Some think only the New Testament is relevant, but the Old Testament is important. We can find Jesus in both the New and the Old Testament. In fact, Philip led the Ethiopian eunuch to faith using prophecy from the Old Testament.
Acts 8: 32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”
34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. [1]
Jesus Prophesied 700 Years Before He Was Born
The passage the eunuch was reading was from Isaiah 53. God gave Isaiah a picture of what Jesus would do 700 years before Jesus was born. There is no better place to read in the Old Testament for a picture of Jesus Christ than Isaiah 53. “The passage is Isaiah’s prophecy about the great suffering Servant—his rejection, his silence before his accusers, his death with wicked men, the substitutionary nature of his suffering, his burial in a rich man’s grave, and his ultimate resurrection.”[2]
The eunuch wanted to know the identity of the person in this passage. What an opening for Philip! Until Jesus came, Jewish scholars were not sure who Isaiah was speaking about. I think it was only after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection that they realized Isaiah 53 described the suffering of Jesus to a “T.” Philip could answer the eunuch’s question and add more information.
Check Out the Old Testament
God has given us the whole Scripture for a reason. You are missing out if your Old Testament section in your Bible is less used than the New. The Old Testament is a significant portion of God’s revelation of Himself. Through the stories of the Old Testament, we learn of God’s character and how He deals with his people.
We can experience common failings in these stories vicariously. This means we can learn from others’ mistakes without repeating them. We also learn that God has a plan for humanity. He prophesied about Jesus long before Jesus walked the earth. God keeps His promises, and since He doesn’t change, we can still trust His faithfulness.
Don’t miss out, as the Old Testament is important. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/philip-and-the-ethiopian
[1] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ac 8:32–35). Tyndale House Publishers.
[2] Barton, B. B., & Osborne, G. R. (1999). Acts (p. 146). Tyndale House