Jesus in the Old Testament: Types & Foreshadows

Posted on December 15, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


There are people, places and events in the Old Testament that look forward to the New Testament Messiah. This week, we’ll look at some of these types or foreshadows of Christ. Let’s start at the beginning … with Adam.


1 Corinthians 15:45-46 (NLT)
The Scriptures tell us, “The first man, Adam, became a living person.” But the last Adam—that is, Christ—is a life-giving Spirit. What comes first is the natural body, then the spiritual body comes later.

The story of the first man sets the stage to understand the advent, death and resurrection of Jesus. We see God’s plan set in motion.

 

 

Good morning, Lord. Have mercy on me, for I have sinned! I know it, You know it — no need to make excuses. Thank You, Jesus, for mercy and grace to forgive my sins and restore my soul.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: The Fourth Man

Posted on December 12, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


In a well-known Bible story, three men were thrown into the fiery furnace. 

 

Daniel 3:25 (NLT)
 “Look!” Nebuchadnezzar shouted. “I see four men, unbound, walking around in the fire unharmed! And the fourth looks like a god!”

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego stepped out of the furnace, unharmed. And the mysterious fourth man? Many scholars think this is another Christophany, a brief Old-Testament appearance of Jesus.

 

Good morning, Lord. You show up different times of my life in different ways: sometimes a gentle nudge, other times a firm stop, often a word of encouragement and a sense of peace. All too often, I don’t even notice. But Your presence doesn’t depend on my ever-changing attitude — for this I am grateful. You see me, know me and have a plan for me. Open my eyes and my mind to Your guidance.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Commander of the Lord’s Army

Posted on December 11, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


Here’s another Christophany, a probable appearance of Jesus in the Old Testament, this time to Joshua:

 

Joshua 5:113-14 (NLT)
When Joshua was near the town of Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with sword in hand. Joshua went up to him and demanded, “Are you friend or foe?”

“Neither one,” he replied. “I am the commander of the Lord’s army.”

At this, Joshua fell with his face to the ground in reverence. “I am at your command,” Joshua said.

There’s only one thing to say to the Commander of God’s army … Yes, Lord.

 

Good morning, Lord. I know You are all-powerful. I understand that the mighty army of heaven obeys every one of Your commands. And yet I argue, I pout, I whine, I disobey — I sin. Forgive my foolish ways! Thank You for Your mercy, not punishing me as I deserve. Thank You for Your grace, pouring out blessings I do not deserve. Teach me to both love and revere You — as Your kindness and holiness deserve.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: My Lord

Posted on December 10, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Genesis 18:1 (NIV)
Now the Lord appeared to Abraham ...

The Lord may be a Christophany, another Old Testament appearance of Jesus. Here, He shows up as one of three men.  Later in the chapter, we get a glimpse of His thoughts.

Genesis 18:17-18
The Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do, since Abraham will certainly become a great and mighty nation, and in him all the nations of the earth will be blessed?”

Abraham had quite the conversation with the Lord. Read the whole chapter. It certainly sounds like a face-to-face meeting.

 


Good morning, Lord. I’m grateful for our morning conversations. Often, I’m not at my best — sleepy, slow to think, even a bit cranky. But You are always present and patient. I tell You my doubts and my worries, I ask for Your help, I go over the plans for the day, I count a few blessings. Sometimes I do all the talking.

Still, I sense Your smile, Your nod of approval or nudge of correction, Your word of encouragement. Not quite face-to-face, dear Jesus, we meet spirit to Spirit.

 

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Jesus in the Old Testament: The Angel of the Lord

Posted on December 9, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

God’s conversation with Abram’s servant Hagar may have been a Christophany, an Old Testament appearance of Jesus.

Genesis 16:7 (NIV)
The angel of the Lord found Hagar near a spring in the desert.

The angel of the Lord, meaning messenger of the God of Israel, stopped Hagar as she was running away from home.

Genesis 16:13
She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Ponder this: the first person to lay eyes on Jesus may have been a runaway Egyptian slave — long before Israel was a nation.

 


Good morning, Lord. You see me and care for me — all the time. Thank You. I see You in the beauty of creation, I see You in the words of Scripture, I see Your image in the people I know and love (and sometimes in those I don’t). And some future day, I will see You face-to-face!

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Christophanies

Posted on December 8, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

Christophany — a big word defined with more big words: a temporary appearance of Christ before His incarnation. You won’t find the word in the Bible.

Jesus shows up a few brief times in the Old Testament. This shouldn’t come as a surprise.


John 1:1-2, 14 (NIV)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.

Jesus’ existence didn’t start with the Christmas story. He was here before the beginning. This week, we’ll look for Jesus in the in-between time of the Old Testament.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are eternal, existing before time and beyond time. You spoke the world — and the sun, moon and stars — into existence; that is, You created time. Then, thousands of years later, You came to earth to live within time from birth to death and resurrection. And sometime in the future, You will come again.

Even so, come, Lord Jesus (Revelation 22:20).

 

 

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Prince of Peace

Posted on December 5, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given …
And he will be called …
Prince of Peace.

 

The Hebrew word Isaiah uses here, shalom, means so much more than “peace.” It implies well-being, safety, prosperity, completeness. As the Prince of Shalom, Christ is the source of global and personal well-being, safety and prosperity. In Him, each of us, all of us, and the world as we know it will be completed.

Hard to imagine, right?

 

Good morning, Lord. There are wars and rumors of war. The battle between political parties seems to have no end. Relationships are broken. Yet I can be at peace. Thanks to You, I can have the peace that passes understanding (Philippians 4:7). I pray for shalom — in the world, in my relationships, in my soul, in the name of the Prince of peace.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Everlasting Father

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 

Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born …
And he will be called …
Everlasting Father.

 

Isaiah’s Old Testament prophecy is confirmed by the New Testament words of Jesus Himself:

John 10:20
“I and the Father are one.”

 


Good morning, Lord. The Trinity is a bit of a mystery — one God, three persons. I don’t fully understand, but I believe. I hear You in the whisper of the Spirit. I feel You in the touch of the Son. I see You in the Father’s glorious creation. Fill me with the knowledge of You, in Jesus’ everlasting name.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Mighty God

Posted on December 3, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born …
 And he will be called …
Mighty God.

 

It’s Christmas time and we tend to focus on sweet baby Jesus. Isaiah reminds us that He is also Mighty God — drop-to-your-knees-in-awe mighty.  The God who spoke the world into existence. God who rose from the grave. God who is coming in power to establish His kingdom and judge the living and dead.

 

Good morning, Lord. You are King of kings and helpless Babe. You are my best Friend and my Lord God Almighty. You are perfectly loving and perfectly holy. Teach me to love and fear You at the same time. Fill me with the wonder of Christmas, the joy of Easter and the hope of eternity, in Jesus’ mighty name.

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Jesus in the Old Testament: Counselor

Posted on December 2, 2025 by Shirlee Abbott

 


We’re looking for Jesus in the Old Testament. Let’s start with names.

 


Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given …
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor …

We know this son is Jesus. The name here is Counselor — a title we associate with the Holy Spirit. Isaiah is reminding us that we worship one God in three persons (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

One more thought: there is no better counselor than God. 

 

Good morning, Lord. Thank You for good counselors, for people who provide godly advice and help us understand our thoughts and actions. But You are the Wonderful Counselor, the One who knows all our thoughts and sees every action. Teach me to seek first Your divine wisdom and follow Your guidance in humility and trust — in Jesus’ wonderful name.

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