Charles Spurgeon is credited with saying, “I take my text
and make a beeline for the cross.” His point was that no matter what his Sunday
morning text, he found a way, sooner rather than later, to use it to preach
Christ crucified. Some have objected to this homiletical approach, including
pastor and author Thabiti Anywabile, who wrote, “Spurgeon was wrong. We’re not
to take a text and make a bee-line to the cross…He was no expositor and he
seemed to make a bee-line away from the text, which is not the same thing as
making a bee-line to the cross[1].”
It is an interesting debate to be sure. I happen to align
with Spurgeon, believing that any given text, in some form or fashion, has a
Christological element to it. A study on the end times and Revelation can be
used to make sure the audience is ready for the end of their own lives; a
message on the Ten Plagues can draw a line from the Passover lamb to Jesus, the
Lamb of God; a sermon on the days of Creation can be used as a reminder that Jesus
recreates us at salvation. Every text makes a beeline to the cross. Consider
these three terms theologians are now using to categorize the texts of
Scripture:
First, a text can be christocentric,
meaning Christ is at the center of the text. A passage about the
crucifixion, the resurrection, or the miracles or parables of Jesus would fall
into this category. These texts obviously make a beeline to the cross. There
are also christotelic texts, which
comes from the Greek word telos (“end
or completion”). These are Old Testament passages that find their final
completion in Christ. Preaching on David could lead to the Son of David; Adam
can lead to the Second Adam; Moses can lead to the “greater prophet;”
Melchizedek could lead to the High Priest; Israel can lead to “spiritual
Israel” under the New Covenant. Finally, there are christiconic passages. These
are texts that can be used to identify a similar trait in Jesus (they are icons
of Jesus). The Fruit of the Spirit can be used to show that Jesus is love, joy,
peace, patient, etc. The works of the flesh can show that Jesus is not those things.
I believe preachers should be like Spurgeon, that “Prince of
Preachers,” and use every text to make a beeline for the cross. This means that
every Christian can read their Bible for themselves and see Jesus on every
page. He is the Word made flesh, so it is no wonder we see Him in all the words
of the Bible.
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