From Shadow to Substance
Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament
Throughout the Old Testament, God was not only working with His people in the moment but also laying a foundation that pointed directly to Jesus Christ. The events, institutions, and people were not just historical realities — they were shadows of a greater fulfillment to come. The New Testament reveals that Jesus is the substance those shadows pointed to.
“For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things…” – Hebrews 10:1 (NKJV)
Let’s explore some powerful examples of Old Testament shadows that were ultimately fulfilled in Christ:
The Passover Lamb
In Exodus 12, the Israelites were instructed to kill a spotless lamb and place its blood on their doorposts so the Lord would pass over them during the plague of the firstborn.
“Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year... And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts...” – Exodus 12:5, 7 (NKJV)
This pointed forward to Jesus, our perfect Lamb:
“For indeed Christ, our Passover, was sacrificed for us.” – 1 Corinthians 5:7 (NKJV)
“Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” – John 1:29 (NKJV)
The Manna in the Wilderness
God provided manna to feed Israel in the wilderness (Exodus 16). It was physical bread from heaven to sustain life temporarily.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you...’” – Exodus 16:4 (NKJV)
Jesus revealed that He was the true, spiritual bread:
“Most assuredly, I say to you, Moses did not give you the bread from heaven, but My Father gives you the true bread from heaven... I am the bread of life.” – John 6:32-35 (NKJV)
The Bronze Serpent
When the people sinned and were bitten by serpents, God told Moses to lift up a bronze serpent. Whoever looked at it in faith would live (Numbers 21:8-9).
Jesus made the connection clear:
“And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life.” – John 3:14-15 (NKJV)
The Tabernacle and Priesthood
The tabernacle, priesthood, and sacrificial system were central to Old Testament worship, yet they were never meant to be permanent.
“...a copy and shadow of the heavenly things…” – Hebrews 8:5 (NKJV)
Jesus is now our High Priest and the final sacrifice:
“But Christ came as High Priest of the good things to come... not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all...” – Hebrews 9:11-12 (NKJV)
Jonah in the Belly of the Fish
Jonah’s three days in the belly of the great fish foreshadowed Christ’s burial and resurrection.
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” – Matthew 12:40 (NKJV)
The Ark of Noah
The ark was a place of refuge and salvation from the judgment of the flood.
“Come into the ark, you and all your household, because I have seen that you are righteous before Me...” – Genesis 7:1 (NKJV)
Jesus is our refuge from judgment:
“There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus...” – Romans 8:1 (NKJV)
Christ, the Fulfillment
The Old Testament is rich with foreshadowing, with far more shows than mentioned above, all of which pointing us to the Savior from the very beginning. Jesus did not come to destroy the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Every page whispers His name, and every story builds anticipation for His coming.
May we not miss the beauty and depth of God's plan through the ages — a plan that leads to Jesus Christ, our Redeemer, our High Priest, our Bread of Life, our Sacrificial Lamb, and our Salvation.
“Then He said to them, ‘These are the words which I spoke to you... that all things must be fulfilled which were written in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms concerning Me.’” – Luke 24:44 (NKJV)