Is Jesus Christ in the Old Testament (Moses and the Prophets)?

Is Jesus in the Old Testament ?

He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself. Luke 24:25-27

The Unified Narrative of the Bible:
The Bible , Sixty-six books, countless stories, yet one central theme. a masterpiece, richly woven with the knowledge of Jesus from The beginning to end. a unified narrative with a central theme: the love of God, revealed through His Son, Jesus Christ. From Genesis to Revelation, it tells the story of one Savior, one Redeemer—Jesus Christ.

The Misconception of the Old Testament

It’s often assumed that the Old Testament focuses mainly on figures like Noah, Abraham, the prophets, historical events, and the nation of Israel, while the story of Jesus starts only in the New Testament. This overlooks a deeper reality: the promise and message of a Savior—Jesus Christ which are woven throughout the Old Testament narratives.

The message of Jesus doesn’t begin in Matthew but starts in Genesis, right from the beginning: Genesis 1:1—“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.”

Too often, the richness of the stories can overshadow the overarching theme and the point of those stories—Jesus.

Jesus in the Old Testament

In Luke 24:25-27, we see Jesus revealing how the writings of Moses and the prophets spoke about Him. Jesus Himself used the Scriptures (the writings of Moses and the prophets)to explain who He is, pointing that we too should look to these writings to clearly and accurately see and explain Him.

Similarly, in John 1:45, Philip tells Nathanael,

“We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote.”

This emphasizes that the true meaning and explanation of the writings of Moses and the prophets is found in Jesus. Embedded in the writings is a profound message about Jesus that we ought to see.

The Bible consistently emphasizes that the Scriptures point directly to Christ.

As Romans 1:1-2 says,

“Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—the gospel(the message of Jesus ) he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures.”

Similarly, 1 Peter 1:9-11 highlights that the prophets, guided by the Spirit, foretold Christ’s sufferings and the glories to follow. All of Scripture ultimately points to Christ.

There is no true message outside the revelation of Jesus, regardless of the Book of the Bible you are reading be it the new or the Old Testament

Seeing Christ in the Old Testament

So, how and where do we see Jesus in these stories?

In Psalm 119:18, David prayed,

“Open my eyes that I may see the wondrous things in Your law.” This means that within the law of Moses lie the miraculous wonders of God, ultimately pointing to His raising of Jesus from the dead.

Similarly, Ephesians 1:18 echoes this sentiment, asking for the eyes of our understanding to be enlightened.

The issue isn’t with the Scriptures themselves, but with the eyes—or the hearts—of the readers. You can approach the Old Testament with closed eyes/mind (unbelief) or open eyes/mind (faith in Christ Jesus).

As 2 Corinthians 3:14 explains,

“Their minds were blinded, for to this day, the same veil remains when the Old Testament is read. It is not removed because only in Christ is it taken away.”

In Christ, the veil has been removed. We are called to read the Scriptures (Old Testament)with a Christ-centered perspective, seeing Christ revealed through and through. Open your mind and heart to see the Old Testament with Christ in view from beginning to end.

Keep your gaze and focus on Jesus—who He is and what He has done. Pitch your qtent on the love of God shown in His Son, Jesus, and remain steadfast.

For in the Old Testament lies the promise of a Savior. In the birth, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, we find the fulfilment of that promise, and in us, believers, the reality of that promise.

Think Christ, see Christ.