Course: Jesus the Son of God

Section Three: The Son of God in the Old Testament

Lesson Five

Lesson Title: The Testimony of the Old Testament

 

Text: John 5:39-40  'Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.  And you will not come to me, that you might have life.'

 

Introduction:  The Old Testament scriptures testify of Jesus. 

The redemption story is unfolded from Genesis 3:15 where He is seen to be the Seed of the Woman who would crush the devil's head. 

1)    Redemption through the Son of God is the central message of Old Testament scripture. 

2)    The prophets prophesied concerning His coming. 

3)    In addition there are appearances of God (theophanies) made in the Old Testament.  We conclude that these are appearances of the eternal Son of God.

 

Introductory Story:  The blueprint - a detailed plan.

When a house is built the plans must be carefully drawn and worked out if the house is to be built right. 

The testimony of the Old Testament is a blueprint of the redemptive work of the eternal Son of God.

God's plan of salvation was written in eternity but through the Old Testament the plan was gradually revealed. 

 

 

Main Points:

1.    Old Testament foreshadowed the coming of the Son of God.

Jesus opened up the Old Testament to enable the disciples on the Emmaus Road to understand 'the things concerning Himself' .

Luke 24:27  'And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.'

Luke 24:32  'And they said one to another, Did not our heart burn within us, while he talked with us by the way, and while he opened to us the scriptures?'

 

a)    Jacob's ladder (Genesis 28:12)

The ladder reaches to heaven (Son of God); comes down to earth (Son of Man).

Jesus is seen to be the ladder that brings us into the presence of the Father, (John 14:6).

 

b)    Tabernacle, Sacrifices, and Feasts

His deity and His humanity is revealed in the types of the Old Testament. 

The entrance to the tabernacle was called 'the way', the holy place was 'the truth', the holy of holies was 'the life'.

Hebrews 8:5  Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, said he, that you make all things according to the pattern shown to you in the mount.

 

c)    The Temple

Nathan prophesied that the One who would build the temple will reign for ever

2 Samuel 7:14  'He shall build a house for my name, His throne established for ever.'

Compare when Jesus said 'Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.' (John 2:19).

Peter tells us that we are living stones of the temple.  Acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 2:5  'You also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.'

 

 

2.    The Old Testament prophesied concerning the Son of God

 

a)    Isaiah prophesied the birth of Jesus

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.' (Isaiah 7:14)

A virgin mother ‘a virgin shall conceive’

His name 'Immanuel’ meaning ‘God with us'

 

b)    Isaiah prophesied a child will be born who is the mighty God.

'For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.’  Isaiah 9:6-7

A child is born - a Son is given.  He has always been the eternal Son of God (a Son is given) He became man (a child is born). 

1)    Wonderful

2)    Counsellor

3)    Mighty God

4)    Everlasting Father

5)    Prince of Peace

 

c)    Micah prophesied concerning His birth.

'But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.'   Micah 5:2

1)    Bethlehem will be His birthplace.

2)    He will reign over Israel.

3)    He is everlasting (Hebrew 'Olam'). 

 

 

3.    Theophanies in the Old Testament.

 

a)    The Angel of Jehovah

In the Old Testament there is a person called the Angel of Jehovah.  This person speaks in a manner that can only be associated with God.

‘And the angel of the LORD said unto her, I will multiply thy seed exceedingly, that it shall not be numbered for multitude.’  (Genesis 16:10)

 

When Moses spoke to the Lord in the burning bush, he spoke to the angel of the Lord.

‘And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.’  (Exodus 3:2)

 

The Angel of the Lord is seen standing by the High Priest who is clothed in dirty garments.

‘And he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the LORD, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him.’  (Zechariah 3:1)

The High Priest represented the nation.

His dirty garments showed his unworthiness for the office of High Priest.

The Angel of the Lord says ‘I will bring forth my servant the BRANCH’ (Zechariah 3:8b) and ‘I will remove the iniquity of that land in one day.’ (Zechariah 3:9b)

 

Consider the text:  Psalms 34:7  'The angel of the LORD encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.'

 

b)    Captain of the Host of the Lord. 

When Joshua and the children of Israel were ready to enter into the promised land, Joshua met the Captain of the Host of the Lord.  When Joshua spoke with Him, He was told to worship. 

'And he said, No; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What says my lord unto his servant?  And the captain of the LORD’S host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon you stand is holy. And Joshua did so.'  (Joshua 5:14-15)

Only God is worthy of worship. 

This was an appearance of the Son of God, a theophanies.

 

 

Summary:

The Son of God is clearly seen in the Old Testament

1.    He is the ladder Who gives us access into the presence of the Father.

2.    The prophets prophesied concerning His coming that He is the eternal Son of God.

3.    The Son of God is seen actively involved with His people in the Old Testament