How Did the Prophets Speak About the Messiah?
The prophets were sent first to speak to the people of their own generation. Yet many of them also looked beyond their own time to God's future work of redemption.
They described a coming Deliverer in many different ways.
Sometimes He is a King.
Isaiah foretold a child who would reign forever.
"For to us a child is born...and the government will be on His shoulders." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Jeremiah spoke of
"a righteous Branch"
from David's family who would reign wisely as King (Jeremiah 23:5-6).
Sometimes the Messiah is described as a Servant.
Isaiah presents the Servant of the Lord as One who would bring justice to the nations, yet would suffer for the sins of others.
"He was pierced for our transgressions...and by His wounds we are healed." (Isaiah 53:5)
Sometimes He is pictured as a Shepherd.
Through Ezekiel, God promised,
"I will place over them one shepherd, My servant David." (Ezekiel 34:23)
Jesus later identified Himself as
"the good shepherd." (John 10:11)
The prophets also spoke of a new covenant.
Jeremiah declared,
"The days are coming...when I will make a new covenant." (Jeremiah 31:31)
Centuries later, Jesus said,
"This cup is the new covenant in My blood." (Luke 22:20)
Joel foretold a day when God would pour out His Spirit on all people (Joel 2:28-32).
Peter declared that this promise was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:16-21).
Again and again, the New Testament identifies Jesus as the One to whom the prophets were pointing.
Yet the prophets did not always see how all of these promises fit together.
They saw the coming King.
They saw the suffering Servant.
They saw the outpouring of the Spirit.
They saw the blessings of the new covenant.
The New Testament reveals that these promises come together in one Person—Jesus Christ.
Peter writes that the prophets themselves searched carefully to understand the things they were writing.
"They were trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the Spirit of Christ in them was pointing." (1 Peter 1:10-12)
That statement reminds us of an important principle.
The prophets faithfully delivered God's message.
The full meaning of some of their words became clear only as God's plan unfolded through Christ.
That is why we read the prophets in the light of the New Testament.
The same God who inspired the promises also inspired their explanation.
Continue Your Study
How Does the New Testament Explain the Prophets?
The apostles repeatedly quoted the prophets to explain Jesus, the gospel, the church, and God's eternal plan.
How should their inspired explanations guide our understanding of Old Testament prophecy?
Related Bible Studies
The Story of Redemption
How Does the Bible Interpret Itself?
The Kingdom of God
Why Did God Create the Church?
Companion Video
How Did the Prophets Speak About the Messiah?
Read First. Conclude Later.