One of the things I find fascinating about the gospel is how it operates on a number of different levels simultaneously.
The Christ. The gospel is first and foremost the story of the Christ promised by God, who entered history as Jesus of Nazareth. It tells of his life, death, resurrection, and promised return. We might call this the personal or biographical layer.
The Covenant. But widening out, the gospel is also the story of the Covenant between God and Israel coming to its climax. It tells of the inauguration of the kingdom of God through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We might call this the political layer.
The Creation. But widening out even further, it is also the story of the Creation coming to its climax. It tells of the inauguration of the new heavens and the new earth, through and in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. We might call this the cosmic layer.
These three stories – Christ, Covenant, and Creation – all reach their climax together in the resurrection. And the best is yet to come. Good news indeed.
Curious Christian 