In the minds of many, the Old and New Testaments represent two very different ways of looking at the world. However, the Old Testament and New Testaments are actually two halves of a whole. When we have a good understanding of both Testaments, we get the amazing picture of the complete plan of God, including:

Numerous prophecies made- and fulfilled exactly as predicted.

A very detailed picture of a Messiah, Jesus Christ- who appeared exactly when it was predicted He would appear.

Historical confirmation by eyewitnesses who were willing to bear witness to these events at the cost of their lives

In addition to the amazing prophetic fulfillments within the Bible, we will briefly look at some non-biblical Jewish writings (the Talmud), which actually provide historical confirmation of the New Testament. This is historical confirmation made by a hostile opposition, in their own writings.

 So, is Jesus Christ in the Old Testament? See for yourself!

Part One: Why a New Covenant? Descriptions of the New Covenant in the Old Testament

The nation of Israel is unique in history because it is the only nation that has ever entered into an agreement (covenant) with God. The book of Exodus tells the story of the nation of Israel entering into this covenant: Exodus 24:3-8 (NIV) When Moses went and told the people all the LORD’s words and laws, they responded with one voice, "Everything the LORD has said we will do." …. Moses then took the blood, sprinkled it on the people and said, "This is the blood of the covenant that the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words."

By entering into this formal agreement with God, Israel was promised amazing benefits (see Deuteronomy 28: 1-14). However, they were also warned about failing to keep the covenant: Deuteronomy 27:26 (NIV) Cursed is the man who does not uphold the words of this law by carrying them out. Israel was later warned again by Joshua: Joshua 24:22  (NIV) You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD. "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied.

What becomes apparent throughout the rest of the Old Testament is that Israel had entered into a covenant that was not humanly possible for them to keep. The problem wasn’t with the covenant itself; Israel was not able to keep it because of their fallen (sinful) human nature. Isaiah 42:24 (NIV) Who handed Jacob over to become loot, and Israel to the plunderers? Was it not the Lord, against whom we have sinned? For they would not follow his ways; they did not obey his law. Isaiah 42:22 But this is a people plundered and looted, all of them trapped in pits…  Daniel 9:11 All Israel has transgressed your law and turned away, refusing to obey you. Therefore the curses and sworn judgments written in the Law of Moses, the servant of God, have been poured out on us, because we have sinned against you. Notice that these verses aren’t referring to some of Israel, they are talking about all of Israel.

Psalm 14:1-3 (NIV) The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good. The Lord looks down from heaven on the sons of men to see if there are any who understand, any who seek God. All have turned aside, they have together become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

This is a key concept in the Old Testament, but it is one that has been overlooked by the Jews, both today and back in the time of Jesus. They miss the fact that “all have sinned and come short of the glory of God”. In the Old Testament, the priests offered repeated sacrifices for the sins of the people. However, there was still no forgiveness for sins like murder, idolatry, or adultery. The Old Testament does not say that someone who commits these sins can be forgiven by offering a sacrifice or in any other way. What it says is that they must die for their sin.  But since most of the people weren’t physically doing these things they probably felt they were pretty righteous. But, as we will see, many of them didn’t realize that they were failing to keep the true requirement of the covenant, and as a result, were under a death penalty.

The Book of Isaiah speaks of how the Lord would “magnify” the Law. Isaiah 42: 21 (KJV) The LORD is well-pleased for his righteousness’ sake; he will magnify the law and make it honorable. Literally, magnify means, “to make larger (so that you can see in more detail)”. It’s like putting a magnifying glass up to the Law, which is what Jesus came to do. He came to show us the true intent.  The Bible does not say that He came to do away with the Law, it says that the Law is in effect until heaven and earth disappear. Matthew 5:18 (NIV) I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Also, the New Testament does not say that Law was bad. Romans 7:12 (NIV) So then, the law is holy, and the commandment is holy, righteous and good. The difference between the Old and New Testaments is that Jesus shows us in the New Testament the true requirement of the Law, which goes beyond our physical actions, to our heart and intentions. By “magnifying the Law and making it honorable” he showed us that just appearing to act in accordance with the Law does not meet God’s requirements. God is also able to see into our heart, to see our thoughts and intentions. We can’t trick God. Jesus said: Matthew 5:21 (NIV) You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment”, but I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Matthew 5:27 (NIV)You have heard that it was said, “Do not commit adultery”, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

By magnifying the Law, Jesus showed us that by God’s true standard, none of us can be justified by works of Law. By His standard, we have all sinned at least once. Even if our actions appear to be perfect, we have all sinned at least in thought. Romans 3:20 (KJV) Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. So no one should expect to achieve eternal life through works. No matter how many good works one does, a good act does not negate a bad act (or thought). So, the sins of Israel under the first covenant had to be paid for. Even though some of them were righteous people, none of them were without sin by God’s standard.

1 John 1:8 "If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

So, what’s the solution? If the Old Testament is a thousands-of-years-long demonstration of our inability to save ourselves, what other option do we have? The New Covenant! The book of Jeremiah tells about the new covenant, and the difference between the new and old covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-33 (NIV) “The time is coming”, declares the LORD, “when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. It will not be like the covenant I made with their forefathers when I took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt, because they broke my covenant, though I was a husband to them, declares the LORD. “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time”, declares the LORD. I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.

The new covenant begins in the heart. The difference between the Old and New Covenants is not the Law. We know from scripture that when God says something, he doesn’t change. The difference was, in the old covenant there was no forgiveness for certain sins. It was impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to cleanse Israel of all of their sins, but those sacrifices served as a reminder to them to look for a Messiah.

Only Jesus was able to pay for the sins of fallen mankind. Hebrews 9:22 (NIV) In fact, the Law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.  (see also Leviticus 14) Hebrews 9:23-24 (NIV) It was necessary, then, for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these sacrifices, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. For Christ did not enter a man-made sanctuary that was only a copy of the true one; he entered heaven itself, now to appear for us in God’s presence. Nor did he enter heaven to offer himself again and again, the way the High Priest enters the Most Holy Place every year with blood that is not his own. Then Christ would have had to suffer many times since the creation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by the sacrifice of himself. Literally, Jesus took our death penalty away.

Romans 3: 21-23 (NIV) But now a righteousness from God apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

In his mercy, God saved the nation of Israel by paying the penalty himself. Jesus paid for Israel’s sins under the first covenant, and His blood  provides a way for all of us (Jew and Gentile) to enter into covenant with God. We can’t do it by our own blood, because since the Garden of Eden we are all in a fallen state. Our own blood has brought sin upon us.