He was flipping through the tiny blue New Testament he was given as a baby, wondering about the words in red. “The words are red when Jesus talks,” I explained, smiling as I remembered that was even a thing. What a wonderful thing!

What came next was an accidental New Testament survey, six-year-old style. (I thought I’d retell it to you because sometimes talking to a kid about the Bible makes you love the Bible more.)

Accidental New Testament Survey, Six-Year-Old Style:

THE GOSPELS - “Why are most of the red words in the front?” he asks. We talk about how the first four books tell the good news story of Jesus’s life, death, and coming back to life, plus all the things He said, so that’s where all the red words are. Greer nods. He remembers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. We notice there aren’t any red words in Luke 2, because that’s about Jesus being born, and He can’t talk yet.

“Yeah, but Jesus was alive before He born,” Greer kindly corrects me. This kid. Genuinely sweet and remembers everything, except where he put his shoes. He will never remember that.

So we talk about John 1:1, and how John calls Jesus “the Word,” how the Word was WITH God (even at very the beginning when God said, “Let there be light!”) and how the Word IS God. I am smiling to myself, thinking maybe all the words should be red.

ACTS (history) - Greer notices my Bible nearby, open to Acts. He tries to find it in the little blue Bible. “Why aren’t there any red words here?” he asks.

“Well, Acts means ‘Acts of the Apostles.’ It’s all the stuff Jesus’s followers did after He returned to heaven. There aren’t any red words because Jesus is in heaven and is working through his friends.”

But since I’ve been reading Acts, my brain is packed with fresh details of how the Holy Spirit is at work in these guys. I am thinking, “Maybe all the words should be red.”

THE EPISTLES (letters) - Greer keeps flipping and find some red words in 1 Corinthians, I think because he wants to investigate my theory that all the red words are in the front. As it turns out, I’m wrong. He spots red words in 1 Corinthians.

“Why are these here if Jesus is in heaven?” Greer asks.

I take a peek at the passage. “I guess when Jesus’s followers remind one another of Jesus’s exact words, those words are red, too,” I say. “Paul is writing a letter to people in a city called Corinth, and in his letter, he tells them some stuff Jesus said during the Last Supper.” Greer nods, and uses his creepy voice: “He says that drink is His blood.”

“His blood poured out for us on the cross,” I say, ruffling his hair.

This is the part I can’t get over—because it means I’m loved with a depth I don’t understand and my sins are covered, truly covered, no matter how much my mind resists that good news. I think to myself, “All the words point to that part, whether they’re red or not.” And maybe all the words should be red.

REVELATION (prophecy) - Finally, Greer flips to Revelation. “Look! More red words!” There are a lot of red words here. I’m surprised to see how many, but I guess I shouldn’t be. “Do you know what Revelation means?” I ask Greer. He shakes his head.

“Imagine I had an amazing present for you hidden under a black cloth,” I said, as his bright blue eyes stretch with excitement. He is so yummy. “Then, imagine I pulled the cloth away like WHOOSH!” (I use dramatic hand motions here) “and you were suddenly able to see all the wonderfulness underneath.” He says there will be a dirt bike under there.

“In Revelation, Jesus tells us hints of what’s hidden. He tells us that one day, He will come back like WHOOSH! and God will pull away the black cloth. We’ll finally see all the wonderfulness.”

“When will Jesus come back?” Greer asks. His sister chimes in, looking up from her crafting for the first time: “I bet the Bible says when.” (She never looks like she’s listening, but she always is.)

“Well, the Bible tells us that no one knows when except for God,” I say. “But Revelation ends with the words, ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’ because we really want Him to come back.”

“To see what’s under the black cloth,” Greer says. (I think he thinks Jesus will come back and bring him a dirt bike. Making a mental note to clarify this later.)

“Yes, we want Him to come back because we’re excited to see what’s under the black cloth!” I say. “But we also want Him to come back because the world is sad and hard, and we know when He comes back, He will wipe away all the tears and take away all the pain.”

Greer moved on to play, but I sat still for a minute. Imagine: One day, the words will be vibrant and technicolor—God’s story and God’s glory on full display. All the sadness and suffering won’t be able to compare to the wonderfulness. One day, we’ll better understand how He really is the Alpha and the Omega, and we’ll better understand how "from him and through him and to him are all things” (Romans 11:36).

All the words are red.

“And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.’” Revelation 5:9-10