He's Here Too

“ 2 Thus says Cyrus king of Persia: The Lord, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. 3 Whoever is among you of all his people, may his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and rebuild the house of the Lord, the God of Israel—he is the God who is in Jerusalem.” (Ezra 1:2-3 ESV)

Christ, the central figure of the entire Bible, is not only present in each book but also weaves a thread of continuity through them. His presence is most pronounced in the Prophets and Writings of the Torah, where his role in God's redemptive plan is clearly revealed.

In the book of Ezra, we can get a glimpse of God’s people living out his redemptive plan. As Cyrus releases the people from exile, we see God’s covenantal promises displayed as these frail remains of God’s people return to Jerusalem according to God’s Word. While the direct presence of Christ may not be explicitly mentioned in the Book of Ezra, his role in God's redemptive plan is indirectly revealed through the events and actions of the people.

The Book of Ezra vividly illustrates God’s active role in his redemptive plan. This plan, a central theme in the Bible, is God's strategy for redeeming humanity from sin and restoring them to a right relationship with him. The opening verse of Ezra proclaims that it was God himself who ordained the events that were about to unfold. His hand is evident throughout the book as he guides the kings and peoples involved in Zerubbabel’s return and the temple's reconstruction. Furthermore, God paves the way for Ezra’s later return to teach the people the word of God. Every aspect of the Book of Ezra is orchestrated by God to reveal his unfolding plan of redemption.

In the Book of Ezra, we can see that God’s redemptive plan is about a specific group of people, 'His people '. In this context, 'His people' refers to the Israelites, the descendants of Abraham, whom God promised to make a great nation. Despite their sins, these chosen people would be blessed. This blessed “vestige” of the Israelites is reassembled and again numbered carefully by tribe and genealogy. The passion and devotion of Ezra help keep them holy with a pinpoint focus to honor the Lord who had, yet again, redeemed them. Ezra desired to bring Israel to a place where they could demonstrate trust in the Lord by obeying his law. God had given this way of life to these chosen people, rooted in God’s Word. We know that this remnant did not know the name of Jesus, but they could carefully trace the seed promises to lead to the birth of the Messiah.

God’s redemptive plan focuses on a people created to worship him. Throughout Ezra, there is a continual building of hope through tribulation. As the sinful exiles are released from Babylon, they begin rebuilding the temple, the pinnacle of their identity and the monument that identified their land as the place of God. Dashed were their hopes for the Messiah, their King. Yet, in their understanding, God provided the temple as a witness to his continuing presence and promises. A place of sacrifices that pointed to the perfect sacrifice needed to destroy the sacrificial system and bring forth the new covenant born in the blood of the Christ. This perfect sacrifice and final King would come four centuries after Ezra lived, a sacrifice that would bear the weight of all sins, past, present, and future. 

Old Testament history closes with God’s people gathered around God’s Word, their hearts filled with a deep longing for the true fulfillment of God’s promises, a fulfillment that came in the form of the Word made flesh, the Word that became man and dwelt among us, Immanuel. This anticipation, this hope, is a beacon that continues to guide us, reminding us of the ultimate fulfillment of God's redemptive plan in Christ.

Grace and Peace!