Walking with Jesus through His Word: Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures

by Dennis E. Johnson

What connects the whole Bible into one purposeful story?

Dennis Johnson takes readers of the Bible on a journey of discovery through the Old and New Testaments, pointing out a network of trails in the text. These are recurring themes that link different parts of the Bible to Jesus the Christ, the fulfiller of God’s promises and redeemer of God’s people.

Dennis emphasizes how each biblical passage must be read in its close and canonical contexts, revealing the Bible’s identity as a book about a relationship—the covenant between God and his people. This helps us to see Christ and his mission as a pattern that emerges naturally throughout the tapestry of Scripture.

God embedded in Israel’s history events, individuals, institutions, and offices that foreshadowed Christ, his saving work, and his church. Those landmarks point the way to Jesus, who reveals the Father, reconciles us by his sacrifice, and rules us by his Word and Spirit.



“Dennis Johnson has poured his decades of research, teaching, and life into one volume that reignites our passion for Bible study. . . . For anyone wanting to see how the Bible fi ts together, this book is a treasure.”

—Michael S. Horton, J. Gresham Machen Professor of Systematic Theology and Apologetics, Westminster Seminary California



“Johnson shows us how we can read the Bible ourselves in a Christ-centered way and how this approach enriches our understanding of the Word of God.”

—John M. Frame, J. D. Trimble Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary



The Author

Dennis E. Johnson

Dennis E. Johnson (ThM, Westminster Theological Seminary; PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California. He is also an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America, author of The Message of Acts in the History of Redemption, and a contributor to numerous books and theological journals.

Genres: Christianity, Theology, Reference, Faith, Christian, Biblical Studies

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 15, 2015

About the author

Dennis E. Johnson (PhD, Fuller Theological Seminary) is professor of practical theology at Westminster Seminary California and associate pastor of New Life Presbyterian Church.

Reviews

[John Boyne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very deep and insightful book! I found myself constantly needing to remind myself to not just read through this book lightly. The depths of Johnson's narrative through the Scriptures is vast and felt like it belong in a much larger book. The size of this book makes it more accessible for a wider audience then the general seminary student and I was glad to have found it. Johnson shows how the overarching narrative and purpose of the Bible is to direct us to Christ. In the same way that all roads in England lead to London, all of the verses in Scripture can be directed to Christ in some fashion. Johnson shows this by walking the reader through the overarching theme of the covenant as the way that God interacts with his people. Christ is the fulfillment of all of the covenants that God established in the Bible as well as the perfect agent in the three offices that God established in his relationship with his people. Christ is the perfect prophet, priest, and king that all of the characters in the Bible pointed too. Each other character in the bible were just types that were meant to point to Christ and not stand on their own. Johnson makes that abundantly clear and one that all reader's can appreciate and learn from. I highly recommend this difficult but worth it to walk through book!

[Eleasa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super helpful textbook for my Old Testament Theology for Ministry class on how to read and interpret the Old Testament, through a redemptive-historical lens.
Great analogies from Dr Johnson using a Spurgeon quote on navigating our way to Jesus Christ through the OT as travellers: needing to pay attention to “the lay of the land” (understanding covenant relationship), “road signs” (‘types’ or patterns), and the landmarks of Jesus as perfectly fulfilling the offices of Prophet, Priest, and King.
Highly recommended for Bible study/small group leaders!

[Al'vina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Highlighted Quotes:

"This study seeks to persuade you that Jesus is the central figure in the outworking of God's plan for human and global and cosmic history, the divine agenda that unifies everything in the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation...rooted in Scripture itself..."

"We can never overestimate the unleashing of new-creation power that Jesus brought about when he took his seat at the right hand of God the Father and then celebrated his enthronement by lavishing the great gift, the Holy Spirit of God, on the small and fragile gathering of his friends in Jerusalem."

"Jesus' instruction in biblical interpretation, provided over that intensive forty-day period, set the stage for the apostles' preaching of Christ from the Old Testament as we find it in the pages of Acts."

"We are rebellious and guilty, needing repentance and forgiveness. Both are found in Jesus' name, through faith in him."

"When we read the Bible through the lens of Jesus Christ, we begin to glimpse an astonishing display and array of wisdom, mercy, and power. We see how 'the manifold grace of God' (1 Peter 4:10) radiates in all directions from the beloved eternal Son who became the well-pleasing incarnate Son, who was rejected as the curse-bearing Son for others, and who now lives and rules in glory as the exalted Son and who dwells with his people by his Spirit."

