Bachelor of Theology I
1. Christ in the Old Testament
In the whole study of the life of Christ, we seldom emphasize studying Christ in the Old
Testament, where we can discover God’s eternal saving plan for the world. Therefore, it is
appropriate to begin this module with an episode of Christ in the Old Testament. Christ is
anticipated in the Old Testament and realized in the New Testament; Christ is concealed in the
Old Testament and revealed in the New Testament; Christ is enfolded in the Old Testament and
unfolded in the New Testament.
a. Foundation for Jesus Christ
The Messianic hope is not a later fabrication, imagination or development but a continuation of
God’s revelation in the Old Testament, which is later fulfilled and sustained throughout the New
Testament. It is important to see how the picture of Christ is drawn on the canvas of the Old
Testament.
Genesis
The first five books of the Old Testament, also called Pentateuch lay the foundation for the
concept of Messiah. The first stone, if it could be designated so, in the Messianic foundation is
Genesis 3:15, where Christ is called the seed of Woman. This talks about the virgin birth of Jesus
Christ as a human being. Genesis unfolds God’s scheme of redemption when it announces the
coming of Christ as the “seed’ of the woman and then it shows how several elected individuals
form the lineage from which Christ would come. God’s election of Abraham, Issac, Jacob and
the twelve sons of Jacob clearly describes God’s work to bless the entire world (Genesis 12:1-3)
Exodus
Redemption is the main theme of the book of Exodus, which depicts God’s deliverance of His
people from the heartless oppression and brutal slavery in the land of Egypt. This deliverance, or
liberation, is a clear picture of the total transformation God desires to offer humankind through
the atonement Jesus made on the cross of Calvary. In fact, it is through the blood that the
Israelites were redeemed from Egypt (Exodus 12:21 – 36), which foreshadowed the Lamb of
God who died for the sins of the whole world (John 1:29).
1
Bachelor of Theology I
Leviticus
The Scope of Christ’s mission that is foreshadowed in Exodus is made clearer in the book of
Leviticus. Moreover, Leviticus speaking of God’s method of purification or sanctification, is an
appropriate sequel to the book of Exodus, which speaks of God’s redemption. The sacrificial
system and the priestly mediation that we find in the book of Leviticus typify Jesus’ becoming a
sin offering himself and being the mediator between God and humankind.
Numbers
The book of Numbers tells about how God led the nation of Israel through the wilderness to the
promised Land. There are many types that give a picture of Christ in this book. The New
Testament indicates that the rock from which the thirsting multitude drank was Christ (1 cor
10:4). Jesus said the seprnet on the stake portrayed Crucifixion (John 3:14). The daily manna
pictures the Bread of Life who came down from heaven (John 6:32). Balaam foresaw that “a star
shall come forth out of Jacob” (Num 24:17). The overall presence of Christ is symbolized in
Numbers by the pillar of cloud. Through this symbol (HE) is shown as the Director or leader of
His people.
Deuteronomy
Finally, the book of Deuteronomy offers instructions with a spiritual emphasis and a call to be
totally committed to God, even though the book contains a series of farewell addressed by
Moses. This book is also a stone in the foundation the Pentateuch lays for the Messianic hope in
the Old Testament, because the book contains a prophetic declaration of the Messiah’s coming
by Moses himself ( Deut 18;15 cf, John 5:46,47; Acts 7:37)
b. The Preparation for Jesus Christ
Christ is revealed in the historical books in three ways: through, events, types and Christ’s
presence himself.
2
Bachelor of Theology I
Events
The historical books record the events that prepared the people for the coming of the Messiah.
The historical books depict the history of God in the nation of Israel, which shows how Israel
went through preparation for the coming of the Messiah. Thus, the Israelite history is sprinkled
with many events that paved the way for the coming of Christ.
Types
The English word “type” comes from the Greek word typos meaning “model” or “pattern”.
Jonah (Matt 12:39 – 41; Luke 11:29 – 30,32; Matt 16:4
The Miraculous deliverance of Jonah from the belly of a fish typifies the resurrection of
Jesus.
Solomon (Matt 12:42; Luke 11:31)
Here the Bible shows that Jesus, the Son of David, is greater than Solomon, the Son of
David.
David (Mark 2:25 -26; Matt 12: 3 -4; Luke 6:3 – 4)
Jesus claimed that He could regulate the Sabbath observance just like David did
because He was greater than David.
The Priesthood (Matt 12: 5 – 6)
Jesus claimed to have the right to modify the law as the priesthood in the Old Testament
did, because HE was the mediator and fulfillment of new covenant.
Elisha (Mark 6:35; Matt 14:15; Luke 9;12)
Elisha’s feeding of the hundred with twenty loaves in 2 kings 4:42 -44 typifies
Jesus’ feeding of the thousand.
Elijah and Elisha (Luke 4:25 – 27)
Jesus was sent to preach the gospel outside His town just as Elijah and Elijah
were sent by God to help the people in Phoenicia and Syria respectively.
Isaiah (Matthew 4:12; Matt 13:13; Luke 8:10)
This way the people rejected the message by Isaiah typifies the way in which the people
rejected the message by Jesus.
3
Bachelor of Theology I
The temptation narrative (Matt 41 -11;; Luke 4;1 -13)
It must be noticed that both Israel and Jesus faced temptations in the desert and the
former succumbed to temptation but the latter overcame the temptation.
Christ’s Presence
“Christophanies” are the appearances of Christ in the Old Testament. For example, the man who
appears before Joshua (Joshua 5;13 – 15)is the pre-incarnate Christ. The historical books mainly
talk about occupying and living in the promised land and Joshua 5:15 clearly show that this is
possible only with the Lord as the captain of the Israelite army. In this passage, the messenger is
both distinct from Jehovah and divine as he accepts the worship. There are many other instances
(Judges 2:1 – 5; 13:1 -4, 13- 20) in the Old Testament referring to the appearances of Christ in
the Old Testament.
c. Expectation for Jesus Christ
The Bible says all that is written about Jesus in the Law of Moses, the prophets and the Psalms
must be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). Peter tells in Acts 10;43 that all prophets bear witness to Christ.
Therefore the prophetical books express the expectation of Israel for Messiah. For example,
Christ was called the seed of the woman (Gen 3;15). This talks about the virgin birth of Jesus as
a human being. Isaiah the prophet reaffirms this as he declares that Jesus will come from the
family of Jesse (Isaiah 7:14; 11: 1 -2)
The similar prophetic expectation fro Messiah’s coming is seen in Jer 23: 5 – 6. There are
hundreds of prophecies about the coming of Messiah or Christ in the Old Testament that depict
the Messianic hope of the Israelites and which were conveyed through the prophets.
