Jesus in the Old Testament: Foreshadowings and Prophecies
The Savior was not a surprise — He was the plan from the beginning.
Maybe you’ve opened the Old Testament and felt overwhelmed. Long genealogies, ancient laws, and strange rituals. Battles and kings. Priests and prophets. You wonder, Where is Jesus in all of this?
Or maybe you’ve grown up hearing that Jesus is the center of the Bible — but when you flip through the early pages of Genesis or Exodus, He doesn’t seem to appear at all. And if the Old Testament is more than half the Bible, shouldn’t it matter just as much?
Here’s the truth that changes everything: Jesus is not just the hero of the New Testament. He is the heartbeat of the whole Bible — from Genesis to Revelation.
In this article, we’ll explore how the Old Testament foreshadows and prophesies Jesus Christ, showing that God’s plan for salvation was not a reaction to sin, but a rescue prepared from the very beginning. You’ll see that Jesus didn’t merely arrive into history — He was written into every part of it.
✨ One Central Truth: Jesus Christ Is the Fulfillment of the Old Testament
Every story, every symbol, every prophecy — all of it points to one reality: God was always leading us to Jesus. He is the promised seed, the true Passover Lamb, the suffering servant, and the coming King.
Let’s follow this golden thread through the Old Testament and see how Jesus was hidden in plain sight, waiting to be revealed.
📖 Foreshadowings of Jesus in the Old Testament
1. The Seed of the Woman – Genesis 3:15
“I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” (Genesis 3:15, ESV)
Right after the fall of humanity into sin, God gave a promise — not just of punishment, but of redemption. This is often called the protoevangelium, or “first gospel.” It speaks of a coming descendant who would crush Satan’s head.
That descendant is Jesus. At the cross, His “heel” was bruised — He suffered and died. But in His resurrection, He crushed the serpent’s head forever.
2. The Sacrificed Son – Genesis 22
When God told Abraham to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac, it was a shocking command. But in that moment, we see a powerful foreshadowing of Christ.
“God will provide for himself the lamb for a burnt offering, my son.” (Genesis 22:8)
At the last moment, God spared Isaac — and provided a ram instead. But centuries later, God would not spare His own Son. Jesus carried the wood for His own sacrifice, like Isaac. But He was not rescued. He was the Lamb.
“He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all…” (Romans 8:32)
3. The Passover Lamb – Exodus 12
During Israel’s final night in Egypt, God instructed each family to kill a lamb and spread its blood on their doorposts.
“When I see the blood, I will pass over you…” (Exodus 12:13)
This act of faith saved them from death. Centuries later, Jesus would die during Passover — and become the true Lamb whose blood saves us.
“For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.” (1 Corinthians 5:7)
The lamb had to be spotless. Jesus was without sin. The lamb had to die. Jesus died for us. The blood turned away judgment. Jesus’ blood secures eternal life.
4. The Bronze Serpent – Numbers 21
When the Israelites were bitten by snakes, God told Moses to lift up a bronze serpent on a pole. Anyone who looked at it would be healed.
“So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a pole. And if a serpent bit anyone, he would look at the bronze serpent and live.” (Numbers 21:9)
Jesus referred to this moment:
“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.” (John 3:14–15)
Sin is like a venom that kills. But when we look to Christ on the cross in faith, we live.
5. The Suffering Servant – Isaiah 53
No Old Testament passage paints a clearer picture of Jesus’ crucifixion than Isaiah 53.
“He was despised and rejected by men… pierced for our transgressions… with his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:3–5)
This was written 700 years before Jesus was born — yet it describes His death with stunning detail. Betrayal, silence before accusers, substitutionary death, burial in a rich man’s tomb — all fulfilled in Jesus.
“It was the will of the Lord to crush him…” (Isaiah 53:10)
Why? So we could be made righteous.
🪞 Prophecies of the Messiah: Specific and Stunning
The Old Testament doesn’t just foreshadow Jesus with images and stories — it prophesies Him directly, often with startling precision.
1. Born of a Virgin – Isaiah 7:14
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Fulfilled: Matthew 1:22–23
2. Born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:2
“But you, O Bethlehem… from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel…”
Fulfilled: Matthew 2:1–6
3. Betrayed for 30 Pieces of Silver – Zechariah 11:12–13
“So they weighed out as my wages thirty pieces of silver… and threw them into the house of the Lord…”
Fulfilled: Matthew 26:14–16; 27:3–10
4. Pierced Hands and Feet – Psalm 22
“They have pierced my hands and feet… they divide my garments among them…” (Psalm 22:16–18)
Fulfilled: John 19:23–24
This psalm, written 1,000 years before Christ, describes crucifixion — a method of execution not even invented yet.
5. Resurrection Foretold – Psalm 16:10
“You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”
Fulfilled: Acts 2:25–32
Jesus rose — just as God said He would.
🌍 Why It Matters: The Bible Is One Unified Story of Redemption
You might wonder, Why does all this matter? Here’s why:
- It proves the Bible’s divine authorship.
How could dozens of authors, over 1,500 years, write one seamless story pointing to Jesus — unless God Himself wrote it? - It shows God’s love from the very beginning.
God didn’t wait until we were good to love us. He loved us before we sinned — and planned to rescue us. - It deepens our awe of Christ.
Jesus didn’t arrive out of nowhere. He fulfilled centuries of promises. He is not just a good man — He is God’s long-awaited Savior. - It anchors our faith.
You can trust Scripture. You can trust Jesus. If God kept every ancient promise, He’ll keep the ones still to come.
🧎 Will You Follow the One All Scripture Points To?
Jesus said something staggering after His resurrection:
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” (Luke 24:27)
And again:
“These are my words… everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” (Luke 24:44)
Jesus saw the entire Old Testament as pointing to Him.
Friend, this isn’t just theology — it’s an invitation. God has been speaking about His Son from the very beginning. And now He is speaking to you.
✝️ Come to Jesus — The Fulfillment of Every Promise
The Bible is not a collection of religious rules. It is a love story — and Jesus is the center of it all.
You were created to know Him. But like all people, you have sinned. You’ve gone your own way. And sin has a cost — death and separation from God.
But God — rich in mercy — sent His Son, just as He promised.
Jesus lived the life you couldn’t live. He died the death you deserved. He rose again, conquering death and opening the way back to God.
Now, He offers you forgiveness, freedom, and eternal life — not as a reward to the good, but as a gift to the willing.
“Everyone who believes in Him will not be put to shame.” (Romans 10:11)
You’ve seen the prophecies. You’ve heard the foreshadowings. Now come to the One they point to.
🙏 A Simple Prayer
If you want to receive Jesus as Savior, you can pray something like this:
“Lord Jesus, I see now that You are the One the Scriptures spoke of. I believe You died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and put my trust in You. Forgive me, change me, and lead me from this day forward. I am Yours. Amen.”
📖 What’s Next?
- Start reading the Gospel of John to meet Jesus for yourself.
- Find a Bible-believing church to grow in your faith.
- Tell someone about your decision.
The same God who promised Jesus thousands of years ago is calling you today. Will you answer?