It seems strange that Jesus is God and an integral part of our faith, but only appears near the end of the Bible. But can we only find Jesus in the New Testament? Or is it possible to see Him in the Old Testament, too?
Great questions for us to explore! Below, you’ll find five Old Testament prophecies that point to Jesus. None reference Him by name, but each shows us how Jesus is part of God’s big plan to save the world. Along with each prophecy, you’ll also find practical ways to apply these powerful truths about Jesus to your own life.
5 Prophecies About Jesus
1. Isaiah 40:3—God Can Set You Free
A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.” Isaiah 40:3 NIV
Hundreds of years before Jesus, the people of God were in trouble.
They were stuck in life, unable to help themselves, and perhaps beginning to doubt that God would save them. Have you ever felt the same way? Then you might relate to the original audience of this verse—the Jewish exiles in Babylon.
The Babylonians took their land and sent them hundreds of miles away. Many of them might have thought that God had abandoned them or that He couldn’t hear their cries. But God is always present, and He always cares.
The prophet Isaiah let his people know that God would provide a way out of Babylonian captivity. And God kept His promise, allowing His people to return home.
Generations later, the Jewish people found themselves in a new kind of exile. They were home, but all was not well. So they remembered this verse and its promise—that no matter how dark or desperate their situation might be, God was able to provide a path out of brokenness, heartbreak, and despair and into a whole, healthy future.
Jesus Sets Us Free
That’s why John the Baptist used this passage from Isaiah to describe his ministry, as he prepared the way for Jesus’ arrival. Isaiah’s prophecy had already been fulfilled once when the exiles returned home, and it continues to be fulfilled every day. God has made a way through Jesus for all people to come out of darkness and find hope, strength, and peace.
We see Jesus in this verse because it points to His arrival on Earth and His mission of setting us free from sin.
So what are you going through? What’s your “Babylon?” It might be a habit you can’t break, a loved one who keeps making self-destructive decisions, or a mental health challenge that feels overwhelming. No matter what it is, God can and will make a way out of brokenness and into life.
2. Jeremiah 33:14—God Keeps His Promises
“‘The days are coming,’ declares the Lord, ‘when I will fulfill the good promise I made to the people of Israel and Judah.’” Jeremiah 33:14 NIV
A lot of people would have laughed at the prophet Jeremiah when he said these words. Why? Because it seemed like God had abandoned both Israel and Judah.
At this point in the story of the Bible, the ten tribes of Israel were gone—scattered and carried off by an invading army. The two remaining tribes of Judah were alone, and another massive army was at their gates. The situation couldn’t have been more hopeless.
Have you experienced a moment like this? Maybe a life-changing loss or heartbreakingly difficult news? In those painful moments, it can feel impossible to trust God’s promises. The people listening to Jeremiah probably felt the same way. But it wasn’t the end of their story, because circumstances can’t ruin God’s promises.
Yes, the enemy broke in and took God’s people into captivity for decades. But God didn’t abandon His people or give up on His promises. Over time, He rescued His people from captivity and brought them back home.
Jesus Gives Hope
God hasn’t abandoned you in your pain, either. You might feel like there’s no way out of your situation or that your choices disqualify you from God’s love. But God keeps His promises.
For generations after returning from captivity, God’s people struggled. They continued to face heartbreak, setbacks, invasions, and occupations. But when they least expected it, God fulfilled His promise. He came in human form to lead everyone, including the people of Israel and Judah, into a new and better future.
Jesus is the fulfillment of this Bible verse as the embodiment of God’s promises for a better future.
God promises a better future for you, too. When we pursue God with our whole lives, we find peace, strength, and contentment. And we live with confidence, knowing that one day, we’ll get to spend eternity with Jesus.
3. Isaiah 11:1—Jesus Brings New Life
A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. Isaiah 11:1 NIV
A stump used to be a tree, full of life and potential. But now it’s dead, defeated, and beyond saving.
Maybe there’s a stump in your life, too. A relationship that used to be life-giving but now leaves you feeling drained. Or a job you used to love, but now it’s leaving you anxious all the time. Or a dream that now seems impossible to achieve or even pursue.
But let’s back up. What even is the “stump of Jesse?” Well, Jesse lived several generations before the prophet Isaiah, and we don’t know too much about him other than where he lived and the name of his famous son—King David.
