What Does The Old Testament Say About Jesus
Introduction
The Old Testament is the collection of writings that comprise God’s revelation and instructions to his people prior to the birth of Jesus. It is clear in those writings (the four gospels included in the New Testament) that Jesus was prophesied and prepared for, even before he was born. The following scriptures show how important Jesus was as a future figure in biblical history:
Jesus is at the center of the Old Testament prophecy.
The Old Testament is the foundation for everything in Christianity. The prophets, who lived before Jesus, looked forward to His coming and saw Him as the Messiah. In fact, Jesus is at the center of all of Scripture, from Genesis to Revelation. He is history’s most important person; He’s God on earth because He came down to take our place and die for us on a cross—for our sins!
Jesus’ birth was prophesied hundreds of years before it happened in Isaiah 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son.” A virgin would give birth to this Son who would be called Immanuel (meaning “God with us”). This prophecy was fulfilled when Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ without having known any man (Matthew 1:18). Also in Isaiah 9:6-7 we read how this child would grow up into someone great: “For unto us a child is born…and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor…” It doesn’t say “wonderful counselor” but rather Wonderful Counselor,” which means more than just one good counselor–it means One who gives perfect counsel!
God told Abraham that he would bless all nations through his descendants.
God told Abraham that he would bless all nations through his descendants.
God said he would make Abraham the father of many nations, and gave him the promise that “all peoples on earth” would be blessed through Abraham’s seed. (Genesis 12:2-3)
Abraham believed God’s promises and became the father of Israel. His descendants were to be the nation of Israel, who were selected by God as a special people for himself (Exodus 4:22).
God told Moses that he would send a prophet like him to lead His people.
“The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their brothers; I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him.” (Deuteronomy 18:15-18)
“For you are an ensign of contradiction to all nations which are under heaven.” (Isaiah 8:13)
David tells us that Jesus Christ has always existed, and is God’s Son.
The prophet David, who lived during the time of Abraham and Moses, wrote concerning Jesus Christ: “For you are great, and do wondrous things; you alone are God.” In the Old Testament book of Psalms 102:25-27 he wrote: “Of old have you laid the foundation of the earth: and the heavens are the work of your hands. They shall perish, but you shall endure; yes they all shall wax old as does a garment; as a vesture you shall change them, and they shall be changed” (verses 25-27). David knew that Jesus Christ is eternal—that He has always existed just like God Himself.
The prophets talk about the messiah who will be sent to save us from our sins.
There are many examples of prophets speaking about the messiah, who will come to save us from our sins. For example, Isaiah 53 describes a suffering servant. This is a prophecy that Jesus fulfilled:
The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them. (Isaiah 9:2)
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God… (Isaiah 9:6-7)
He was despised and forsaken of men… (Isaiah 53:3)
He bore our sicknesses and carried our pains… (Isaiah 53:4b)
The Old Testament points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah, who will usher in a new covenant through His sacrifice for our sins.
The Old Testament points to Jesus Christ as the Messiah, who will usher in a new covenant through His sacrifice for our sins.
The Old Testament contains many prophecies of God’s coming Savior. Over 300 direct messianic prophecies were fulfilled by Jesus Christ alone—no other person ever lived so completely and perfectly in perfect fulfillment of these prophecies!
As we have said, the Bible is a divine book containing God’s infallible revelation of Himself (2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:20–21). It is an inspired record (2 Timothy 3:16) and has been given by inspiration (2 Peter 1:21). In this regard it cannot be improved upon or replaced by any other source of information.”
The Old Testament is full of prophecies and references to Jesus as the Savior and Messiah.
The Old Testament is full of prophecies and references to Jesus as the Messiah.
In Deuteronomy 18:15-18 we read:
“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him. This is according to all that you asked of the LORD your God in Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said, ‘Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God nor see this great fire anymore, lest I die.’ And the LORD said to me: ‘They have rightly spoken that which they have spoken.’ I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their countrymen; and I will put My words in his mouth, and he shall speak to them all that I command him. And it shall come about that whoever will not listen to My words which he shall speak in My name, I Myself will require it of him.”
God promised through Moses that He would send His Son—Jesus Christ—to be sinless sacrifice and perfect Savior (John 1:29).
Conclusion
The Old Testament is a valuable resource for Christians seeking to better understand the life and times of Jesus. While much of its content is dedicated to stories about salvation, many prophetic writings can be interpreted as foreshadowing his arrival.