Jesus in the Old Testament

“Among these Jews there suddenly turns up a man who goes about talking as if he was God. He claims to forgive sins. He says he has always existed. He says he is coming to judge the world at the end of time. Now let us get this clear. Among Pantheists, like the Indians, anyone might say that he was a part of God, or one with God: there would be nothing very odd about it. But this man, since he was a Jew, could not mean that kind of God. God, in their language, meant the Being outside the world who had made it and was infinitely different from anything else. And when you have grasped that, you will see that what this man said was, quite simply, the most shocking thing that has ever been uttered by human lips.” - C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Everyone has an opinion of who Jesus is.

Atheists

Other religions

Christians

4 Options:

Liar - he was not who he said he was and he knew it.

Lunatic - he was not who he thought he was and he didn’t know it.

Legend - he was not who others later imagined him to be.

Lord - he was who he said he was and his life, death, and resurrection prove it to be true.

How do we find out which of these is true?

The Old Testament told us of Jesus before He ever “came on the scene”

Key OT Verses that point to Jesus:

- Protoevangelium

“… her offspring… ”

“… He will bruise your head, and you will bruise His heel.”

- Covenant with Abram

“… in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” - v. 3

- Jacob Blesses His Sons

“You are a lion’s cub… The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

- A New Prophet like Moses

“… a prophet like me…”

- Promise to David

“I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth.” - v. 9

“… the Lord will make you a house (royal dynasty).” - v. 11

“… I will raise up your offspring after you … I will establish his kingdom … forever” v. 12-13

“I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” - v. 14

“… my steadfast love will not depart from him.” - v. 15

“… your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.” - v. 16

- The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed

“You are my Son; today I have begotten You.” - v. 7

“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” - v. 12

- You Will Not Abandon my Soul

“For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol (death), or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” - v. 10-11

- The Psalm of the Cross

- The Psalm of the Cross (, , ,

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” - v. 1

“ All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads, “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

- The King-Priest Hymn

“The Lord says to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” - v. 1

“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.’” - v. 4

- Immanuel

“… will be born

“… will be born” - v. 7 (humanity)

Titles refer to His deity

- Suffering Servant

“… one like a son of man...” - v. 13

“And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom…” v. 14

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“The OT writers did consciously and knowingly write and point to the Messiah as being a special son born in the line of David, with the special divine nature that belonged to God alone.” - Walter Kaiser, Toward Rediscovering the Old Testament