The Story Behind All Other Stories
The Shawshank Redemption: Andy Dufresne emerges as a victorious Christ figure from the sludge and muck of the sewage pipe.
The Good News of Jesus is (often) the story behind all other great stories:
When tragedy turns to triumph.
When sacrifice releases unimaginable joy.
When absolute weakness becomes immeasurable strength.
When darkness and defeat become the new dawn of victory.
When you think all hope is lost; when disciples are huddled together in fear; when victory emerges out of nowhere and from the most unlikely source, namely, the scourge of the cross – that’s when you know you are hearing about or living in the great rescue story of Jesus!
You see the story of Jesus in The Beauty and the Beast, especially in the beauty who gives up all of her happiness to throw herself in the arms of the beast. She was a princess after all – having a heavenly time! Yet, because of her unimaginable sacrifice, she shows us what true love looks like and sets free the man bound in his nature as a beast.
You see it in Frodo in The Lord of the Rings – the small, humble hobbit who journeys into the heart of Evil Morder, destroys the ring, and frees middle earth from darkness and death. That’s the story of Jesus told, by J.R.R. Tolkien, in a thousand different ways!
You see it in my favorite movie, The Shawshank Redemption. When author Stephen King – this author of horror – finally decides to write a beautiful story, he has to look to the story of Jesus! When Andy Dufresne emerges from the sludge, muck, and refuse of the sewage pipe into freedom, he emerges victorious as a Christ figure in the story!
Screen writers know it. Novelists know it. Fairytales know it. The good news of Jesus is (often) the story behind all other great stories.
Yet, what if the great story of Jesus also has a great story underneath his life and ministry? What if Michael Morales’ declaration, “The central theme and story of the Bible – and of history itself – is the exodus” is true even for the life and ministry of Jesus?
Put differently, Northrop Frye (literary critic) once wryly remarked that the exodus “is the only thing that ever happens” in the Bible. What if that sentiment is true for Jesus? What if Jesus lived an exodus-shaped life?
Alistair Roberts argues precisely for understanding the metanarrative of the exodus as underlying the entire framework of Jesus’ life and ministry. In other words, without understanding the exodus, one cannot fully appreciate the meaning of the life, ministry, and death of Jesus. As Roberts argues, “The life of Jesus is an exodus, hidden in plain sight”.
The gospel writer Luke makes this plain for all readers who have eyes to see and ears to hear. Listen to how Luke describes the Transfiguration:
And behold, two men were talking with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his departure [exodos in the Greek] which he was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. ~ Luke 9:30-31
Jesus is about to accomplish an exodos in Jerusalem! Redemption from slavery. Freedom from tyranny. The people of God will know the name of God (Abba Father!), experience the glory of God (in Jesus the Messiah!), and encounter the presence of God (this time through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit not only through the external pillar of cloud and fire). This second exodus will be a powerful divine miracle of grace which will be poured out through the life of Jesus for all the nations which echoes the original exodus event.
Or, take a microscope and look at one singular aspect of Jesus’ life and ministry: the wilderness temptation. You quickly begin to recognize that Jesus lived an exodus-shaped life.
First, Jesus goes through the waters of baptism (Mt. 3:13-17) which echoes Israel’s own passing through the waters of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:21-22. (In the OT, Israel is also referred to as God’s son, Ex. 4:22; Hosea 11:1.)
Second, Jesus has a lengthy period of wandering and testing in the desert (40 days this time, Mt. 4:1-2) where he is called to resist evil while standing on the Word of God and his promises.
Third, the specific temptations that Jesus faces in the desert echo the same temptations that completely unraveled Israel in its temptation in the wilderness.
A. Remember there was grumbling about the lack of food in the wilderness? Israel was saying, “Would that we had died…in the land of Egypt...when we ate bread to the full,” (Ex 16:3). Yet, Jesus replied in his temptation, “Man shall not live on bread alone” (Mt. 4:4)
B. Remember, there was a testing of God by the people when they demanded a miracle? Israel wanted water in the desert; therefore, Moses rebuked the people: “Why do you test the Lord”? (Ex. 17:2). Yet, Jesus replies in his wilderness temptation: “You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.” (Mt. 4:7)
C. Remember, there was a bowing down to false gods? Israel prostrated itself before the Golden Calf in Exodus 32 with the people saying, “These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt?” Yet Jesus would not bow the knee to Satan. Satan shows him all the kingdoms of the world to tempt Jesus: “All you have to do is fall down and worship me”. Yet, Jesus says: “Be gone, Satan!...You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve” (Mt. 4:10).
Where Israel fails, Jesus succeeds.
Jesus is obedient. He is the faithful and true Israelite who is able to accomplish the exodos in Jerusalem by his sacrificial death on a cross: “The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world!” (Jn. 1:29).
Jesus lived an exodus-shaped life, enjoyed an exodus-shaped ministry, and accomplished an exodus-shaped death on the cross for our salvation.
“The life of Jesus is an exodus, hidden in plain sight” (Roberts).
If Jesus is the story behind all other great stories…the Exodus is the story behind the great story of Jesus.