"But Jesus was not going out of his way to be offensive or insulting when he called these men foolish and slow-hearted to believe God's Word through his prophets. Rather, by those labels Jesus was showing them and us that discovering each passage's link to Scripture's focal point, Christ, is not just a matter of learning a technique, of mastering principles and practices that yield a desired outcome, whatever the spiritual condition of the interpreter who processes the biblical text. Jesus' rebuke implied that when we fail to see how the whole Bible finds its integrating unity in Christ at the center, part of our problem-not the whole problem, as we will see, but part of it-could be that our hearts are sluggish, slow, and unbelieving."

"When we have trouble seeing how the whole Bible centers on Christ, the problem may well be not in the Bible or in our Bible-study strategies, but in us."

"'I have never yet found a text that had not got a road to Christ in it, and if I ever do find one that has not a road to Christ in it, I will make one; I will go over hedge and ditch but I would get at my Master, for the sermon cannot do any good unless there be a savour of Christ in it.'"

"Because our personal God addresses us personally in the setting of our experience, we also need to attend to the circumstances of those to whom the text was first written and spoken: their history, their culture, and their present problems and opportunities."

"...Because all sixty-six books of the Bible were given by God the Holy Spirit and because the God who speaks in Scripture is the One who sets the standard for truth, we can expect that the meaning of each text, as we come to grasp it, will be consistent with what the rest of the Bible teaches."

"...The first step in learning from the Bible itself how to read the Bible is to pay attention to our 'point of origin,' to the passage's meaning in its original and closest contexts, which include the background experience of its first audience, the sentences and paragraphs and chapters surrounding it, and earlier Scriptures that its original recipients would have or should have known."

"By affirming that Hosea's words are 'fulfilled' in the young Jesus' return from Egypt with his parents, Matthew does not claim that Hosea's words fit Jesus instead of Israel, but rather that they fit Jesus because he himself is Israel's fulfillment."

"The credibility of biblical typology depends on your view of God himself. The road signs erected in the writings of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles will persuade you and set your heart afire only if you share the biblical authors' view of and faith in the living God."

"Covenants begin with what God has done (creation, exodus, cross); and from God's action flow the motive, rationale, and form for our response as his servants."

"God is the Lord and we are the servant. He obligates us whether we want to be obligated or not, whether we 'vote' to adopt his treaty or not! On the other hand, God freely and voluntarily obligates himself. Even in the beginning, when they were innocent and had not sinned, God did not owe it to his human creatures to engage them in covenant or to promise to bless them for the obedience that they owed him anyway."

"The first Adam, choosing and acting on behalf of all his natural children as our covenant representative, plunged us all into condemnation and the sentence of death. The last Adam, already promised in that tiny seed of hope implied in God's sentence of doom on the devil, would arise in due time not only to endure the poisonous curse that our breach deserved (his heal 'bruised') but also to keep the covenant commitments that neither our father Adam nor we could keep."

"...The truth revealed in the Bible is not only orderly and interconnected, but also focused on the Creator's relationship with his personal creatures. He designed us to be miniature replicas of his infinite personality and, more than that, to collaborate in his realm and consciously to enjoy his communion."

"This sovereign, self-existent Creator is distinct from and independent of all things created."

"God revealed his special, covenantal name to confirm his assurance that he had arrived to rescue his enslaved people by his outstretched arm."

"Whenever we run across a text that portrays the conflict between good and evil, between God and Satan, between the woman's offspring and that of the serpent, whatever the immediate enemy (whether Egypt or Edom or Babylon or Satan's temptation to lust or pride), Scripture's testimony to the power of the Lord to rescue and defend his people points to Jesus, whose power to save is most victoriously displayed in the weakness of his cross."

"He does not invite us to set the terms of our relationship with him, or allow us to negotiate the terms of our covenant commitments. He calls the shots! He sets the standards and determines the consequences that will flow, whether from loyal obedience or from treasonous disobedience."

"Disobedience to the Lord's commands is not a matter of accidental oversight or inadvertent error, but an expression of high treason, a personal affront to the tripersonal God who comes in Christ to claim us for himself."

"In contrast to the wilderness generation, who 'were unable to enter [the promised inheritance] because of unbelief' (1 Cor. 10:19), we enter God's rest through faith that holds fast to Christ throughout life's trials (4:1-3,11). God's rest is the 'product' of Jesus' successful probation as the Lord's Servant, the promised blessedness that Christ himself has entered through his perfect obedience and sacrifice (1:3, 10:12-14)."

"The creation accounts in Genesis 1 and 2 imply that having knowledge, righteousness, and holiness were significant dimensions of what it meant for human beings to be made in God's image and likeness."

