CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES (2)

CHRIST IN ALL THE SCRIPTURES (2)

Yeow Chin Kiong

A CHRISTOPHANY recorded in Old Testament scripture is an actual, but momentary, appearence to humans of Him who would much later become Jesus Chrìst at His incarnation in Mary' womb. In comparison, the Old Testament contains precise or figurative foretelling of the birth, words and works, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ in the literary forms of PROPHECIES (of which Jesus would later fulfill) and TYPES (of which Jesus Christ would be the ANTITYPE). It would have been the many Christophanies, prophecies and types pointing to His first coming as a human individual to earth which Jesus referred to from scripture as He taught His two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and later His other disciples, as reported in Luke 24:26-27, 44-45.

Having discussed, with examples, Cbristophanies in the Old Testament, let us consider prophecies and types. It must be remembered that the God of Heaven and earth points to His unique ability to foretell the distant future, in contrast to idols crafted by men and are foolishly worshipped bymen, which cannot do so (Isaiah 41:21-24; 46:5-11). Of course, to foretell the future in detail with certitude would require the Being who inspired the prophets to possess all knowledge (i.e. omniscience) and be all-powerful (i.e. omnipotent) to cause to happen what He has foretold.

The Old Testament contains scores of PROPHESIES detailing Jesus' birth, life, death, burial and resurrection which our Lord fulfilled very many years after they were declared. Important prophecies include (a) a virgin would conceive to bear a son, Immanuel or "God with us" [Isaiah 7:14; fulfilled when Jesus was born of the virgin Mary, Mattbew 1:22-23]; (b) Israel's ruler would be born in Bethlehem [Micah 5:2; fulfilled when our Lord was born there, Matthew 2:1-6]; (c) The Messiah would minister in Galilee [Isaiah 9:1-2; fulfilled when Jesus began His ministry there, Matthew 4:12-17] and (d) The anointed would come to Jerusalem riding a donkey; [Zechariah 9:9, fulfilled when Jesus entered Jerusalem on a donkey, Matthew 21:1-5].

A TYPE in the Old Testament is a person, event or institution that foreshadows a greater future reality known as the ANTITYPE. Types are divine part-patterns or shadows which find their fulfilment in Jesus Christ or His body, the church. Important examples of types and their antitypes are (a) the Passover Lamb sacrifice in Exodus 12 is a type, while Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice which takes away sin is the antitype, John 1:29.; [b] Jonah's three days in the big fish (Jonah 1:17 to 2:10) is the type of Christ's three days in the tomb, the event antitype (Matthew 12:40); (c) the bronze serpent lifted up to heal the Israelites (Numbers 21:9) is the type to Jesus being lifted up on the Cross to save obedient believers (John 3:14); (d) Melchizedek position as king and priest (Genesis 14:18-20) is the type of Jesus, the antitype, being both King and High Priest (Hebrews 7:1-3); (e) the ark which saved Noah through the flood waters is a type of salvation through baptism in the Christian Age,- the antitype (1 Peter 3:20-21).