The Shadow of God’s Son in the Old Testament

Blog Posts

Jason Hardin
03/06/16 - Jesus

Then [Jesus] said to [his disciples], "These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." (Luke 24:44)

A glorious shadow of the coming Son of God had been cast over the course of centuries through the Old Testament.

The offspring of woman would bruise the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15)
Through Abraham, all the families of the earth would be blessed (Gen 12:2-3)
Unblemished lambs were offered in sacrifice for the “passing over” of God’s wrath (Exo 12:5,13)
A high priest was instituted to stand as a mediator between God and men (Lev 8-10)
A bronze serpent was lifted up in the wilderness for the people to look to for healing (Num 21:8-9)
Moses had promised that God would one day raise up a prophet like him (Deut 18:15)
God had promised David an heir whose throne would stand forever (2 Sam 7:12-14)
God’s coming holy one would not see the corruption of the grave (Psa 16:8-10)
God’s chosen one would be forsaken, scorned, mocked and pierced for others (Psa 22)
As a sign from God, a virgin would conceive and bear a son called Immanuel (Isa 7:14)
God would raise up for David a righteous Branch (Jer 23:5-6)
The Son of Man would come with the clouds to the Ancient of Days (Dan 7:13-14)
A great ruler-shepherd would be born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2-4)
The inhabitants of Jerusalem would look on him whom they had pierced (Zech 12:10)
The shepherd of God would be struck and the sheep would be scattered (Zech 13:7)
The sun of righteousness would rise with healing in its wings (Mal 4:2-3)

Over the course of three years, Jesus of Nazareth had shown himself to be the fulfillment of so much that had been foretold in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Having conquered death, the risen Son of God asked his disciples, “Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:26-27).

He was worthy of worship then. He is worthy of worship today.