Jesus Foretelling’s and Shadows in Old Testament
Exploring the Old Testament foreshadowing’s of Jesus is a fascinating journey! Here’s a narrative approach, focusing on key themes and their fulfillment of Pre-Jesus Foretelling’s and Shadows from the Old Testament
Chapter 1: The Promise of a Redeemer (Genesis 3:15)
The Shadow: Immediately after the fall of humanity, God promises a ‘seed’ of the woman who will crush the serpent’s head. This hints at a future conflict and ultimate victory over evil, foreshadowing Jesus’s victory over Satan.
The Fulfillment: Jesus, born of a woman, ultimately defeats Satan through his death and resurrection (Hebrews 2:1415; Romans 16:20).
Chapter 2: The Covenant with Abraham (Genesis 12:13; 17:18; 22:18)
The Shadow: God promises Abraham a vast posterity, land, and blessing for all nations through his descendants. This establishes a covenant relationship and hints at a future blessing for all humanity.
The Fulfillment: Jesus, a descendant of Abraham, brings the ultimate blessing – salvation – to all who believe (Galatians 3:16; Acts 3:25).
Chapter 3: The Passover Lamb (Exodus 12)
The Shadow: The Passover lamb, sacrificed and its blood protecting the Israelites from death, is a powerful symbol of sacrifice and redemption.
The Fulfillment: Jesus, the ultimate Passover Lamb, is sacrificed for the sins of humanity, his blood providing atonement and redemption (1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Peter 1:19).
Chapter 4: The Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53)
The Shadow: Isaiah’s prophecy describes a suffering servant who endures unjust treatment, bears the sins of many, and brings about righteousness. This servant is portrayed as humble and obedient, yet powerful in his suffering.
The Fulfillment: The New Testament identifies this suffering servant as Jesus Christ, who willingly suffered and died for the sins of the world (Matthew 2627; Acts 8:3235).
Chapter 5: The King and Messiah (Psalm 2; Daniel 7; Micah 5:2)
The Shadow: Numerous Psalms and prophetic books describe a coming king, a Messiah, who will establish God’s kingdom, rule with justice and mercy, and bring peace to the world. These prophecies often depict a king of David’s lineage, with an eternal reign.
The Fulfillment: Jesus, a descendant of David, is hailed as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, establishing a spiritual kingdom that transcends earthly boundaries (Matthew 1:1; Revelation 19:16).
Chapter 6: The Temple and the New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:3134; Ezekiel 36:2627)
The Shadow: Prophecies foretell a new covenant, a spiritual relationship between God and his people, replacing the old covenant based on the law. This new covenant would be written on the hearts of people, signifying an inner transformation.
The Fulfillment: Jesus establishes the new covenant through his sacrifice, offering forgiveness of sins and a direct relationship with God through faith (Hebrews 8:613; Hebrews 10:1618).
Chapter 7: The Resurrection and Ascension (Psalm 16:811)
The Shadow: David’s Psalm speaks of not being left in the grave and experiencing the joy of God’s presence. This hints at a future resurrection and victory over death.
The Fulfillment: Jesus’s resurrection demonstrates the power of God over death and provides hope of eternal life for believers (Acts 2:24; 1 Corinthians 15:2022).
Chapter 8: The Priest After the Order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
Psalm 110:4: “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.'”
The Shadow: Melchizedek, a mysterious figure in Genesis, is both a king and a priest. He blesses Abraham, prefiguring a priestly and kingly role.
The Fulfillment: Jesus is a priest forever, not in the Levitical order (the traditional priestly line), but in the order of Melchizedek. This emphasizes Jesus’s unique and eternal priesthood, offering a perfect sacrifice for sins (Hebrews 5:6; 7:128).
Chapter 9: The Rock (Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Corinthians 10:4)
Deuteronomy 32:4: “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”
1 Corinthians 10:4: “and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.”
The Shadow: God is often described as a rock, a refuge, and a source of strength. In the wilderness, the Israelites were provided water from a rock, a symbol of God’s provision.
The Fulfillment: Paul identifies the rock that provided water as Christ. Jesus is the foundation, the source of life, and the ultimate refuge for believers.
Chapter 10: The Branch (Isaiah 11:1; Jeremiah 23:56; Zechariah 3:8; 6:12)
Isaiah 11:1: “There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 23:56: ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’”
Zechariah 3:8: “Hear now, O Joshua the high priest, you and your friends who sit before you, for they are men who are a sign—behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.”
