Jesus of the Shadows: Part 3
Mike Criswell
When examining the Old Testament for references to Jesus, three key areas emerge. The first isJesus in Prophecy. Even before Jesus was born in Bethlehem to Mary, his coming was predicted. The prophet Isaiah anticipated Jesus' birth 700 years earlier (Isaiah 7:14).
Likewise, Micah made similar predictions in Micah 5:2. Notably, Micah not only predicted that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem but also identified the specific Bethlehem. Many don’t realize that during Jesus’ era, two cities named Bethlehem existed, located miles apart. Yet, Micah accurately pointed to the correct city centuries before it gained significance.
Next, we will look at Jesus in Typology. While we will discuss more in upcoming articles, for now, think of "typology” as Old Testament people or events that foreshadow Jesus. For example, John 1:29 describes Jesus as the Lamb of God, referring to the Passover lamb sacrificed during Israel's Exodus from Egypt.
Jesus also aligns himself with typology when he compares himself to the brass snake Moses lifted up after Israelites rebelled and were bitten by vipers. This story in Numbers 21 depicts the Israelites' physical healing when they looked in faith at the snake on the pole.
Jesus explains in John 3:14, "And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up." Essentially, Moses' action pointed to Jesus, who would ultimately be crucified on a “pole.”
Finally, as we will see later, the Old Testament contains what are known as Christophanies,where the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ takes on a corporeal form. These instances often feature a figure called “the Angel of the Lord,” but in context, it's evident that this figure is more than just a messenger, as he is also identified as “Yahweh” (God).
Exploring Christophanies is truly fascinating! It reminds us that Jesus appears in the Old Testament even before his physical birth in Bethlehem.
In our online study this Thursday, we will examine three additional prophecies about the coming Messiah: Isaiah’s prediction of the Virgin Birth, the link to Bethlehem, and Jesus as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
