Episode 1032: Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

The Old Testament is rich with categories that foreshadow and reveal Jesus, presenting Him as the central figure who fulfills God’s promises to humanity. Messianic prophecies, such as Isaiah’s suffering servant or Micah’s prophecy of Jesus’ birthplace, give direct predictions of His coming. Similarly, events like the binding of Isaac and the Passover serve as symbolic previews of Jesus’ mission, while key figures, or types of Christ, such as Adam, Melchizedek, and Moses, prefigure His roles as Savior, High Priest, and Deliverer. These foreshadowings reveal Jesus' divinity, His role as our mediator, and His sacrificial love.

The Law, or Torah, underscores God’s holy standard and anticipates Jesus as the one who perfectly fulfills it, making salvation possible by meeting its demands on behalf of humanity. Through the sacrificial system, wisdom literature, and the prophetic imagery of the “suffering servant” and the “branch,” the Old Testament offers glimpses into Jesus’ redemptive work. In addition, divine encounters and theophanies, or pre-incarnate appearances of Christ, show Jesus’ involvement in humanity’s history even before His birth, pointing to His role as our Savior and God.

Together, these categories in the Old Testament illustrate the unity of Scripture and highlight Jesus’ redemptive mission. By seeing how Jesus is interwoven into every part of the Bible, we gain a fuller understanding of God’s character, His promises, and His love for humanity. These glimpses of Jesus throughout the Old Testament bring new depth to the New Testament’s revelation of His life, sacrifice, and victory.