Seeing Christ In The Old Testament

Seeing Christ In The Old Testament

“These are the Scriptures that testify about Me.” John 5:39

Do we see Christ in the Old Testament? Yes! The Old Testament, like the New, is Christ-centered. Jesus Himself said that it spoke of Him (Jn. 5:39). As divine revelation, images of the person and the work of Christ appear from Genesis to Malachi, in animal sacrifices, human sacrifice, inanimate objects, human types, theophanies, prophecies and descriptions.

Animal Sacrifices

Coats of skin (Gen. 3:21): God supplied coats of skin for Adam and Eve. To do so, an animal was killed and blood was shed. This clothing covered their nakedness and sinfulness just as Christ provides salvation for us.

Paschal lamb (Ex. 12): This is a type of Christ in His death. The blood of the lamb blotted out sin, a perfect propitiation against divine judgment. Partaking of the roasted lamb speaks of fellowship. Christ fulfilled this type when He became “the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world” (Jn. 1:29 kjv).

Four animal sacrifices (Lev. 1:1–7:38): These represent four types of Christ celebrated under Mosaic Law. The burnt offering speaks of Christ offering Himself without spot to the Father. The peace offering pictures the peace with God provided for believing sinners by the death of Christ. The sin and trespass offerings both represent Christ bearing the sin of the world, with the anticipation of His death as the judgment on sin.

Two birds offered for leprosy (Lev. 14:1-7): The slain one speaks of Christ “delivered for our offenses,” while the released one represents Christ being “raised again for our justification” (Rom. 4:25).

Animal sacrifices on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:3-10). A bullock was sacrificed for Aaron, the high priest, and his house. Two goats were offered for the children of Israel – one as a sacrifice for sin, the other as a scapegoat that pictured Christ taking away our sins.

Red heifer (Num. 19:1-22): This is a type of Christ cleansing the believer (1 Jn. 1:7-9). The heifer was consumed by fire. Its ashes, mingled with water, were used as ceremonial cleansing from defilement, a picture of believers cleansed by Christ’s blood in response to confession of sin (Ps. 51:7; Eph. 5:26).

Human Sacrifice

The only human sacrifice in the Old Testament is that of lsaac (Gen. 22). It is also mentioned in the New: “By faith Abraham ... offered up Isaac” (Heb.11:17). Genesis 22 is the only type which distinctly intimates that God required a human sacrifice for sin: for “as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin” (Rom. 5:12), so it must be by the sacrifice of a man, not of beasts, that divine justice would be completely satisfied.

Genesis 22 is a wonderful foreshadowing of the divine side of Calvary. What took place between Abraham and Isaac is a type of the transaction between God the Father and the Son. God said to Abraham, “Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest ... and offer him there for a burnt offering” (Gen. 22:2). Why did God say to Abraham, “thine only son Isaac,” when He knew that Abraham had two sons – Isaac and Ishmael? Because Isaac, not Ishmael, was a type of Christ. Note the complete similarity of the type (lsaac) to the antitype (Jesus): “Thy son, thine only son ... whom thou lovest.”

Since Abraham did not actually slay Isaac, how could it be said in the book of Hebrews that he “offered up” Isaac? Abraham obeyed God’s command to kill Isaac with no reserve in his heart. He took Isaac to the mountain, bound him to the altar, and “took the knife to slay his son” (Gen. 22:10). Had God not intervened, Abraham would have done so. Here we see an important principle in connection with God’s acceptance of the believer. Where the heart, which God sees, truly desires to please Him, and attempts to do so, God graciously accepts the will for the deed.

Inanimate Objects

Noah’s Ark (Gen. 6:14–8:19): The ark was a refuge from God’s judgment, a place of safety and security, and the only place of deliverance from the storm of God’s wrath. It is a clear type of our salvation in Christ.

