A surface-level reading of the Old Testament will normally be able to identify the clear promises of Christ (eg. the seed of Genesis 3, Servant of Isaiah 53, Son of 2 Samuel 7, etc.). Digging a bit deeper, we begin to unearth the types and shadows (eg. skins covering Adam and Eve, the offering of Isaac, David & Goliath); the more we look for these the more they become apparent. And we must also recognise the times when the Son - the second person of the Trinity - makes pre-incarnate appearances (eg. the Angel of the Lord, the three men visiting Abraham, etc.) Always asking first, 'Where and how do I see Christ in this story, incident, character, prophecy, psalm, etc. will keep us from moralising and from 'narcigesis' (reading myself into the passage as if it speaks of me), and will open up all the more the glory of Christ who was 'foreknown before the foundation of the world.' (1 Peter 1:20) |
