The Old Testaments Anticipation of Christ

The Law: laid the foundation for Christ by:

the election (Genesis), redemption (Exodus), sanctification (Leviticus), direction (Numbers), and instruction (Deuteronomy) of the nation of Israel as the custodians of the oracles of God (Rom. 3:1) and the channel for Messiah (Gen. 12:1f; Rom. 9:4-5).

The Historical Books: Further preparation for Christ was given by:

Giving the nation the Land of Israel for their possession (Joshua). The nation was then oppressed by foreign nations and was unfaithful, still

God raised up judges and found faithfulness in the nation (Ruth).

Stabilization was given to the nation under king Saul (1 Samuel), then expansion under king David (2 Samuel), and glorification of the nation under Solomons reign (1 Kings 1-10).

This was followed with division in the nation (1 Kings 11-22) into the northern 10 tribes and the southern tribes of Judah and Benjamin. These both suffered deterioration (2 Chronicles) resulting eventually in deportation by Assyria and Babylon (2 Kings). Consequently, the Temple suffered deprivation (1 Chronicles) and destruction (2 Chronicles).

However, Gods faithfulness to His promises remained and so there was reconstruction of the Temple (Ezra) and restoration of a remnant of the nation to the land (Nehemiah) followed by protection of Gods people (Esther).

The Poetical Books: there was always spiritual aspiration for Christ with the moral foundation being laid in the Law and the national framework being developed in the books of History.

The Prophetical Books:through them we have the nation of Israel, through the prophets, looking forward with great expectation to Christ. This is done in the following ways:

Hosea, Joel, Amos expect a national restoration by the Messiah.

Isaiah and Micah predict international salvation through the coming of Christ.

Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Habakkuk and Zephaniah warn of Gods retribution on the nations. Lamentations grieves over Gods retribution on His people but

Jeremiah looks for a covenantal reaffirmation in Christ.

Ezekiel expects the nations religious restoration and

Daniel predicts its political restoration. After the Babylonian captivity

Haggai and Zechariah exhort the people in their religious reconstruction and

Malachi in their social and moral reconstruction, as they await the coming of the sun of righteousness [that] shall rise, with healing in its wings (Mal. 4:2).

Christ as seen in Isaiah (The Salvation of Yahweh):

No book of the Old Testament presents a portrait of Christ that is as complete and comprehensive as does Isaiah. Isaiah portrays Messiah in His sovereignty above (6:1f), birth and humanity (7:14; 9:6; 11: 1), in His ministry by the Spirit (11:2f), His divine nature (7:14; 9:6); His Davidic descent (11:1); His work of redemption as our substitute (53), His ministry as the Servant Savior (49ff), and much more.

Christ as seen in Jeremiah: Many pictures of Christ are seen in Jeremiah: He is portrayed as the fountain of living waters (2:13; cf. John 4:14), the balm of Gilead (8:22), the Good Shepherd (23:4), a Righteous Branch (23:5), and the Lord our Righteousness (23:6). He is seen as the one who will bring in the New Covenant (31:31-34).

Christ as seen in Lamentations:

Lamentations includes two elements that portray the Savior: (1) It portrays Him as the Man of Sorrows who was acquainted with grief, who was afflicted, despised, and scorned by His enemies (cf. 1:12; 3:19: 2:15-16; 3:14, 30). (2) Jeremiahs weeping over the destruction of Jerusalem is perhaps also a picture of Christ who wept over Jerusalem (see Matt. 23:37-38).

Christ as seen in Ezekiel:

Christ, the Messiah, is pictured as a tender sprig that will be planted on a high and lofty mountain (17:23-24), a picture similar to that of the Branch in Isaiah (11:1), in Jeremiah (23:5; 33:15), and in Zechariah (3:8: 6:120. Ezekiel also speaks of Messiah as the King who has the right to rule (21:26-27) and who will minister as the true Shepherd (34:11-31).

Christ as seen in Daniel:

One of the key portraits of Christ in Daniel is that of the coming Messiah who will be cut off (a reference to the cross) (9:25-26). However, Christ is also portrayed as the great stone who will crush the kingdoms of this world (2:34, 45), the son of man (7:13), and the Ancient of days (7:22). The vision in 10:5-9) is most likely a Christophany, an appearance of Christ (cf. Rev. 1:12-16).

Christ as seen in Job:

Christ is seen in several ways in Job. Job acknowledges a Redeemer (19:25-27) and prays for a Mediator (9:33; 33:23). He knows he needs someone who can explain the mystery of suffering which is answered only in Christ Who identifies with our suffering and ultimately both answers Satans accusations, which are ultimately against God, and defeats him (Heb. 2:14-18; 4:15; Rom. 8:32-34).

Christ as seen in Psalms:Specific Prophetic fulfillments applied to Christ:

Prophecy	Psalm	New Testament Passage
1. Birth	104:4	Heb. 1:7
2. Humiliation	8:4	Heb. 2:6
3. Deity	45:6	Heb. 1:8
4. Ministry	69:9	John 2:17
5. Rejection	118:22	Matt. 21:42
6. Betrayal	41:9	John 13:18
7. Crucifixion events	22	Matt. 27:39, 43, 46; Luke 23:35
8. Resurrection	2 and 16	Acts 2:27
9. Ascension	68:18	Eph. 4:8
10. Reign	102:26	Heb. 1:11

Christ as seen in Proverbs:

In chapter 8, wisdom is personified and seen in its perfection. It is divine (8:22-31), it is the source of biological and spiritual life (3:18; 8:35-36), it is righteous and moral (8:8-9), and it is available to all who will receive it (8:1-6, 32-35). This wisdom became incarnate in Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3). But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from Godand righteousness and sanctification and redemption (1 Cor. 1:30; cf. 1 Cor. 1:22-24).⁴¹

Christ as seen in Ecclesiastes:

Since Christ alone is mans means to God where man finds wholeness and satisfaction, or life and life more abundantly (John 10:10; 7:37-38), the futility and perplexity experienced in life can only be removed through a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus. Mans aspiration for significance and satisfaction are found only in the Savior.

Christ as seen in the Song of Solomon:

This book illustrates Christs love for the church which is seen as the bride of Christ in the New Testament (cf. 2 Cor. 11:2; Eph. 5:23-25; Rev. 19:7-9; 21:9).

The Tabernacle was a representation of Christ coming as the Perfect High Priest that would ultimately take away our sins.

Christ as the High Priest:

Heb 9:11When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he /span>went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation.

Heb 9:12He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption.

Heb 9:24For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God's presence.

Heb 10:11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

Heb 10:12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God.

Heb 10:14because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.

Christ as the scapegoat:

Lev 16:10But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to be used for making atonement by sending it into the desert as a scapegoat. (a symbol of removing the sin from the world)

John 1:29The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!

Christ as the Manna from heaven; bread of life John 6:32 60

John 6:48I am the bread of life.

John 6:49Your forefathers ate the manna in the desert, yet they died.

John 6:50But here is the bread that comes down from heaven, which a man may eat and not die.

John 6:51I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world."