Zechariah 6:12: “and say to him, thus says the Lord of hosts, “Behold, the man whose name is the Branch, for he shall branch out from his place, and he shall build the temple of the Lord.”
The Shadow: The “Branch” is a messianic title, signifying a descendant of David who will bring righteousness and restoration.
The Fulfillment: Jesus, a descendant of Jesse (David’s father), is the “Branch” who brings salvation and establishes God’s kingdom.
Chapter 11: The Shepherd (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34:2324; John 10:1118)
Psalm 23: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”
Ezekiel 34:2324: “And I will set up over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he shall feed them: he shall feed them and be their shepherd. And I, the Lord, will be their God, and my servant David shall be prince among them. I am the Lord; I have spoken.”
John 10:1118: “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.”
The Shadow: God is often portrayed as a shepherd, caring for his flock.
The Fulfillment: Jesus calls himself the “Good Shepherd,” who lays down his life for his sheep. He provides guidance, protection, and ultimately, eternal life for his followers.
Chapter 12: The Bridegroom (Psalm 45; Isaiah 61:10; Matthew 9:15; John 3:29)
Psalm 45: A psalm of royal wedding, with imagery of a king and his bride.
Isaiah 61:10: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.”
Matthew 9:15: “And Jesus said to them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
John 3:29: “The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. Therefore, this joy of mine is now complete.”
The Shadow: The imagery of a bridegroom and bride symbolizes the relationship between God and his people.
The Fulfillment: Jesus is the Bridegroom, and the Church is his bride. This imagery highlights the intimate and loving relationship between Christ and his followers.
Chapter 13: The New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:3134)
Jeremiah 31:3134: “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah…”
The Shadow: This prophecy speaks of a new covenant that will be different from the old one, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.
The Fulfillment: Jesus establishes this new covenant through His blood during the Last Supper, offering forgiveness and a direct relationship with God (Luke 22:20; Hebrews 8:613).
Chapter 14: The Star Out of Jacob (Numbers 24:17)
Numbers 24:17: “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel…”
The Shadow: This prophecy indicates a future ruler from Israel who will have a significant impact.
The Fulfillment: The Magi recognize the star as a sign of Jesus’s birth, acknowledging Him as the King of the Jews (Matthew 2:2).
Chapter 15: The Suffering and Glory (1 Peter 1:1012)
1 Peter 1:1012: “Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully…”
The Shadow: The prophets of the Old Testament spoke of a coming Messiah who would suffer and then be glorified.
The Fulfillment: Jesus’s suffering, death, and resurrection fulfill these prophecies, demonstrating the grace and salvation He brings (Luke 24:2627).
Chapter 16: The Suffering of Job (Job 19:2527)
Job 19:2527: “For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth…”
The Shadow: Job expresses hope in a Redeemer who will come to vindicate him.
The Fulfillment: Jesus is recognized as the Redeemer who lives and offers eternal life to those who believe in Him (Revelation 1:18).
Chapter 17: The Vine and the Branches (Isaiah 5:17; John 15:15)
Isaiah 5:17: “Let me sing for my beloved my love song concerning his vineyard…”
The Shadow: Israel is depicted as a vineyard that God tends, expecting good fruit.
The Fulfillment: Jesus identifies Himself as the true vine, emphasizing the importance of abiding in Him to bear fruit (John 15:15).
Chapter 18: The Suffering of the Innocent (Psalm 69:4)
Psalm 69:4: “More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause…”
The Shadow: This psalm reflects the unjust suffering of the psalmist, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of the innocent suffering of Christ.
The Fulfillment: Jesus experiences unjust hatred and persecution, fulfilling this psalm during His ministry (John 15:25).
Conclusion:
This expanded narrative provides even more examples of how the Old Testament foreshadows Jesus. Studying these passages reveals the interconnectedness of the Bible and the consistent message of God’s plan of salvation through Jesus Christ. It’s a journey of discovery that deepens faith and understanding.
These illustrate the rich tapestry of Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus Christ, and each passage not only highlights the continuity of God’s plan but also deepens the understanding of Jesus’s role as the Messiah. Exploring these connections can be a profound journey of faith and discovery!
“I hope this comprehensive approach enriches your understanding of the Old Testament’s prophetic significance.” H John
If you have any questions, comments, critiques, or additions we would love to hear from you directly through our emails below. Blessing to you on your journey through the scriptures.
H John & Jean
Our Divided World Ministry
john@ourdividedworld.com
jean@ourdividedworld.com
https://ourdividedworld.com
Heal me, LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.
Jeremiah 17:14
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