The Blank Bible Page

Have you ever wondered why there is a blank page in your Bible that separates the Old Testament from the New Testament? Most assume it is just a simple, bookish way to show separation between the Old and the New. But should we show a separation? The Bible is one grand narrative of God’s redemption and reconciliation of mankind collated into two volumes. Since both Testaments are part of God’s grand narrative, why is there a need to disconnect one volume from the other with a “blank” page of separation?

The First and Second Testaments

Think for a moment about the terms we use to describe the two Testaments. Why use the terms “old” and “new?” Using these terms makes it seem that one is old, outdated, and of no relevance to us today, while the other is new, up-to-date, and applicable to us today. However, using the terms “first” and “second” to refer to the Old and New Testaments implies that these two Testaments are part of the same narrative.  Further, when we place the two Testaments in a sequence of first and second, a fundamental truth about the nature of the two Testaments rises to the surface. That truth is stated like this: one cannot properly understand the second without the first. What this means is that the First Testament is foundational; more significantly, it’s how God decided that He wanted to start His grand narrative of redemption and reconciliation of mankind. From a temporal perspective, the First Testament is older than the Second Testament, but just because something is older does not mean it has less value; some would argue it has more value because it is older, or first.

On the other hand, in the grand scope of God’s plan, a Second Testament was desperately needed to complete God’s narrative. The Second Testament contains the most vital part of God’s grand plan: Jesus. Galatians 4:4 says that at just the right time, God sent His Son (the Incarnation) to fulfill God’s redemptive plan. It happened at the perfect time, which occurred during the time of the Second Testament. Some would say that the Second Testament is more important than the first for this one specific fact; their point here is powerful. However, pitting the First Testament against the Second does not align with the holistic approach. In a narrative, there are many parts. Some are short while others are long, some are dramatic while others seem dull, some are confusing while others are enlightening, some are comedic, some are life-altering, but in the end, all parts have value and support the grand narrative. Both Testaments rely on each other to reveal God’s grand narrative of redemption and reconciliation; you cannot understand one without the other.

The Intertestamental Period

Perhaps the “blank” Bible page does not signify separation. Maybe it could serve as a reminder of the time gap between the two Testaments (hence the title Intertestamental or between the Testaments). If this is true, then that blank page is worth 400 years. When the New (Second) Testament opens, 400 years of history and changes have taken place. The Persian Empire has been replaced by the Greek Empire, under which the Jewish people suffered greatly. The Jewish people are divided into religious groups, mainly the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Roman Empire replaces the Greek Empire, putting all of Judea under the control of the Caesars; Caesar appoints Herod as King over Judea. Rome would tax and control the Jews, and eventually, Jesus was crucified on a Roman cross. Roman, Greek, and Jewish cultures were mixed together in Judea as the Second (New) Testament opens. The landscape has changed significantly from the close of one Testament to the beginning of the next one.

400 Years of Silence    

One more observation about that “blank” Bible page. The Intertestamental Period has another name; it is also called the “400 Years of Silence.” Why use the term silence? It has to do with God’s voice being silent. This means that for 400 years, no new Scripture had been written – God’s voice was silent. Even though God’s voice was silent, time and time again, He continued to be faithful to His people. However, after a certain point, the silence became deafening, and some Jews believed that God had abandoned them. Thankfully, God did not remain silent forever. One day, an angel of the Lord appeared to Zachariah the priest in the Temple at Jerusalem (Luke 1:11-12). For the first time in four hundred years, God directly interacted with humanity using one of His angelic messengers. Although his wife, Elizabeth, was barren, and both were advanced in age, the angel tells Zachariah about the future birth of his son, John. Zachariah’s son, John, would be tasked with one of the most significant responsibilities in all of Scripture - the forerunner of Jesus. A forerunner is one who is tasked with announcing the arrival of the King, and John faithfully heralded this message until his dying day. It was the announcement of the coming Messiah, Jesus, that caused God to break the silence!

We may not understand why God chose the specific time in history to send His Son into the world (Galatians 4:4), but we must trust that His timing is always perfect. Even in the midst of our own silent times, when we feel that God’s voice is so far from us, we must trust that He has our best interests at heart. Just like the Jewish people, who were patiently awaiting the coming of the Messiah, we can rest assured that God is always at work, fulfilling His plan in His perfect timing. There might be a “blank” page in your life-narrative right now, but take heart! When God turns the page to the next part of your life-narrative, it could be the beginning of something great or maybe something not so great. Regardless of how we view our next chapter and the changes that will take place, we must remember that nothing surprises God. He is with us every step of the way, both in this life and the life to come!