“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27
The Old Testament uses various means to reveal Jesus, including promises, appearances, foreshadowing types, and titles.
First, the Old Testament teaches about Jesus in the numerous prophetic promises given about Him. More than one-quarter of the Old Testament was prophetic in nature, promising future events. No other world religion or cult can present any specific prophecies concerning the coming of their prophets. However, in the Old Testament, we see hundreds of fulfilled prophecies extending hundreds and sometimes over a thousand years into the future, showing God’s foreknowledge of and sovereignty over the future.
Second, the Old Testament teaches about Jesus through appearances that He makes before His birth, also called Christophanies. Examples include walking with Abraham, wrestling with Jacob, appearing to Moses, joining Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, and calling Isaiah into ministry. (Genesis 18, cf. John 8:56; Gen. 32:30; Ex. 3:2–6, cf. John 8:58; Dan. 3:24–25; Isa. 6:1–5; cf. John 12:41) Other examples may include “the angel [messenger] of the LORD,” who is sometimes identified as God (Judg. 6:11–21, 13:22). This angel provided the sacrifice in Isaac’s place and spoke and journeyed with Moses (Gen. 22:9-14; Ex. 3:14, 23:20–21, cf. John 8:56–59).
Third, types are Old Testament representative figures, institutions, or events that foreshadow Jesus. Examples include Adam, who foreshadows Jesus, the second Adam; the priesthood, prefiguring Jesus as our high priest; David and other kings, prefiguring Jesus as the King of Kings; Moses and the prophets, prefiguring Jesus as our ultimate prophet; animal sacrifices, prefiguring Jesus as the sinless Lamb of God slain for our sins; the temple, prefiguring God’s presence dwelling among us in Jesus; shepherds reminding us sheep that Jesus is our Good Shepherd; judges, foreshadowing Jesus as the final judge of all people; and many others, such as Jesus, the true bread, true vine, and true light.
As you can see, the Old Testament is truly all about Jesus. This is just what God intended. Come back for tomorrow’s devotional to learn more ways the Old Testament points to Jesus.
Is there anything new that you learned about how the Old Testament points to Jesus?
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