The Spirit-breathed Scriptures are anchored on the witness of Jesus of Nazareth. He and he alone provides unity, continuity, and coherence to both the Old and New Testaments, and no one can claim a holistic or accurate view of the Bible without him being central in all phases of exegesis. He is the Bible’s theme (John 5.39-40). In this module we trace some of the significant markers of the OT’s witness to Messiah, and see how those markers provide us with a strong handle on the meaning of the entirety of Scripture. In the lessons included in this volume we examine the relationship of the Old Testament to the New Testament through the idea of progressive revelation, as well as consider how the events, institutions, and persons of the OT represent an analogy where we can understand the larger relationship of God with all of the redeemed through Jesus Christ. Specifically, we will study key character types in the OT with Jesus' roles as a prophet (Moses), priest (Melchizedek), and king (David). Finally, we consider the nature and scope of OT Messianic prophecy as it relates to providing us with a clear witness to Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfillment of the promised Christ and his coming Kingdom.
