Christ in the Old Testament

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CHRIST IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

TOMMY NELSON

“And beginning with Moses and all the prophets He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the scriptures.”

“If you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for Moses wrote of Me.”

“I did not come to abolish the law but to fulfill the law…”

“…the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy…”

We sing in one of our Christmas carols “Come Thou long expected Jesus.” The first words from Mary’s lips were, “He raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant –

As He spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from old . “ Lk 1:69-70

The most dominant theme in the Bible is the person of the Messiah, the Redeemer, the Christ.

The Old Testament anticipates Christ.

The gospels manifest Him.

The book of Acts proclaims Him.

The epistles explain Him.

Revelation awaits His return.

One of the first Sunday School ideas bestowed upon a child is “the New is the Old contained. The Old is the New explained.” It is trite because it is true and oft repeated.

In prophecy Christ was anticipated. The Messiah. The Chosen One.

The seed of woman who would crush the serpent’s head. (Gen. 3:15)

The one who would give rest from the curse. (Gen. 5:29) The seed of Abraham who would bless the nations. (Gen. 12:3)

The son of Judah to whom the scepter belonged (Gen. 49:10)

The one who like Moses would stand between God and men. (Deut. 18:15-19)

The star of the king who would arise from Israel. (Num. 24:17)

The Davidic descendant whose kingdom would have no end (2 Sam. 7:12-16)

and come forth from Bethlehem (Mic. 5:2)

who would be betrayed (Zech. 11:7-14)

who would die for man’s sins (Is. 53)

who would rise from the dead (Ps. 16:9-10)

ascend to Heaven (Ps. 110:1)

bring salvation to the Gentile nations (Deut. 32:21)

return and judge the world and establish the kingdom of God. (PS. 110:2; Zech. 12:10)

He is also seen as pre-incarnate in the “angel of the Lord” who continually appears in the Old Testament to defend, lead and deliver Israel. Whenever he appears he is recognized as God and yet is distinct from God as he speaks to and of God. And yet he disappears after the book of Zechariah and is never seen again as there is no need for a “theophany” or appearance of God since man has an “incarnation” of God, when God enters into humanity and becomes a man and unites himself with man forever. The lesser glory of the angel of the Lord will disappear in the greater glory of the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.

Christ is also prefigured in the pattern of the Tabernacle and the symbols of the Old Testament worship. Christ is called “Christ our Passover” and “the lamb of God that bears away the sin of the world.” His body is called the parted veil that allows access to God. His sacrifice is called the “mercy seat” that propitiates God’s wrath. He is our high priest that enters within the veil. Rightly does the author of Hebrews call the Old Testament a “copy, shadow and pattern of the good things to come.”

Christ is also seen as the purpose of Old Testament law. Its purpose is not to be a final set of rungs of a moral ladder whereby we can gain access to heaven on our own. Rather the law is to show us our sin and drive us to our need of Christ’s salvation. “The law came in that transgression might increase, but where sin increased grace abounded all the more… through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 5:20 21) “The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ….” (Gal. 3:24)

And Christ also fulfills the Old Testament promises. A prophecy tells of what is coming. Promises tell of why. That of God’s veracity. Paul said, “Christ has become a servant to the circumcision (i.e. Israel) on behalf of the truth of God to confirm the promises given to the fathers…” (Rom. 15:8) “For as many as are the promises of God, in Him they are yes…”(2 Cor. 1:20) Indeed is Christ called “the Amen.” (Rev. 3:14)

“He hath raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of David His servant as He spoke by the mouth of His hold prophets from of old.” Luke 1:69-70

Let all God’s people say, “Amen”

to our Incomparable Christ.

Christ in the Old Testament.

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