From Individual Symbols to Narrative Cohesion (The Cross in Story)

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🔹 Concepts Outline

• Sensus plenior is not limited to symbols in isolation — it also reveals meaning through narrative structure.
• The Gospels tell one unified story: the cross and resurrection of Christ, hidden in patterns, reversals, and threes.
• Recognizing narrative movements helps students apply symbolic interpretation to the flow of Scripture.
• Examples: The full arc of redemptive history is embedded in earlier narratives (Genesis to Gospels) that prefigure Christ.

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📖 Teaching

Sensus plenior is not a catalog of disconnected symbols. It’s a way of reading all of Scripture as a unified, Spirit-breathed story that centers on the cross.

The Gospels don’t just tell us what Jesus said — they show us who He is through symbolic narrative. Stories in Genesis and Exodus, in particular, contain prophetic narrative arcs that are fulfilled in the Gospel — not just by individual verses, but in their whole structure.

Let’s explore some examples where the structure of the story reveals the cross:

1. Genesis → Exodus → Christ in the Flesh → Christ in Resurrection

The movement from creation, fall, flood, and bondage in Egypt, to deliverance and wilderness, to entering the land, is the same pattern Jesus walks:

• Creation → Revealed in the Garden
• Wilderness → Revealed in the desert
• Among his people→ Revealed in Jerusalem
• In resurrection - Where he is fruitful

This entire arc is embedded in the parable of the sower — where the seed (Christ) is sown four times to finally bear fruit.

2. Judah and Tamar (Genesis 38)

This is not merely a family scandal — it is the story of the birth of Christ:

• God meets Mary before the appointed time
• He 'sows' the scape goat
• She is threatened until the father is found out
• She bears the dual-natured God-man

Tamar, misunderstood and righteous, is a type of the faithful bride, and Judah a type of the Spirit begetting his Son.

3. Nine Kings of Chedorlaomer (Genesis 14)

This complex battle sets the stage for Melchizedek — a symbol of eternal priesthood. But in its sensus plenior, it reflects Jesus at age 12 in the temple:

• Jesus wrestle flash against spirit.
• His spirit wins
• He is restored to his parents

4. From Egypt to the Promised Land

This is the story of Christ:

• Called out of Egypt (Matt. 2:15)
• Baptized in the Jordan (like Israel)
• Tested in the wilderness
• Brings His people into rest (Hebrews 4)

Jesus recapitulates Israel’s story — and succeeds where they failed. The entire Exodus arc is fulfilled in Him.

By watching for symbolic movements and patterns, we begin to see that the Gospels are not just records — they are revelation through narrative. These aren’t coincidences or clever interpretations. They are the work of the Spirit, who authored every layer of the story.

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💬 Group Dialogue Questions

1. What story from the Gospels or Old Testament have you seen as symbolic narrative for the first time?
2. A/B: Is the cross best seen in isolated moments or through entire story arcs?
3. How do patterns in Old Testament stories help you understand the Gospels more deeply?
4. What is the relationship between personal testimony and narrative structure in Scripture?

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🏠 Individual Meditation (Homework)

• Choose one story (e.g., Tamar, Exodus, Jonah). Write out the pattern you see — where is the cross?
• Meditate on how Jesus “fulfilled all righteousness” by walking the full arc of Israel’s journey.
• Journal Prompt: “What narrative am I living in — and how does Christ’s story reshape mine?”

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📘 Facilitator Notes

• This day invites synthesis — affirm connections, even if imperfectly stated.
• Encourage students to build confidence in hearing larger story movements.
• If students bring up stories not mentioned in class, help them explore the structure: is the cross there?
• Optional: Assign pairs or small groups a narrative to trace Christ through (e.g., Joseph, Ruth, David).

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