The entire Old Testament story points to a future time when God will send a messianic king to restore all things and to make salvation available for all who will accept it. Thus the coming of Jesus Christ in the New Testament is the culmination of the entire Old Testament. When placed in the context of the bigger story, everything in the Old Testament points to Christ.
Yet while all of the stories, themes, and prophecies in the Old Testament generally and collectively point to Christ, numerous prophecies within the Old Testament specifically prophesy details about Jesus, the Coming One. Not all of them can be presented here, but we have listed a few of the more significant ones below.
The Messiah will be from the tribe of Judah. “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his” (Gen. 49:10; Matt. 1:1–3).
The Messiah will be born in the town of Bethlehem. “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times” (Mic. 5:2; Matt. 2:1–6).
The Messiah will be a very special child, born of a virgin and called “God with us” (Immanuel); he will reign on the throne of David. “Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. . . . For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever” (Isa. 7:14; 9:6–7; Matt. 1:18–23).
The Messiah will be preceded by a special prophetic messenger (John the Baptist). “A voice of one calling: ‘In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be raised up, every mountain and hill made low; the rough ground shall become level, the rugged places a plain. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all people will see it together.’ For the mouth of the LORD has spoken” (Isa. 40:3–5; Matt. 3:1–3).
The Messiah will not only restore the remnant of Israel but also be a light for the Gentiles (non-Jews). “It is too small a thing for you to be my servant to restore the tribes of Jacob and bring back those of Israel I have kept. I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (Isa. 49:6; Luke 2:25–32; John 1:4–9; Acts 13:47).
The Messiah will bring good news to the poor and the oppressed. “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners . . . to comfort all who mourn” (Isa. 61:1–2; Luke 4:18–19).
The Messiah will care for his people like a good shepherd. “I myself will search for my sheep and look after them. As a shepherd looks after his scattered flock when he is with them, so will I look after my sheep. I will rescue them. . . . I will bring them out. . . . I will pasture them. . . . I will tend them. . . . I will search for the lost and bring back the strays. . . . I will place over them one shepherd, my servant David, and he will tend them; he will tend them and be their shepherd” (Ezek. 34:11–14, 16, 23; John 10:1–30).
The Messiah will give his life as a substitute for the people he saves. “Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering. . . . But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isa. 53:4–6; Mark 10:45; Rom. 3:23–25).
The Messiah will be called the “Son of Man” and will return with the clouds of heaven. “Before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. . . . He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him” (Dan. 7:13–14; Matt. 24:30–31; Mark 13:26–27; Luke 21:27).