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Author Tucker poses a question: how can we understand the end of a book (the New Testament of the Bible) without understanding its beginning (the Old Testament)? The most significant aspects of the life of Jesus, as recorded after his death and resurrection, are based on prophecies made long before. Tucker states that biblical prophets were not writing about themselves but instead predicting future events for all time and people. He cites numerous examples of the connection between Old Testament prophecies and New Testament happenings. The Book of Micah denotes Bethlehem as the birthplace of the “ruler of Israel.” Two early prophecies state that the coming leader will be “despised and rejected” by the Jews, and John says clearly that Jesus’ own people “received him not.” Old Testament prophets consistently envisioned the Messiah as a preacher, healer, miracle worker, and deliverer.
Tucker, a minister since 1972, points out that sermons often begin “in the middle” of biblical text. He exhorts us to read the Bible from beginning to end to truly understand Jesus’s being and purpose. He has organized his theme well, giving a brief background about the authors of each of the four gospels, including who they were, when, and for whom they wrote. Though he relies principally on scripture for his narrative, Tucker offers occasional “translation” to make the archaic language more understandable for a modern audience. Readers may be surprised at how specific some ancient prophecies were, citing such items as the time and place of Jesus’s birth, the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas, and Jesus’s burial place. Tucker’s treatment is clear and intelligent. His simple, straightforward display of biblical linkages would make an intriguing study both for those new to the subject and those who are acquainted with it and open to learning more.