God promised David that his descendants would always be on the throne in Israel. But when the tribes of Israel were scattered and the tribes of Judah were carried off into captivity, God’s promise seemed to be under threat.
Jesus Is the “Son of David”
The line of David looked like it had been broken, defeated, and gone for good. Kind of like a stump. The “stump of Jesse” is the broken line of King David. The line God promised to preserve. But just because things looked bleak, didn’t mean God broke His promise. Because Isaiah knew there was still potential in this stump to produce new life. And he knew that, with God, new life can come out of even the darkest circumstances.
It took several generations, but eventually, God sent a descendent of Jesse who would be called the “Son of David.” Jesus inherited all of the strength and courage of his ancestor David, but none of David’s weaknesses. This allowed Him to be the king who could bring new life in even the most hopeless situations.
So what’s a “stump” in your life? Something that feels beyond saving. Something you might have even given up praying for because you’re sick of having your prayers go unanswered. This prophecy reminds us that, no matter the situation, God’s not done writing our stories. He can always bring new life in surprising ways.
He’s done it in the past, and He’ll keep doing it in the future. That’s why we can have hope because His promises are proof that God will see us through.
4. Jeremiah 23:5—The King Is Here!
“The days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land.” Jeremiah 23:5 NIV
Old Testament prophets tended to get in trouble. Not because they were bad people, but because they spoke uncomfortable truth to people in power.
Just look at the verse above. On the surface, it seems like a nice, simple promise—one day, a righteous descendant (branch) of David will come and rule with wisdom and justice.
Great message, right? Well, here was the problem for the prophet Jeremiah. When he wrote these words, the king of his nation was a descendant of King David. So these words were both a promise about the future and a critique of the king at the time.
Jeremiah had a lot to say about the kings of his day. He spoke of their failure to protect the innocent and how they ignored oppression and allowed violence against cultural outsiders. In other words, they were poor representatives of God’s love, kindness, and forgiveness.
Of course, it wasn’t just the kings in Jeremiah’s time who had issues. The Old Testament is full of kings making harmful choices that impacted their kingdom. Even the best of the best, King David, was deeply flawed. But Jeremiah still had hope he wanted to share with his people.
Jeremiah knew that, despite a long line of troubled, flawed, and corrupt kings, God would one day bring a new kind of king. A king without the flaws and failures that plagued previous generations.
Jesus Is the Promised Savior
This king would perfectly represent God’s love, kindness, and forgiveness—creating a kingdom where every person could pursue their God-given potential.
Jeremiah might not have known the name of this king, but we do. When Jesus came to Earth, He announced that God’s kingdom had come. Not a kingdom based on strength, territory, or wealth but a kingdom of kindness, service, and generosity. The kind of kingdom where everyone is invited, regardless of belief or background.
Jeremiah knew flawed kings, but we know the perfect, sinless King. King Jesus, who calls us to represent His kingdom through daily, others-focused decisions.
5. Isaiah 9:6—Jesus Is Exactly Who We Need
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Have you ever put your hope in someone, only for them to let you down? We live in a broken world, and even the best people will fall short and cause pain. But the prophet Isaiah knew that someone was coming who would be different. He’d be reliable, consistent, and exactly what we need.
In this passage, Isaiah points to a king with four titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. But what do those names mean?
A wonderful counselor is someone wise, intelligent, and compassionate. They’re the kind of leaders who provide support, advice, and direction in life.
Someone with “mighty” in their title is strong, resilient, and willing to stand up for what’s right.
This king will be an everlasting father, someone who views His people as His children rather than as His servants.
A prince of peace is someone devoted to building bridges between diverse groups and ensuring that everyone has what they need for a whole and healthy life.
Jesus Is King
On Christmas, the Son with all of these wonderful titles was born. Not in a palace or castle, but in a humble, ordinary manger.
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see Him consistently model these qualities. He supported and advised people with questions. He stood strong in the face of threats and temptations. He cared deeply for everyone He met. And He gave His life to restore peace between God and humanity for eternity.
Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. Have you seen Him in each of these roles in your own life? How have you seen Jesus’ wisdom, strength, kindness, and consistent care show up in your life?
Can You See Jesus?
The Bible is a story that leads to Jesus. He shows up in person in the gospels, but He’s present in every moment. As you read the Bible, keep an eye out for how He shows himself. For help noticing Jesus, check out this article about who He is and what He’s like.