Jesus makes appearances in the OT several times. The NT gives us some clues to as to where he appeared.
In some cases we find the Father and the Son together in the OT, such as in Genesis 1:26, where God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” God is a trinity of persons – of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit – so he uses “us” to refer to himself as a creator in this place.
In the NT we learn the name of this world’s Creator. John 1:1-3 and Hebrews 1:2 tell us that Jesus made all things. So the divine Creator at the beginning of Genesis is Jesus (“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth”).
In Hebrews 7:3 we learn some interesting background of the king of Salem whom Abraham met in Genesis 14:18-20: “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.” This is a perfect description of Jesus. The passage matches up with another episode in Jesus’ life when he said to the Jews, “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58b). The Jews immediately picked up stones to stone Jesus, which was the punishment for blasphemy, indicating that Jesus was plainly proclaiming his deity.
So, yes, the Old Testament records some instances in which Jesus appeared prior to his divine birth through Mary.
What Do You Think?
a. Were you surprised to find Jesus in the OT? Why or why not?
b. Do these appearances, as supported by the NT, help establish his deity? Why or why not?
