Jesus Christ: The centre of the Bible story

Brief overview of the Bible

Many people in Ireland have some familiarity with the Bible. We recognise the names—Abraham, Moses, David, Mary, Jesus. Yet for many, the Bible still feels like a difficult or disconnected book. Laws in one place, stories in another, poetry here and prophecy there.

But the Bible itself tells us how it is meant to be read.

After His resurrection, Jesus met two disciples walking the road to Emmaus. They knew the Scriptures, yet they were confused and disillusioned. Luke records what happened next:

“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” (Luke 24:27)
Later that same day, Jesus said to the wider group of disciples:

“Everything must be fulfilled that is written about Me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms.” (Luke 24:44)
According to Jesus Himself, the entire Bible has one central focus: Him. When this is understood, the Bible becomes clearer, more unified, and far easier to read.

 
A Holy God and a Serious Problem

The Bible begins not with humanity, but with God. God is holy, righteous, and morally perfect. He created the world good, ordered, and under His authority. Human beings were made in His image, to know Him and live under His loving rule.

Sin, therefore, is not a small mistake or a personal weakness. Sin is rebellion against the Creator. It is refusing God’s authority and choosing our own way. The Bible does not soften this reality. Sin brings guilt, corruption, death, and separation from God.

The wages of sin is death, and God would cease to be just if sin were ignored or dismissed. This is a hard truth, but without it, grace loses its meaning.

 
God’s Rescue Plan Begins: The Call of Abraham

God did not abandon the world after humanity’s rebellion. He acted with intention. He began His rescue plan by calling one man—Abraham.

God called Abraham out of idolatry and promised that through his offspring, “all the nations of the earth would be blessed.” This promise was never only about land or ethnicity. It was about salvation coming through a particular family line.

From the very beginning, God’s plan had the nations in view—including Ireland.

 
Israel: A People Set Apart, Yet in Need of Rescue

From Abraham came the nation of Israel. God redeemed them from slavery in Egypt and entered into covenant with them. He gave them His law, not as a ladder into heaven, but as a mirror to reveal His holiness and their sin.

Israel was called to be a light to the nations. Yet their history shows a sobering truth: knowing God’s law does not give us the power to obey it. Like all humanity, Israel failed and fell repeatedly.

Still, God remained faithful.

 
The Prophets and the Promise of a Messiah

Through Israel’s prophets, God spoke words of warning and hope. Judgment would come because of sin—but salvation would also come.

The prophets spoke of a Messiah who would:

Come from Abraham’s line
Be born into the tribe of Judah
Descend from King David
Be righteous, yet suffer
Rule as King, yet serve as a sacrifice
This coming One would not merely reform Israel. He would deal with sin itself.

Every sacrifice, every priest, every king, and every prophet pointed forward to Him.

 
Jesus Christ: God’s Plan Fulfilled

When Jesus was born, He did not arrive by chance. He came at the right time, into the right family, in the right place—exactly as God had planned.

Born under the law, a son of David and a son of Abraham, Jesus lived the sinless life humanity failed to live. At the cross, God’s justice and mercy met. Sin was punished, Satan was disarmed, and forgiveness was secured.

If sin could have been forgiven any other way, the cross would have been unnecessary. The cross shows us both how serious sin is and how great God’s love truly is.

 
Grace That Is Truly Amazing

Grace is not God overlooking sin; it is God dealing with sin at infinite cost to Himself. Those who trust in Jesus are not excused—they are justified. God declares guilty sinners righteous because their sin has been fully punished in Christ.

This is why grace is so astonishing. It is undeserved, costly, and complete.

 
The Bible Ends Where It Began: God With His People
The Bible ends with Christ returning as King and Judge. Evil will be judged, creation renewed, and God will dwell with His people forever.

For those who belong to Christ, judgment has already fallen—at the cross.

 
An Invitation to Read the Bible — and Meet Christ

When the Bible is read with Jesus at its centre, it becomes clear and compelling. It is not primarily a book about what we must do for God, but about what God has done for us in Christ.

The Bible’s story leads to a Person.
That Person still calls sinners to repent, believe, and live.

If you have never read the Bible this way, begin again—with Jesus at the centre—and you will discover that it is not only God’s Word, but God’s invitation.