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Jesus in the Old Testament

After today’s sermon, several of you asked for this. So here goes. Also please know that I didn’t write this. And regretfully I tried to find where I found it (and could not). If you’re able to search it better than I, please reach out to me.

In Genesis, Jesus is the seed of the woman that would crush the head of the serpent.

In Exodus, Jesus is the Passover lamb who takes away the sins of God’s people.

In Leviticus, Jesus is the great high priest who intercedes for us.

In Numbers, Jesus is the water in the desert. Our living water.

In Deuteronomy, Jesus is the coming prophet who is greater than Moses.

In Joshua, Jesus is the commander of the Lord’s army, defeating our ultimate enemies.

In Judges, Jesus is the true judge, delivering us from evil and injustice.

In Ruth, Jesus is our kinsman-redeemer.

In 1 & 2 Samuel, Jesus is the greater prophet and priest.

In 1 & 2 Kings, Jesus is the greater king.

In 1 & 2 Chronicles, Jesus is the son of David who comes to reign eternally.

In Ezra and Nehemiah, Jesus is the one who restores worship and protects His people.

In Esther, Jesus is our advocate. Putting His life on the line to restore us to royalty.

In Job, Jesus is the mediator between God and man.

In the Psalms, Jesus is the holy one who would never see corruption.

In Proverbs, Jesus is the personified wisdom of God.

In Ecclesiastes, Jesus is our true meaning.

In Song of Solomon, Jesus is our faithful and devoted love.

In Isaiah, Jesus is the suffering servant.

In Jeremiah, Jesus is the weeping Messiah.

In Lamentations, Jesus is the one who assumes the wrath of God on our behalf.

In Ezekiel, Jesus is the Son of Man.

In Daniel, Jesus is the one in the fire with us.

In Hosea, Jesus is the husband who stays faithful to us when we betray Him.

In Joel, Jesus is sending His Spirit to His people.

In Amos, Jesus delivers justice to the oppressed.

In Obadiah, Jesus is the Judge of those who do evil.

In Jonah, Jesus is the greater missionary who pursues the undeserving with mercy.

In Micah, Jesus is the one who casts our sin into the sea of forgetfulness.

In Nahum, Jesus is the Prince of Peace.

In Habakkuk, Jesus is the one who crushes injustice.

In Zephaniah, Jesus is the warrior who is mighty to save.

In Haggai, Jesus restores our worship.

In Zechariah, Jesus is the pierced Messiah, pierced for our transgressions.

In Malachi, Jesus is the son of righteousness who brings healing to His people.

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The Unexpected Elevator Ride

I was on my phone, answering a text, completely unaware that I didn’t even push “Floor 1.” Suddenly the elevator started going up (when I needed to go down) and then I realized what I’d done. We got to the 4th floor in the Pediatric wing at Mission Hospital when Jose got on. I still didn’t notice him (I was still focused on answering that text). Another stop on the 2nd floor and it was just him and me…going to the first floor. I looked at him and his eyes told the story.

“How are you?” I asked.

“Not good,” dropping his head.

“I’m so sorry. What’s going on?”

The elevator stopped, we got off on our floor and stood there. “We’re expecting twins. We lost one heartbeat (and his voice started to break…he looked to be in his late twenties)…”

“What about the other one?” I asked.

“We don’t know. And too…(he paused), the mother, her life is in danger.” He could hardly put words together.

I hope my furrowed brow showed how his words had stopped everything in my world. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “Why? What is going on?”

“Two weeks ago everything was fine. She was good. Our babies (these are their first) were good. Then something happened and we ended up here. I don’t know about our other baby. And my wife is hemorrhaging right now…as we speak.” His head dropped again. By this time we had walked to the front of the hospital. He was meeting Sarah’s (his wife) dad in the cafeteria.

We stopped again, people passing us by. “I’m a pastor,” I said. By now, my heart was breaking for him. It still hadn’t dawned on me that we never would have met if I had pushed the right button on the elevator. “And our church would love to pray for you. Is it okay with you if I ask them? There will be a thousand people on their knees praying for you and Sarah.”

“Yes, yes” he said. And reached out his hand. I grabbed his hand. I assured him we would pray. “Do you mind if I get your name and number? I want to check in on you.” I typed his number in. Again he reached out his hand…and I assured him we would cover him in prayer.

As I drove home in the pouring rain, reflecting on how the day began with Terry and Tony Miller, as Terry bravely waits by his bedside, and the Woodys, whose 11-year-old is battling a hard case of pneumonia, and now Jose and Heather, this song came roaring into my mind. (Same God)

So here’s your call to pray. For Tony and Terry, the Woodys (especially Gunner), Jose and Sarah and those twins. To the Same God.

The God who controlled storms then controls elevators today.