"Knowledge is 'imaging' or reflecting God in terms of our thought and our speech. Righteousness is imaging God in terms of our decisions through wise choices and just actions. Holiness is imaging God in terms of the personal purity and integrity necessary to engage God in his presence."

"Only when the Word who was with God in the beginning, who was and is God, 'became flesh and dwelt among us' (John 1:14) did we hear the voice of the Creator through a thoroughly faithful spokesman, Jesus."

"We cannot live without intimate engagement with God, for we were made in his image for his friendship; yet in our sin, we cannot live without him in his daunting holiness."

"His focus was not on what the Lord's holy day was separated from but rather on what it was to be set apart for. Jesus showed the Sabbath to be God's remedy for what threatens human life in the image of God, such as hunger (Luke 6:1-5), or a withered hand (vv. 6-11), or demonic enslavement (13:10-13)."

Overall: 3.4/5

[Robyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not precisely a devotional book, but this is an explication and discussion of finding the path to Christ and His teachings in all of scripture that may be inspirational. The author uses Mr. Spurgeon's parable of all roads leading to London as a way of explaining all scripture leads to the savior. The author also takes us through the gospels, explaining and illustrating their meanings according to Jesus. The author also provides additional questions and sources to help in our personal searches. I appreciated the historical context in parts of the book, and the thorough examinations of Old and New Testament passages. These assist in fortifying the premise that through scripture we learn how to study scripture. The most important lesson gleaned from this for me was how focusing on seeing Christ in scripture, we can become more like Him. I wish that would happen for all believers. Hopefully this book will reach a wide audience.

Thank you,

Robyn E. Lee
U.S. History/Yearbook/GMS Teacher
Serrano Intermediate School
web site: www.svusd.org/leer
949-586-3221

[Allyson Howell (Todd) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dennis Johnson does a wonderful job making clear lenses that help Christians see the ways that Jesus is present from Genesis to Revelation. Instead of going book-by-book, which can be an unhelpful way to trace the larger themes, Johnson goes theme-by-theme. He starts with the most important way to read Scripture (through the lens of covenant), and moves throughout the various themes that point to Jesus as the Christ. This method helps the reader build helpful categories (like prophet, priest, and king) to be able to then connect those categories to what they see in the Old Testament and what they see in Jesus. This book equips Christians to not just read the Bible well, but to read it Christocentrically. We can explain passages of Scripture and their meaning all day, but if we cannot see how every part of Scripture points to or makes way for Jesus, we are not reading the Bible like Jesus really did rise from the dead. This book encourages the reader to read like the resurrection was real.

[Liz Keller · Rating 4 out of 5]

My mom has always told us growing up that the whole Bible is about Jesus. But I found that on some pages it’s hard to find Him. This book helped me find the path to Christ, even in more challenging sections of the Bible. I’m excited to see how this affects my Bible studies going forward.

[Courtney · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a joy. Simple, clear, and easy to read. A great reminder of the promise of Christ in all Scriptures. Would be a great book to walk through with a new believer or with a book study group.

[Saul W · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great content but he averages 27 words per sentence.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

For the longest time in my Christian life, I had little use for much of the Bible. That sounds terrible, but it was how I functioned and, sadly, how many others do as well. It is too easy to become a “red-letter” Christian and, in doing so, to discount or discredit large sections of God’s inspired Word. Walking with Jesus through His Word by Dennis Johnson is a great new release from P&R Publishing that will rewards all who spend time in its pages. Actually, it will reward all who spend time using it to help them navigate through the pages of Scripture. Because that is exactly what it is intended to do.

Johnson serves as guide to help the reader in “Discovering Christ in All the Scriptures.” As poor bible teaching and infrequent bible reading has increased, the great truths of the Scriptures find themselves farther and farther off the beaten path. It is helpful to have a Christian teacher to guide us pilgrims as we progress through the Scriptures (sorry, that was bad…but I am going to leave it!) Johnson leads the way in opening God’s Word and showing the reader how to find Christ on these pages; not just in the Gospels or the New Testament but from cover to cover.

Johnson recounts a famous story from C. H. Spurgeon’s life where Spurgeon was encouraged to “climb hedges and ford ditches” to travel from any text in the Scriptures to the resurrected and reigning Messiah. A large benefit of this volume is that Johnson shows that, while the heart behind that admonition is laudable, it is not necessary to blaze paths through Scripture to find the Messiah. Some paths may be more difficult to traverse, but all of the Bible leads to the Christ. Johnson follows this travel/journey motif throughout the volume. “I am suggesting that learning to trace the lines, to follow the paths, that link passages throughout the Scriptures to Jesus at the center is comparable to a traveler’s task of finding the way to a destined location.” He helps the reader to recognize where we are, to learn how to read the “road signs,” get the lay of the land, and recognize the landmarks. It is essentially a bible-overview with a focus on seeing how the Scriptures all pertain to the Christ (Luke 24:27).

