Did you know that, in the Old Testament, Jesus appeared 56 times in human form before His birth and one of those amazing encounters was with Abraham.
Jesus in the Old Testament
Rabbi Troy Wallace joins Jonathan Bernis and Ezra Benjamin of Jewish Voice Ministries International talekd about the instances in which Jesus appeared to His chosen people even before the New Testament was written.
There is a traditional view that some Christians believe. They separate the Old and the New Testament. For instance, many view the Old Testament as being about Moses, while the New Testament is about Jesus. But according to Rabbi Troy, if we look at the shadow of the Son in the Old Testament, Jesus reveals Himself.
“It’s just the idea that it’s the same story from cover to cover… There’s different pictures we learn – new stuff, but from cover to cover, the narrative is consistent,” Rabbi Troy shared.
Theophany
Ezra Benjamin, one of the speakers, talked the “Theophany”. According to Rabbi Troy, it’s a simple principle where we see the images of God in the form of a man. In the Old Testament, these appearances are visible. God was making Himself known in the form of a man. Others call it “Christophany”, the idea of Christ appearing in the form of a man.
In the interview, Rabbi Troy shared that in the Hebrew Bible, called Tanakh, the God of Israel shows up 56 times in the form of a man. One of these instances is recorded in Genesis 18:1-2.
Jewish Voice (Screenshot). (2023). Jesus Appearing in the Old Testament, Retrieved September 6,2023, from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmZn_pB-_bQ
Jesus showed himself to Abraham
“Then the Lord appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground…” Genesis 18:1-2, NKJV
“Abraham saw the Lord as one of the three men in the middle of the day, and his response was to run up and bow down and worship Him,” Rabbi Troy shared. Abraham bowed down not just to a messenger or an angel but to the Lord.
Then he said to me, “See that you do not do that. For I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren the prophets, and of those who keep the words of this book. Worship God.” Revelation 22:9
In this part of the Scripture, the man didn’t rebuke Abraham. It means that He accepted Abraham’s worship. This encounter is a great moment in the bible that is often overlooked!
Watch and discover more of these life-changing encounters here.
Reference | Jewish Voice
Header Image: Gupta, Dewang. (Photographer). (2023). Man Behind the Light [Photograph], Retrieved September 6,2023 , from: https://unsplash.com/photos/Mu3T3DmvQQw
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