Please read the responses from our pastoral team:

1.  From Shaymala Raveendran:
   While the name “Jesus” isn’t explicitly used in the Old Testament, Jesus, the Messiah, is present throughout the Old Testament through prophecies, foreshadowings, and symbolic figures. The Old Testament is seen as a preparation for Jesus’ arrival, with events and characters pointing towards his future role. Here’s a more detailed look:Prophecies:
   Many verses in the Old Testament, particularly in Isaiah, are interpreted as prophecies about Jesus, his birth, ministry, death, and resurrection.Foreshadowings:
   The Old Testament contains stories and rituals that are seen as foreshadowing Jesus’ role as the Messiah, such as the Passover lamb in Exodus, the high priest in Leviticus, and the sacrifices in the temple.Typological Figures:
   Certain Old Testament figures are viewed as types of Christ, meaning they symbolize or foreshadow Jesus. For example, Abraham is seen as a type of Christ, anticipating God’s offering of his beloved son, Jesus.Christophanies:
   Jesus, as the pre-incarnate Son of God, appeared in the Old Testament as the “Angel of the Lord,” particularly in the earlier books.Central Theme:
   The Old Testament is viewed as pointing to and preparing for Jesus. The ultimate goal of the Old Testament, according to this view, is to lead believers to faith in Jesus.
2. From Sammy Mwatha
   The Bible’s 66 books all tell the same grand tale: creation, fall, redemption, and glory. The central figure in this story is Jesus Christ. Redemption is made possible by Jesus. Although the Gospels provide the fullest account of Jesus Christ’s life and ministry, His presence is deeply interwoven throughout Scripture, from Matthew to Revelation in the New Testament and from the first book of Genesis to Malachi in the Old Testament. From covenants and signs to symbols, miracles, and prophecies, Jesus is the main character connecting the Old and New Testaments.God’s plan for redemption was set in motion immediately after humanity’s fall. In Genesis 3:15, following Adam and Eve’s disobedience, God promised that a Savior would come—One born of Eve’s lineage who would ultimately crush Satan’s power. Though Satan would strike His heel (a foreshadowing of the cross), Christ would deliver the fatal blow to evil through His resurrection.Throughout the Old Testament, God reinforced this promise. The sacrificial system, the priesthood, and the prophecies of a coming Messiah all pointed to Jesus. Abraham’s near-sacrifice of Isaac (Genesis 22) foreshadowed the Father’s sacrifice of His Only Son. The Passover lamb (Exodus 12) symbolized Christ’s atoning death. The suffering Servant in Isaiah 53 is vividly portrayed as His crucifixion centuries before it actually occurred. Even the covenants—with Abraham, Moses, and David—ultimately found their fulfillment in Jesus, the true King and Redeemer.The Old Testament does not merely hint at Christ; it prepares for Him. Every prophecy, every shadow, and every promise leads to the same glorious conclusion: Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture reveals Him as the One who was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities, and raised for our justification (Isaiah 53:5; Romans 4:25).From the first promise in Eden to the last prophetic words of Malachi (OT), God was preparing the world for His Son. When we read the Old Testament with eyes of faith, we see Jesus—the Lamb slain before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8), the hope of Israel, and the Savior of all who believe. Indeed, the Old Testament reveals Christ in ways both profound and beautiful, demonstrating that God’s plan of salvation has always been centered on Him.
3.  From Robert Mugayi
   Christ is revealed in the Old Testament as he confirmed it when He said in Hebrews 10:7: “Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come— In the volume of the book it is written of Me— To do Your will, O God.’ ”The Volume of the book written about him is the Old Testament. Although the Old Testament is mostly about the history of the children of Israel, the central theme running throughout is the Person of Jesus Christ in person, picture type and shadow.
   • In Genesis He is the Seed of the woman.
   • In Exodus He is the Passover Lamb.
   • In Leviticus He is the Atoning Sacrifice.
   • In Numbers He is the Smitten Rock.
   • In Deuteronomy He is the Prophet.
   • In Joshua He is the Captain of the Lord’s host.
   • In Judges He is the Deliverer.
   • In Ruth He is the Heavenly Kinsman.
   • In Kings and Chronicles, He is the Promised King.
   • In Ezra and Nehemiah, He is the Restorer.
   • In Esther He is the Advocate.
   • In Job He is the Redeemer.
   • In Psalms He is Our All in All.
   • In Proverbs He is Wisdom.
   • In Ecclesiastes He is the End of all living.
   • In the Prophets He is the Coming Prince of Peace
4. From Moosa Dhlamini
   How is Christ Revealed in the Old Testament?Christ is revealed throughout the Old Testament, long before His birth, as part of God’s beautiful, unfolding plan to redeem the world.A. Through Prophecies
   Prophets like Isaiah and Micah foretold Jesus’ birth, life, and mission. Isaiah 7:14 speaks of a virgin giving birth to “Immanuel” (God with us), and Micah 5:2 points to Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah.B. Through Types and Shadows
   Old Testament people and events foreshadow Jesus:Adam points to Christ as the second Adam who brings life (Romans 5:14).Joseph, rejected and then exalted, mirrors Jesus’ rejection and glory.The Passover Lamb reminds us of Christ’s sacrifice (Exodus 12; John 1:29).

