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Finding Jesus in the Old Testament: Why Study the Old Testament, Part 4

Bible Studies, Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

For many of us, the Old Testament can seem outdated and unconnected to our lives today. But that is not true! There are lots of good reasons to study the Old Testament. Here are a few:

The Old Testament is Jesus’ firm foundation; He lived and breathed it.
The Old Testament points to Jesus.
The New Testament preachers and teachers of the Gospel base their preaching and teaching on Jesus in the Old Testament.

The Veil Is Lifted by Jesus

Do you see a common thread running through all of these reasons? I do. Jesus! And guess what? We can understand the Old Testament because we have Jesus, who lifts the veil of our understanding and opens our minds to the revelation of God, our Father. We can understand the Old Testament because we know Jesus.

Before Christ, Our Understanding Was Veiled

Before Christ, the Old Testament could not be fully understood. The prophets “searched intently and with the greatest care, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing when he predicted the sufferings of the Messiah and the glories that would follow” (1 Peter 1:10-11). This mystery that the prophets were searching for was only revealed through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

After Christ, the Veil Was Removed

After Christ, believers in Christ can read the Old Testament and see Jesus there. Now we know more than those who lived before Jesus. We know Jesus. We know what to look for. For us, the veil is removed; we can find Jesus all over the Old Testament.

However, for those who don’t know Christ, the truth of the Old Testament can’t be understood. There is a veil covering their faces, and because of this veil, when they read the Old Testament, they can’t see Jesus. Only through Christ can the veil be removed (2 Corinthians 3:12-18). It can, and it will be if they seek Him with all of their heart, they will find Him (Jeremiah 29:13).

Search the Old Testament with an unveiled face, and God will reveal the mystery in its pages: Jesus in the Old Testament. Jesus is the key to understanding the Old Testament, and the Old Testament points us to Jesus. If we want God’s complete revelation, if we’re going to know Jesus truly, we must look for Jesus in the Old Testament! And for me, finding Jesus in the pages of the Old Testament, is reason enough to study the Old Testament!