Book Review: THE EMMAUS CODE, by David Limbaugh

"And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself."
Luke 24:27

Old Testament illiteracy is one of the biggest deficiencies facing modern Christendom.  The roots and origin of our salvation are essential to understand the full magnitude of what Jesus has done on our behalf.  Unfortunately, many Christians are intimidated by the Old Testament.

In The Emmaus Code: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament, David Limbaugh breaks the Old Testament down to a level where it's accessible to the average person.  Modeled after the Emmaus road conversation in Luke 24 (or at least how modern humans could imagine it), Limbaugh illustrates how the history, covenants, and prophecies of the Old Testament all point to Jesus Christ.  The Old Testament explains how Jesus is the Messiah; a full understanding of the New Testament requires the Old.

The book begins with a review of the historical timeline for Old Testament events.  From nearly the beginning, humanity attempts to elevate itself over God, which creates the need for a Savior.  In this context, God's election of Israel isn't primarily about Israel, it's to lay the foundation for the salvation of mankind (41).  Israel must exist for the bloodlines from which the Messiah emerges to occur.

One example where Limbaugh helps illuminate Jesus' presence in the Old Testament is Genesis 3:15: "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” We had never realized it before, but that's a Messianic prophecy! Galatians confirms that Jesus is the offspring to whom this verse refers.  That means Satan (the serpent) will make Jesus (the offspring) suffer, but JESUS WILL DESTROY SATAN!!! (93)  In other words, the Cross would be followed by victory over sin!

Limbaugh also offers a detailed examination of how Jesus fulfills all of the Old Testament covenants.  For example, as a direct descendant of both Abraham and David, Jesus fulfills both of their covenants.  It is worth noting, however, that neither covenant will be fully realized until Jesus' second coming.  Jesus is also the only person to full comply with Mosiac law.  Finally, the New (and final) Covenant is first introduced in Jeremiah.

Similarly, the prophets point to Jesus more places than a review like this can do justice.  In Isaiah, the prophecies of John the Baptist and the New Heaven and New Earth appear in the within the book that their fulfillment appears in the New Testament (283).  The Gospels quote Zechariah more than any other prophet (324).  But through it all, God's promises are unchanging and completely reliable.  And that's why we can trust Jesus is who He says He is.

A beautiful house requires a firm foundation, and that's the relationship between the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Old Testament.  The Old Testament establishes the need for a Savior and the conditions Jesus must meet to be identified as such.  Whatever your level of familiarity with the Old Testament, David Limbaugh's The Emmaus Code will help you understand the foundation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.