Where Is Jesus Foretold In The Old Testament?

Intro/Base Text: 1 Peter 1:10-12

1 Peter 1:10-12

10 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,

11 searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

12 To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven -- things which angels desire to look into.

Many of the prophets had partial revelation as to the coming Messiah. They wondered when and how this Messiah would come -- many believed that the nation of Israel would instantly be above all others, in essence becoming what it was during the ’Golden Age’ of David and Solomon, yet all under this new Messiah. Many expected the Messiah to bring military success and a regime that would crush conflicting nations. However, what Jesus was this first time around was a suffering servant. His Blood shows Kingship and Priesthood, yet we will see much more of that fulfilled through faith in Him and through the Age to come!

Today we will look at a much more detailed survey of where the Messiah, who is Jesus, was prophesied about in the Hebrew Bible (aka Old Testament). Before we look deeper into this broad topic, let’s pray.

(Opening Prayer)

Just prior to our text, and if you remember back a few weeks, we discussed the joy we are called to and the promised hope that we have in our eternal inheritance through faith in Jesus Christ. Even though things may look really bleak at times in our life, and whatever ’valley’ we’re going through, as Paul said in Romans 8, NOTHING here compares to what is prepared for us.

Here in verses 10-12, we see that the prophets were busy forth-telling God’s word to His people, and during this process, also foretell the coming of the Son of God and Savior of the world, Jesus. The prophets did not know exactly when and how the Messiah would live, yet they saw glimpses as the LORD revealed them.

Remarkably, these prophecies were recorded anywhere from 1500 to 400 years before our Savior’s birth, yet each element pieces together to form the life of God’s chosen King.

I should first mention that Jesus was no stranger in appearance in times of old. There are many Christophanies in the Old Testament. Example: Isaiah 6 -- Isaiah stands before the Lord’s throne, and Jesus reveals in John that it was He Himself. There are many of these, and yet this is a topic for another study altogether, if not several dozen.

The good news of today is that the Gospel is fully available to us, fully revealed and fully enacted by Jesus’ work on the Cross and Resurrection. He sacrificed Himself so we could be reunited with God the Father. So let’s celebrate this, as angels long to look into this wonderful provision, and let’s see where Jesus is foretold in the Old Testament --

Where is Jesus foretold in the Old Testament?

This list covers only some of the prophecies about Jesus (Yeshua) from the Old Testament, but there are some very good highlights here about the life and nature of Jesus.

A. Jesus’ Lineage

1. God would provide a ’seed’ of the woman (Eve) who would conquer the serpent’s (Satan) power

Genesis 3:15 - And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

Satan bruised Jesus’ heel -- Jesus did die a very cruel and gruesome death

Jesus crushed Satan’s head -- Defeated his power completely through His Death and Resurrection -- we do not have to live in possession or even the oppression of the enemy.

2. This promised son would be from Abraham’s and Isaac’s line

Genesis 21:12 - But God said to Abraham, "Do not let it be displeasing in your sight because of the lad or because of your bondwoman. Whatever Sarah has said to you, listen to her voice; for in Isaac your seed shall be called.

Note in Matthew 1, the extended genealogy highlights all of these key generations (including Abraham and Isaac).

3. The child would come from the line of Judah

Genesis 49:8-12

8 "Judah, you are he whom your brothers shall praise; Your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies; Your father’s children shall bow down before you.

9 Judah is a lion’s whelp; From the prey, my son, you have gone up. He bows down, he lies down as a lion; And as a lion, who shall rouse him?