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The Angel of the Lord: Jesus in the Old Testament

Have you ever wondered if Jesus appears in the Old Testament? Many Christians focus solely on Jesus in the New Testament, but there's compelling evidence that Christ was actively present throughout the entire biblical narrative.

One Sunday, two disciples were walking on the road to Emmaus, devastated by Jesus' death. A stranger joined them and began explaining how the Messiah was present throughout Scripture. Beginning with Moses and working through all the Jewish scriptures, he explained everything concerning the Messiah.

Only later did they realize this stranger was Jesus himself. But why did Jesus keep his identity hidden until after this explanation? Because he wanted them to understand he wasn't just the Resurrected One but the Eternal One who had been present throughout Israel's history.

Who Is the Angel of the Lord in the Bible?

The New Testament doesn't just claim Jesus was predicted in the Old Testament or portrayed in types and shadows. The most important understanding is the real presence of Christ in the Old Testament. He was actually there.

Consider these appearances:

Who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son? The Son.
Who called Moses from the burning bush? The Son.
Who was the commander of the Lord's army? The Son.

Although the word "Trinity" is a later theological term, the concept of God's plurality is evident throughout the Old Testament. We see a God who acts through substantive persons - not a Unitarian God, but a Father who has a Son and a Spirit.

Why Have Christians Missed This Connection?

Unfortunately, many Christians have lost understanding of how the Old Testament uses terms like "the Word," "the Angel," "the Glory," and "the Name." We often fail to recognize the connections the New Testament makes when using these terms to point back to associated texts.

Some denominations even suggest Christians should "unhitch" from the Old Testament, focusing only on the New Testament. This creates a distorted view of Jesus as merely a "hippie peacenik" rather than also the commander of the Lord's army who brings both grace (Psalm 34) and judgment (Psalm 35).

How Does This Understanding Change Our View of Scripture?

When we recognize Jesus in the Old Testament, several important things happen:

We see the unity of Scripture - Jesus is the primary actor in biblical history in both testaments.
We understand God's plan from the beginning.
We relate better to the God of the Old Testament, recognizing Him as the same God revealed in Jesus.
We have a compelling apologetic argument against those who claim Jesus isn't in the Old Testament.

This understanding clarifies Christian theology and the authority of revelation. It makes the God of the Old Testament more personal when we can see Jesus acting throughout Israel's history.

How Does This Affect Our Understanding of the Cross?

Seeing Jesus as the Angel of the Lord transforms our understanding of the crucifixion. Consider Abraham and Isaac - it was Jesus himself who stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son. Yet Jesus, knowing what was coming, would not be spared himself.

We see a God who "did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all" (Romans 8:32). The story becomes more personal, tragic, beautiful, and amazing when we realize the Son has been working from the very beginning to intercede for us.

Jesus was the commander of the armies of the Lord. He bore the sword of the Lord. This means Jesus didn't need angels to rescue him from the cross - the most powerful being in the universe stayed there because he loved us.

What Was Jesus' Role in Spiritual Warfare?

The cross, resurrection, and ascension were not just victory over sin and death - they also made a mockery of the spiritual enemies of the triune God. Understanding the Son's role in the divine council and spiritual warfare helps us see this cosmic battle unfolding in both testaments.

Jesus stepped into gentile territories to declare his authority. In gentile areas, demons called him "Son of the Most High," while in Jewish areas, they called him "Son of Man." His victory was being declared.

The Father and Son determined together that the Son would:

Bring an end to the rule of rebellious spiritual powers
Reclaim all nations as his inheritance (Psalm 2, Psalm 82)
Judge and punish the principalities and powers in heaven

What Does This Mean for Believers Today?

Because of Christ's worthiness, he was raised from the dead, exalted to the right hand of the Father above all principalities and powers, given the Name above every name, and given all authority in heaven and earth.

As a result, he has united and reconciled all things to himself - things in heaven and things on earth. Even more amazingly, he has raised believers up with him and seated us in heavenly places as new sons of God (Ephesians 2:6), as a new divine council to rule and judge over heaven and earth.

In the Old Testament, Jesus was the mediating divine angel - the Word, the Glory, the Name, the Power, the Prince Commander, and the eternally begotten Son. He guided Israel from Egypt to the Promised Land. Now he tells his followers, "I go to prepare a place for you" - showing he can take us from slavery to freedom in a greater way.

How Far Did Jesus Go to Save Us?

Jesus willingly became an infant. He experienced human growth, likely with all its challenges - teenage angst, physical discomforts, and living in a world without modern conveniences. What kind of love is this?

After his death and resurrection, he ascended back to heaven as the firstborn from the dead, preeminent in all things. He's been fully revealed as the Son of the Father and has entered into his inheritance. He's been given authority over earth and heaven and promises to be with us always.

No one can tell Jesus, "You don't know what I'm going through." The best leader is one who goes through experiences with their people and leads them through it. Jesus knows exactly what we face - not just as God, but through his human experience.

Life Application

The most amazing act in history happened when Jesus was incarnated - God became man for us. The God who was sent to reveal God to us became human flesh to be truly Emmanuel, God with us.

Through his resurrection and ascension, the way to God is no longer shut. We have boldness to draw near to God. Like all his saints throughout history, he calls us out of slavery, to leave our worldly hopes and desires, to deny ourselves and follow him wherever he leads, knowing he's with us and will bring us to his eternal home.

Ask yourself:

How does seeing Jesus in the Old Testament change my understanding of God's character?
In what ways am I still trying to earn my way to God rather than trusting in Christ's finished work?
How might my worship change if I truly grasp that Jesus has been working for my redemption since before creation?
What areas of my life am I still holding back from the One who gave everything for me?

Remember the beautiful truth: "Before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea. A great high priest whose name is Love, who ever lives and pleads for me." Your name is graven on his hands and written on his heart. While he stands in heaven, nothing can separate you from his love.