“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Prophecies of His Birth
As we look into the Old Testament, we discover numerous prophecies that foretell the coming of Jesus Christ into the world. These aren’t just random predictions but divine messages that pointed to the miraculous birth of our Savior. The beauty of these prophecies is that they reveal God’s perfect plan for redemption long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Throughout the scriptures, we find hints, symbols, and traces of His coming, and these words remind us of the hope and joy tied to His arrival.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” – Isaiah 7:14
Micah 5:2
“But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” – Micah 5:2
Isaiah 9:6
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” – Isaiah 9:6
Genesis 49:10
“The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.” – Genesis 49:10
Isaiah 11:1
“And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” – Isaiah 11:1
His Suffering and Sacrifice
The Old Testament doesn’t shy away from the depiction of Jesus’ suffering, which is a central theme of His earthly mission. We witness the foretelling of His sacrifice for our sins in stunning detail and poetic brilliance. As we read these texts, we recognize that long before Jesus walked among us, there was a deep understanding of the price He would pay on our behalf. These scriptures give us a clearer picture of the love and sacrifice that Jesus embodies.
Isaiah 53:5
“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.” – Isaiah 53:5
Psalms 22:16
“For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet.” – Psalms 22:16
Isaiah 53:6
“All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.” – Isaiah 53:6
Daniel 9:26
“And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” – Daniel 9:26
Zechariah 12:10
“And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son…” – Zechariah 12:10
His Role as the Redeemer
Throughout the Old Testament, we see snippets of Jesus’ role as our Redeemer. This role is not merely one of saving us from sin but speaks of restoration, renewal, and the promise of a future where we are united with God once more. As we read these passages, we can find peace in the assurance that our Redeemer lives and that He has been a part of God’s plan since the beginning of time.
Ishmael 52:3
“For thus saith the Lord, Ye have sold yourselves for nought; and ye shall be redeemed without money.” – Isaiah 52:3
Job 19:25
“For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth.” – Job 19:25
Exodus 6:6
“Wherefore say unto the children of Israel, I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will rid you out of their bondage, and I will redeem you with a stretched out arm, and with great judgments.” – Exodus 6:6
Psalms 130:7
“Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.” – Psalms 130:7
Proverbs 23:11
“For their redeemer is mighty; he shall plead their cause with thee.” – Proverbs 23:11
His Kingship and Authority
Scriptures in the Old Testament also herald Jesus as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. His reign is portrayed not just as a future hope but as a present reality that reigns in our hearts. His authority is evident in His miracles, His teachings, and His interactions with all types of people. Meditating on these verses sheds light on the inherent power and majesty of our Savior, who holds the universe by His word.
Psalms 2:6
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” – Psalms 2:6
Psalms 110:1
“The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” – Psalms 110:1
Isaiah 32:1
“Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness, and princes shall rule in judgment.” – Isaiah 32:1
Jeremiah 23:5
“Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.” – Jeremiah 23:5
Isaiah 9:7
“Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” – Isaiah 9:7
His Teachings and Wisdom
The Old Testament is filled with wisdom and teachings that resonate with the heart of Jesus. They lay a foundation for the principles He would later teach in the New Testament. We can find echoes of His teachings in the proverbs, laws, and poetic writings of the Old Testament. These verses not only reflect the teachings of Jesus but also emphasize the profound wisdom that we are encouraged to embody in our lives.
Proverbs 1:7
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” – Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 4:7
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” – Proverbs 4:7
Deuteronomy 6:5
“And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.” – Deuteronomy 6:5
Micah 6:8
“He hath showed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?” – Micah 6:8
Psalms 119:105
“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” – Psalms 119:105
His Eternal Nature
Finally, we must remember the eternal nature of Jesus, who existed before time and will reign forever. As we reflect on scriptures about Jesus in the Old Testament, it’s evident that He is not just a character in a story, but the very essence of God manifested in human form. This eternal significance gives us assurance of stability and hope, knowing that our Savior is timeless and always with us.
Genesis 1:26
“And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” – Genesis 1:26
Exodus 3:14
“And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.” – Exodus 3:14
Psalms 90:2
“Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God.” – Psalms 90:2
Proverbs 8:22
“The Lord possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.” – Proverbs 8:22
Isaiah 43:13
“Yea, before the day was I am he; and there is none that can deliver out of my hand: I will work, and who shall let it?” – Isaiah 43:13
Final Thoughts
The Old Testament is rich with verses that point us to Jesus Christ, illustrating His birth, sacrifice, authority, and eternal nature. Each prophecy and teaching serves as a reminder that God had a plan for our redemption long before Jesus came to earth. As we draw closer to Him through these scriptures, we grow not only in knowledge but also in faith and relationship with our Savior.
Let’s continue ponder over the wisdom found in these verses and hold on to the hope they bring us. We can share what we learn with others, helping them understand the beauty of God’s word. May we always be eager to dig deeper into these scriptures and let them lead us closer to Christ.
As we journey together in faith, let’s encourage one another to explore topics such as forgiveness in the Old Testament and forgiveness from the Old Testament and see how they connect to our lives today.