Tryptychs were popular medieval paintings with three panels. A scene from Christ's life on earth took center place with scenes from the Old Testament and the history of the Church on the two side panels. They made a theological point, that all of history hinges on Jesus Christ. Those who lived before him looked forward to him; we now look back to him. He is the only way of salvation. Christ's work was done in time, a fact that Christmas reminds us of every year with its recollection of Mary, Bethlehem, shepherds, angels, and wise men. But God painted history beforehand so that it revealed Christ in promises, types and sacrifices, especially in the history of Israel. By those pictures of Christ before his birth, the OT saints were saved through Him, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, the seed of the woman who has crushed the head of the serpent. |