The Bible helps us understand the Bible. It is hard to read the New Testament and understand without the Old Testament, and it is hard to read the Old Testament without the aid of the New. “We have reason to read the whole New Testament as the commentary given to us by Jesus, our risen Lord, to help us grasp the message of the Old Testament as it leads us to him.”

This book is perfectly written for small groups or a discipling relationship. It is clear and engaging. It is quite enjoyable. Where it shines in reference to small groups is in the format. Johnson offers a clear explanation of where the chapter is going and a great closing summary before helpful study questions. Each chapter also recaps, succinctly but sufficiently, the material that has already been covered. It is incredibly helpful to have a refresher each time you jump into a chapter, even if it is a bird’s eye paragraph or three. Chapters discuss techniques for reading and interpreting Scripture, and they have a “putting it into practice” section that allows the reader some guided practice.

This is a great book, and it deserves to be used widely. I am excited to use this book with my family and with others. One of my great desires is to see many people, myself included, come to a greater understanding and enjoyment of God’s revealed Word. Walking with Jesus through His Word will go far in fulfilling that desire.


I received a review copy from P&R Publishing.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is another excellent book by Dennis E. Johnson. If you grew up in the church it can be easy to fall into the trap of perceiving the Scriptures as a disjointed loosely related collection of stories and facts. Everything from the way the history is told to the single verse snapshots that are memorized encourage this kind of thinking.

Later in life, depending on your upbringing you might see a single theme that becomes the lens for everything. Perhaps the bible is really all about Israel, or even all about you. But ultimately, the focus of the scriptures is Christ. Everything before Christ points forward to him, and everything after points backward to him, or forward to his triumphant return.

This is not always easy to see. In some places it is obvious, laying out in plain sight. In others the treasures are buried, and must be unearthed through diligent study and careful thought. This book is a guide for this, to help the reader see how this works. However, it's not a master-class in hermeneutics, or otherwise overwhelmingly technical.

Dennis is less concerned with giving you those details which you can find elsewhere, and more with giving you the perspective and expectation. Like a trail guide, he points out to you common landmarks and ideas and seeks to expand your vision so you can see the larger pattern at play and to reset your expectations when you come to the text.

[Jeanie]

Seeing Jesus through the Word makes us more and more like Jesus in love, purity, compassion, faithfulness, kindness and truth.

It makes a difference in reading your bible to see Jesus. With that said, this study helps you as a student of the word to equip you to do that. There is a benefit to this study that is priceless and that is Jesus. To see him in from Genesis to Revelation is to give you a deeper understanding of the word and the person of Christ, the work of the Holy Spirit, and the love of the Father.

From the prophets of the bible that were mediators of God’s revelation and Priests that are mediators of reconciliation and Kings that rule over the Israel, it is Jesus that truly fulfilled the calling that we can now say Jesus is all I need.

This study is a walk thru the word. I highly recommend it. It will take you time to read thru this and to savor its truth.

A Special Thank you to P & R Publishing and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book about how to read the Bible in a Christ-centered way. I don't just mean that this is a book that teaches you how the Bible is all about Jesus. I mean this is a book that walks you through how to interpret passages of Scripture so that you can see how they connect to the Gospel. For that reason, I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

Chapter 1: That the Bible is all about Jesus
Chapter 2: Hermeneutic (interpretation) guidelines
Chapter 3: Types and Shadows
Chapter 4: Covenant theology
Chapter 5: Jesus fulfills the role of Covenant Lord
Chapter 6: Jesus (also) fulfills the role of Covenant servant)
Chapter 7: Jesus is the ultimate Prophet
Chapter 8: Jesus is the ultimate Priest
Chapter 9: Jesus is the ultimate King
Chapter 10: The (personally) transformative effect of reading Scripture as being about Jesus

One caveat about this book. It is 270 pages (and they are big pages), so this is by no means light reading. But I do think a lay person could benefit from this book, and it is also very rewarding.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great book to show how all of scripture has as its purpose pointing to and exalting Jesus. Johnson does a wonderful job differentiating between different signs, types, and symbols and how each pointed to Jesus and our need of Him. There are a few times his explanations are a bit convoluted and some of the passages aren't the best, but overall a great place to start for anyone interested in seeing God's covenant faithfulness from beginning to end.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

A worthwhile work.