   The sacrificial system points to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice for our sin (Hebrews 10:1–10).

   C. Through God’s Promises (Covenants)
   Jesus fulfills the promises God made:

   To Abraham – Jesus is the promised descendant (Galatians 3:16).

   To Moses – Jesus brings the new covenant (Hebrews 3:3).

   To David – Jesus is the everlasting King (2 Samuel 7:12–13; Luke 1:32–33).

   D. Through Divine Appearances
   Some Old Testament appearances of “the Angel of the Lord” are believed to be pre-incarnate appearances of Christ (Genesis 22; Judges 6), showing us that Jesus was present even then.

   Jesus Himself said in John 5:39, “These are the very Scriptures that testify about me.” The Old Testament helps us understand who Christ is and how God has always been working to save us.

5. From Pastor Segun
   Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
6. From Kofi Twumasi Ankra
   Introduction:In various parts of the Old Testament, Christ’s identity is uncovered through prophecies, images, his actual coming, spoken promises and the events and individuals described. They show the important role Jesus plays in saving humanity through God’s plan. I am going to outline how the Old Testament presents Christ to us.
   1. Prophecies About the Messiah

   There are many prophecies in the Old Testament that describe the arrival of a Savior. His birth, mission, torment, death, reappearance and authority are all explained in detail in these.

   Genesis 3:15 – A descendant of the woman will defeat the serpent (protoevangelium: the original gospel).

   In Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah wrote: “A virgin will give birth to a son and she will name him Immanuel.”

   In Micah 5:2, God said the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem.

   The prophet Isaiah explains that the Messiah will be known as Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

   Isaiah 53 – It is foretold that the suffering servant will carry the sins of many people.

   Psalm 22 – Details the events of the crucifixion long before it ever occurred.

    

   2. Types and Shadows

   Symbolically, Old Testament ones, occurrences, belongings and ceremonies suggest Jesus and His mission.

    

   3. People as Types

   Adam – Christ is compared to Adam in Romans 5, since Christ gave life while Adam brought death.

   Melchizedek was both a king and a priest mentioned in Genesis 14, Psalm 110:4 and Hebrews 7.

   Joseph – Left by his brothers, had to suffer and later helped them as their Savior.

   Moses gave salvation to the Israelites, pointing ahead to Christ who would save even more people.

   David – A king chosen by God to rule for all time, showing that Christ would do the same.

    

   4. Events and Institutions

   Israel was saved from death during the Passover, after receiving the blood of the lamb; Jesus is the Lamb of God (See John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7).

   In the Exodus, God’s people are freed from slavery in Egypt just as Christ delivers from the bondage of sin.

   The Tabernacle and Temple were where God met His people; Christ became a new and better place of worship (John 2:19–21).

   The system of sacrifices made people realize that the final, perfect sacrifice would be Christ’s (Hebrews 10:1–14).

    

   5. Theophanies (Christophanies)

   They are the places where the coming Christ appears in the Old Testament.

   The Angel of the LORD – He is recognized as God who receives worship; this is illustrated in Genesis 16:7–13; Exodus 3:2–6; Judges 6:11–24

   The Lord sends his commander (Joshua 5:13–15) to lead, receive worship and give instructions.

   Sacred agreements and commitments

   Christ is the way in which God’s covenant with humanity is achieved.

   Genesis 12, 15 and 17 make the promise known as the Abrahamic Covenant to bless all nations through Abraham’s line. Paul writes that this seed is Christ according to Galatians 3:16.

   As part of the Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7), David’s line will always have a king and Jesus is the King forever.

   In Jeremiah 31:31–34, God talks about the New Covenant which Jesus brought to life in Luke 22:20 and Hebrews 8.

    

   6. Wisdom Literature and Psalm

   Often focus on happenings and prayers, they can also discuss wisdom, ethics and genre. Several writings in the wisdom books and the Psalms speak about Christ.

   Psalm 2 talks about the Lord’s anointed King.

   Psalm 110 teaches about how the Messiah will rule as a priest and also as a king.

   In Proverbs 8, Wisdom is portrayed as a person and this is thought by some to refer to Christ (Colossians 2:3).

   Summary:

   Christ is described in the Old Testament as the coming Messiah, the true King, the compassionate servant and the heavenly Son. The stories in the Old Testament such as prophecies, types and visions from God, lead to the truth found in Jesus Christ’s life, death and resurrection.