When you look at how Jesus revealed Himself to the disciples on the road to Emmaus, He did so by revealing prophecy written about Him in the Old Testament. (Luke 24:27) So here’s a question for us all…
How often when you are witnessing to your family, friends, or neighbors do you use the Old Testament to do so?
As one of my favorite bible teachers says “The Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed.” ~ Dr. Chuck Missler
I created a list of my personal top 7 things from the Old Testament that I would use to witness to a Jewish friend.
The genealogy that is listed in Matthew, Jesus was to be of David’s family. I would do this first, because I think it’s exactly what God chose to reveal first by having the first gospel be written by a Jew, for a Jew and starting with the legal and promised line. (2 Sam 7:12-16, Ps 89:3-4, 110:1, 132:11, Isa 9:6, 7; 11:1)
Would bring about the massacre of Bethlehem’s children (Gen 35:19-20; Jer 31:15)
Where it was also specified that He would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (Zech 9:9; Ps 118:26) That is amazing, who else would announce their kingship riding on an ass! Not many earthly kings I’m aware of!
That He would be betrayed by a friend for 30 pieces of silver. (Zech 11:1-13; Ps 41:9)
Rise from the dead on the 3rd day (Gen 22:4, Ps 16:10-11; Jonah 1:17)
His Resurrection would be followed by the destruction of Jerusalem (Dan 9:;26; 11:31; 12:1, 11)
I never considered how Jesus used the OT Scripture to reveal to the disciples who He was after His resurrection. It would have been so simple for Jesus to just make Himself known to them immediately, but because He didn’t, I feel that we should take notice here. Notice how He did not immediately reveal Himself, but instead revealed the Word to them until perhaps they were ready to receive Him and have their eyes be opened and the “veil” removed. The Truth of Scripture will reveal itself, by itself. Let’s be faithful to share the Good News with someone today!
Written by Julie Van Gorp