The idea of looking for Christ in the writings of the Old Testament comes from the account of a meeting between two disciples and Jesus after his resurrection. The two disciples were walking home to their village Emmaus, about eleven kilometers from Jerusalem. They were discussing the events of the past few weeks when they were joined by Jesus. Luke, the medical doctor and historian, tells us what happened.

   Suddenly Jesus himself came along and joined them and began walking beside them. But they didn't know who he was, because God kept them from recognizing him.
   "You seem to be in a deep discussion about something," he said. "What are you so concerned about?"
   They stopped short, sadness written across their faces. Then one of them, Cleopas, replied, "You must be the only person in Jerusalem who hasn't heard about all the things that have happened there he last few days."
   "What things?" Jesus asked.
   "The things that happened to Jesus, the man from Nazareth," they said. "He was a prophet who did wonderful miracles. He was a mighty teacher, highly regarded by both God and all the people. But our leading priests and other religious leaders arrested him and handed him over to be condemned to death, and they crucified him. We had thought he was the Messiah who h ad come to rescue Israel. That all happened three days ago. Then some women from our group of his followers were at his tomb early this morning and they came back with an amazing report. They said his body was missing, and they had seen angels who told them Jesus is alive! Some of our men ran out to see, and sure enough, Jesus' body was gone, just as the women had said."
   Then Jesus said to them, "You are such foolish people! You find it so hard to believe all that the prophets wrote in the Scriptures. Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things before entering his time of glory?"
   Then Jesus quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets, explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself.
   By this time they were nearing Emmaus and the end of their journey. Jesus would have gone on, but they begged him to stay the night with them, since it was getting late. So he went home with them . As they sat down to eat, he took a small loaf of bread, asked God's blessing on it, broke it, then gave it to them. Suddenly their eyes were opened, and they recognised him. And at that moment he disappeared.
   They said to each other, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"  (Luke 24:15-32)

Later on those two disciples from Emmaus met up with the other disciples. Luke continues the story ...

   Then the two from Emmaus told their story of how Jesus had appeared to them as they were walking along the road and how they had recognised him as he was breaking bread. And just as they were telling about it, Jesus himself was suddenly standing there among them ... Then he said, "When I was with you before, I told you that everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms must all come true." Then he opened their minds to understand all these Scriptures. (Luke 24:35-36 ... 44-45)

When Jesus "quoted passages from the writings of Moses and all the prophets" to the two disciples he met on the road to Emmaus, "explaining what all the Scriptures said about himself," and when he reminded all of the disciples of "everything written about me by Moses and the prophets and in the Psalms," we start to wonder just what he was referring to. And so let's go exploring and try to find some of those references in the writings of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms that speak to us of the Messiah. Firstly let's ask some questions about the writings that we will be exploring.

LESSON 1  ~  The Books Of The Old Testament

LESSON 2  ~  Christ In The Writings Of Moses

LESSON 3  ~  Christ In The Psalms

LESSON 4  ~  Christ In The Prophetical Books