Tree cast into waters of Marah (Ex. 15:23-25): When the tree was cut down and cast into the bitter waters of Marah it sweetened them. It speaks of Christ who gave His life to make even the most bitter experiences of life sweet to us.

Manna (Ex. 16): As manna came from heaven to give life to Israel, so Christ is the Bread from heaven to give life to the world (Jn. 6:30-59).

Smitten rock (Ex. 17:5-7; Num. 20:7-13): As 1 Corinthians 10:4 says, “that Rock was Christ.” By His death, the water of life was released, and He was smitten only once. Moses was judged severely for smiting the rock twice and thus spoiling the type. The death of Christ is infinitely sufficient and does not need to be repeated (Num. 20:11).

Brazen serpent (Num. 21:5-9): This is a type of Christ in His crucifixion, as confirmed by Jesus Himself: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up” (Jn. 3:14).

Human Types

Certain persons’ lives typically remind us of our Savior’s ministry. Melchizedek (Gen. 14:18; Ps. 110:4) is a type of Christ in that He was both a king and a priest, two offices fulfilled in Christ (Heb. 5:6-10; 7:1-3). Joseph, in many respects is the most consistent type of Jesus. Both were loved by their fathers; both were hated, ridiculed and plotted against by their brethren; both were stripped of their robes, sold for silver, condemned though innocent, and placed side-by-side with two guilty men; finally, both were raised from humiliation to glory by God.

Isaac’s birth and life are similar in many ways to Christ’s. Both were involved in a miraculous conception, both were declared to be “only begotten” even though Ishmael was born earlier. Isaac’s being sacrificed foreshadows the death of Christ. The securing of a bride for Isaac (Gen. 24) typifies the Holy Spirit securing a bride for Christ. Aaron is a type of Christ in His high priestly work (Heb. 5:4-5). Moses is a type of Christ in His prophetic ministry. He anticipated the prophetic office of Christ ( Dt. 18:15-18). David is a type of Christ in His conquering, kingly ministry. God told the prophet Nathan that the kingdom of David would continue forever (2 Sam. 7:16). The Davidic Covenant is a declaration of God’s purpose to have Christ on the throne of David forever, a prediction to be fulfilled in the millennial kingdom. Psalm 89 anticipates David’s descendant on the throne (Ps. 89:27-37). Jonah in the fish typifies Christ’s death, while Jonah on land represents His resurrection. Jesus spoke of Jonah as a type (Mt. 12:40; 16:4; Lk. 11:29.)

Theophanies

A theophany is a visible appearing of God to man. Some see these as pre-birth appearances of Christ. Many biblical scholars see the recurring “Angel” of the Lord as Christ, based on two passages. The first is in the Jacob’s prayer blessing his two grandchildren: “The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads” (Gen. 48:16). As no regular angel can redeem man, it is assumed that this angel is actually Christ. The second passage is in Judges 13 where the “Angel of the Lord” appeared to Samson’s parents informing them that the barren woman would conceive and bear a son. When the father, Manoah, asked the name of the angel, Scripture records, “The angel of the Lord said unto him, ‘Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?’” (Jud. 13:18). The word “secret” is the same word translated “wonderful” in Isaiah 9:6, where it is one of five names of Christ.

The Old Testament records the many theophanies. Many believe that it was Christ who appeared as the “Angel of the Lord” ministering to Hagar (Gen. 16:7-11), to Abraham (Gen. 18:1-3; 22:11) and to Jacob (Gen. 28:13,24,30). The “man” who wrestled with Jacob appears to be Christ Himself, as evidenced by Jacob’s confession: “I have seen God face to face” (Gen. 32:30). Many believe He introduced Himself to Joshua as the “Captain of the host of the Lord” (Josh. 5:13-15), to Gideon as “an angel of the Lord” (Jud. 6:11,12,20,21).

