescue plan through Jesus

The gospel did not begin in Matthew. Jesus Christ was not God’s last-minute response to a world that had fallen apart.

From the opening pages of Genesis, Scripture reveals a rescue plan that would ultimately be fulfilled through Him.

On this episode of Faith and Family Fellowship, I spoke with Mark Stouffer, Bible teacher and author of The Eṣā: G-d’s Rescue Plan for Humanity.

We discuss how the Old Testament points toward Jesus, why Christians must understand the unity of Scripture, and how God’s plan of redemption unfolds throughout the Bible.

Many Christians treat the Old Testament like background information.

We know the stories of Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David. But the Old Testament is more than a collection of disconnected stories about ancient people. It reveals humanity’s deepest problem and God’s unfolding promise to rescue us.

Sin entered the world through rebellion. Humanity became separated from God, creation was broken, and death entered the story. But judgment was not the end of the story. Even in Eden, God promised that One would come and crush the serpent.

“He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Genesis 3:15, ESV

That promise continues unfolding through the covenants, the sacrificial system, the prophets, and the people God used throughout Israel’s history.

Then Jesus came. After His resurrection, Jesus showed two disciples that the Old Testament had been pointing toward Him all along:

“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” Luke 24:27, ESV

Jesus did not separate Himself from the Old Testament. He fulfilled it.

The sacrifices pointed toward the Lamb of God.

The promises anticipated the Messiah.

The prophets spoke of the suffering, reign, and salvation He would bring.

During our conversation, Mark explains why he wrote The Eṣā with Jewish readers especially in mind. He wants people to examine the Hebrew Scriptures honestly and consider whether they point toward Jesus.

That matters for Christians too. We cannot fully understand the cross without understanding sin, sacrifice, covenant, and redemption.

The deeper we understand the Old Testament, the more clearly we see the faithfulness of God and the glory of Christ.

The Bible tells one unified story.

Humanity rebelled.

Sin brought death.

God promised rescue.

Jesus Christ came, carried our guilt, conquered death, and opened the way for sinners to be reconciled to God.

The gospel did not begin in Matthew. It was promised from the beginning.

Listen to my full conversation with Mark Stouffer above.

You can also learn more through his book, The Eṣā: G-d’s Rescue Plan for Humanity.