The New Testament is the story or Jesus’ life here on Earth, but He exists from the very first book of the Bible. Prophesy of His coming is sprinkled all over the Old Testament. It is believed that people actually encountered Jesus in the Old Testament (which we haven’t even included in this article).
We can’t limit Jesus to the New Testament. Limiting Jesus to the New Testament, limits our understanding of His character, His presence, His ability to work and move in our lives.
Jesus is Present in the Beginning
God gave John a vision saying, “In the Beginning was the Word, the Word was with God and the Word was God.” (John 1:1) Jesus doesn’t represent God, He IS God. Since Jesus is God, He is present from the very beginning, which means He is present and can be seen and known throughout the Old Testament
References of Jesus in the Old Testament
Prior to the first sin, God had a plan for how He was going to restore the universe He created so we could be with Him in paradise. Throughout the Old Testament God shares His plan with us through hints and ideas of how Jesus would be the ultimate sacrifice that would give us eternal life. The following is a list of a few places in the Old Testament where Jesus is mentioned, setting the stage for Him to fulfill His purpose:
- After the first sin – God promised the serpent (Satan) that Eve’s offspring (Jesus) would crush him. (Genesis 3:15)
- God told Abraham that He would bless all people through his line (Jesus). (Genesis 12:3)
- Judah was promised that an eternal scepter would come from his lineage. (Genesis 49: 10)
- David came from the line to rule Israel. Isaiah prophesied that from him would come the ultimate king. (Isaiah 11:1-5)
Prophecy on the Life of Jesus
The Old Testament was written hundreds of years prior to Jesus’ time on Earth, yet there are strikingly accurate descriptions of the things He would do and the way He would live. Here are a few:
- Isaiah foretold that a virgin would bear Jesus. (Isaiah 7:14)
- Isaiah also prophesied about the miraculous works Jesus would do. (Isaiah 35:5-6)
- Micah said Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2)
- Zechariah described Jesus’ circumstances and betrayal. (Zechariah 9:6; 11:12-13)
- Isaiah foretold the torturous death that Jesus would die and why. (Isaiah 53)
- David told of Jesus’ resurrection. (Psalm 16:10)
Jesus came to earth, not only to be the ultimate sacrifice, but so we could know him personally and intimately. Paul says, “God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him.” (Colossians 1:19)