Many believe it was Christ who appeared to Samson’s parents, informing the barren couple of the future birth of their son (Jud. 13); to Isaiah in his well-known vision of the angels attending the Lord of hosts (Isa. 6: 6:1-13); to the three young Hebrews in the fiery furnace. They believe that Nebuchadnezzar even recognized the fourth man in the furnace as Christ, when he said, “The fourth is like the Son of God” (Dan. 3:25 kjv). They also believe He appeared to Daniel in the lion’s den: “Then said Daniel unto the king ... ‘My God hath sent His angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths’” (Dan. 6:21-22). Some believe that Christ appeared to Zechariah who recognized the “man riding upon a red horse” as “the angel of the Lord” (Zech. 1:8-12).

Prophecies

There are many prophecies of the coming Messiah in the Old Testament. Here are the seven most important ones.

First prophecy: Genesis 3:15 presents three major prophecies about Christ: His humanity (“her seed”), His death (“bruise His heel”), and His victory over Satan at the cross (“bruise thy head”). His genealogy: It was prophesied that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah, and be a descendant of David (Gen. 49:10; Isa. 11:1; Jer. 33:21). His birth: He would be born of a virgin in Bethlehem of Judea (Isa. 7:14; Mic. 5:2). His life: He would be filled with God’s Spirit (Isa. 61:1-3). He would be a light to the Gentiles (Isa. 42:6). He would make a triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech. 9:9). He would be the rejected cornerstone (Ps. 118:22). He would be betrayed for 30 pieces of silver (Ps. 41:9; 55:14-16; Zech. 11:12). He would be “a Man of Sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3). His suffering and death: He would thirst (Ps. 22:15; 69:21). He would be given vinegar to drink (Ps. 69:21). He would suffer the piercing of His hands and feet (Ps. 22:16). His garments would be parted and gambled for (Ps. 22:18). His bones would not be broken (Ex. 12:4; Num. 9:12). He would die a sacrificial death (Isa. 53:1-12) by crucifixion (Ps. 22:1-21.) His resurrection was prophesied by the following passages: “Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Ps. 16:10). “He shall see of the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied. By His knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many ... and He shall divide the spoil with the strong” (Is. 53:11-12). His second coming: He would come to earth a second time in the clouds of heaven (Dt. 30:3; Dan. 7:13). When He comes, He will stand on the Mount of Olives, the place from which He ascended to heaven (Zech. 14:4; Acts 1:11).

Names And Descriptions

We conclude this study by listing some of the names and descriptions from the Old Testament that we trust will turn the reader’s thoughts to Christ.

In Genesis, Christ is the “Seed of the woman” (3:15), the redeeming “Angel” (48:16), and “Shiloh” (49:10), which means “Messiah.” In Exodus He’s the Passover Lamb (12:3). In Leviticus He’s the anointed high priest (8:7-9). In Numbers He’s “the Star out of Jacob” (24:17). In Deuteronomy He’s the Prophet like Moses (31:8), and the Rock of our salvation (32:4,15). In Ruth He’s the Kinsman-Redeemer (2:1). In 2 Samuel He is “My Servant David” (7:5,8). In Job He is the living and returning Redeemer (19:25). In Psalms He is The Rock and the Horn of Salvation (18:2), the Good Shepherd (23:1) and the King of Glory (24:7-10). In Proverbs He is the Wisdom of God (8:22-36). In Song of Songs He is “chiefest among 10,000” (5:10), “altogether lovely” (5:16). In Isaiah He is the virgin-born Son, whose name is “Immanuel” (7:14); Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (9:6); the Lord, Savior, Redeemer (60:16). In Daniel He is the Smiting Stone (2:34), “the Son of God” (3:25), “the Son of Man” (7:13). In Micah He is the One “whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (5:2). In Haggai He is “the desire of all nations” (2:7). In Zechariah He is “My Servant the BRANCH” (3:8; 6:12), the One “whom they have pierced” (12:10), the “King over all the earth” (14:9). In Malachi He is “the Sun of Righteousness” (4:2).

By Maurice Bassali