“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” -John 1:1
Jesus is not mentioned by name in the Old Testament, but he is a central figure throughout. He is first seen in the Old Testament as the person who appeared as “the Angel of the Lord” (Gen 16:7). He came temporally in the form of a human, much before his final incarnation as a baby in Bethlehem. Yet this same “Angel of the Lord” is called and addressed often as “the Lord” himself (Gen 12:7, 17:1, and 19:1).
John 5:39 states, “You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have enteral life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” And in Luke 24:27, Jesus reminds them, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.”
If we can find where Jesus is seen in the Old Testament, we can connect him to the New Testament, showing our children that Jesus is, in fact, the living word, not just a man who came to save us from our sins long after man was created. Lee Ann expounds on the following stories and passages that connect Jesus to the Old Testament and the New Testament:
- The Bride for Adam: the creation of woman was done in a way that pointed to Jesus. Jesus is the new Adam (Gen 2:7-22 – John 1:4-20:27 and Eph 5:25-27).
- The Fall of Humanity: Eve took the fruit, ate it, and gave it to her husband. Jesus took the bread, gave it to his disciplines, and they ate it (Gen 3:6 and Matthew 26:27).
- Noah’s Ark: Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation (Gen 6:9). Jesus committed no sin (1 Peter 2:22). Noah prepared an ark for salvation, and all were safe behind the door (Gen 6:16). Jesus claims to be the door (John 10:9). Noah received a covenant of peace and was given the sign of the rainbow (Gen 9:13). Jesus sat down at the right hand of the rainbow throne (Rev 3) and made peace by the blood of the everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20).
- The parallels between the sacrifice and deliverance of Isaac in the Old Testament (Gen 22) and Jesus (John 3:16, Matthew 27:33, 1 Cor 15:4, John 19:16-17, John 1:29, 1 Cor 5:7, and Luke 23:33).
- Joseph in suffering and glory: Joseph was the uniquely beloved shepherd son of this father (Gen 37:2-3, John: 10:11, and Matthew 3:17). Joseph was rejected by his brothers (Gen 37:2-3 and John 1:11), betrayed by a brother named Judah, and sold into slavery for silver (Gen 37:31-11 and Matthew 26:14-16, 48-50.) Joseph was unjustly charged and condemned (Gen 39:20, Matthew 27:60, Mark 15:46, and Luke 23:53). Joseph asked the cupbearer to “Remember me!” (Gen 40:14-15), and Jesus asked his disciples at the Last Supper to Remember him (Luke 22:19).
- The relation between Moses and Jesus: Moses was delivered from death and exalted to the royal house as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter (Exodus 2:5-10 and Acts 2:33-36). Moses met his wife at a foreign well in Midian (Exodus 2:16-21 and John 4:3-7). Moses had compassion for Israel because they were like sheep without a shepherd (Numbers 27:17, John 10:11, 16, and Mark 6:34).
- The 10 Commandments (Exodus 20:3-17).
- Samson’s strength: the angel of the Lord announces that his mother will bear a son who will save Israel. He will be betrayed, delivered over to his enemies, blinded, and mocked (Judges 13 and 16).
Resources:
- “Jesus in the Old Testament,” by Walter Kaiser.
- “Resources for Seeing Christ in the Old Testament,” Andy Deane.
- The Watermark Gospel has many resources to change how the world reads the Bible and learn to see Jesus in every story.
- “What Do You Know About David and Goliath?” Episode 31 by Lee Ann Mancini.
- “The Prophies Jesus Fulfilled” and “The Ten Commandants for Little Ones” are downloadable free resources available on our website.
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