Jesus in the OT :: Esther

The book of Esther gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

The book in which the word ‘God’ is not mentioned even once (Acts 17 – Unknown God; Psalm 19: There is no speech nor language where their voice is not heard), yet His character is evident through all of the events that transpire in this time frame where Esther is made the queen of Persia.

Also, did you know that the land of India is mentioned in this book (Esther 1:1 – Ahaseurus reigned from India unto Ethiopia, from Persia). Sandwiched between the 1^st and 2^nd return of the people of God from Babylon (led by Zerubbabel and Ezra) and the 3^rd and final return (led by Nehemiah), to the remnant that chose to remain in Babylon, God raises his ruler so his people can be saved. As we look for Christ in the book of Esther, we are often told about how Mordecai, Esther’s cousin, typified Christ from the very last verse in this book – Esther 10:3
³ For Mordecai the Jew was next unto king Ahasuerus, and great among the Jews, and accepted of the multitude of his brethren, seeking the wealth of his people, and speaking peace to all his seed.
Which can be used to reflect
For Jesus, the Jew was next unto the King of kings (God the Father) and the greatest among all Jews, accepted by many, seeking the wellbeing of his people and speaking peace to all his children.

But I want us to focus our attention today on the title character – Esther.
One of my favorite movies of all times is “A few Good Men”. In that there is a dialogue that takes place between Jack Nicholson (playing Colonel Jessup, the marine) and Tom Cruise (playing Lieutenant Kaffee, the prosecuting attorney).

JESSEP: I ordered Markinscn to have Santiago (the marine who is killed that causes this entire investigation) transferred off the base immediately.
KAFFEE: Why?
JESSEP: I felt that his life might be in danger once word of the letter got out.
KAFFEE: Grave danger?
JESSEP: Is there another kind?

The scriptural record in Esther brings to our attention, Haman, who was promoted to be prince over Persia, an evil man who sought to annihilate all the Jews i.e. put the Jews in GRAVE danger. Daniel 10:13,20 talks about how the prince of Persia (a demonic force) delayed God’s messenger from bringing the message to Daniel, God’s servant for 21 days, eluding to spiritual battle. Mordecai, Esther’s cousin intervenes and plans the salvation of his people by making Esther intercede with the King. When Mordecai asks her to speak up for her people, hoping that Esther has probably been established by God FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS (Esther 4:14)

Note Esther response – If I perish, I perish
Similar to Jesus’ words, I lay down my life for my sheep (John 10)

Esther was made for such a time as this.

Jesus’ words before he endured to the cross willingly – the hour is come (Mark 14:41). Earlier in John 2:4 – Jesus tells his mother, my hour is not yet come.
Jesus was God made in the image of man, for such a time as this, for such a people (you and me), saving us from DANGER UNTO DELIVERANCE (deliver us from the evil one – in the prayer that Jesus taught us to pray).

In Esther, Jesus is our Intercessor and Salvation (for such a time as this, for such a people).

Jesus in the OT :: Nehemiah

The book of Nehemiah gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

A contemporary of Ezra, leads the 3^rd and last return from Babylon. Close introspection of the text in the book of Nehemiah reveals unbelievable hidden treasures as to how Nehemiah, like Ezra, is a portrayal of Christ, and not just in his first coming, but also his second.

Let’s see a quick overview of this that I beseech you to go and validate by reading the scriptures.

	Nehemiah	Jesus Christ
Profession	A cupbearer to the king of Persia (2:1)	Cupbearer to the King of kings (Matthew 26:39)
Position	Gave up his exalted position at the right hand to the king (2:1-5)	Gave up his position at the right hand of God, and humbled himself (Philippians 2:5-8)
Passion	Wept over Jerusalem’s plight (1:3-4)	Wept over Jerusalem (Luke 19)
Protection	Defeats 3 enemies, Sanballat, Tobiah and Geshem who laughed and scorned and despised him (2:19-20)	Jesus defeated Satan, the World and Sinful nature, being mocked and despised (Matthew 4:1-11; Colossians 2:13-15; Romans 6:6)
Priesthood	Reestablished the reading of the word of God and set the priesthood (Ezra) again before returning to the King (8:1-9; 9:13)	Presented himself ALIVE with many convincing Proofs, speaking about the things concerning the kingdom (royal priesthood) of God (Acts 1:3)
Passage	Returned to the king (13:4-6)	Ascended into heaven to the King (Acts 1:9-10)
Purification (cleansing of sin)	Returns to cleanse and throw his enemies out (13:6-9)	Will return to cleanse all sin and impurity (Zech 13:1) and throw his enemies out (Luke 13:27) and rule with a Rod of Iron (Rev 19:15)
Provision (of rest)	Commanded the Sabbath to be kept Holy. Restored the day of Rest. (13:22)	And to those who are troubled, rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels. (2 Thessalonians 1:7)

Interestingly in order to provide rest for the people of God, Nehemiah has to fight, physically, some men who intermarried and had lost the language (in a sense their ability to worship the God of heaven) and you see Nehemiah says that he cursed them and smote some of them and plucked off their hair and made them swear by God. Those not so blessed with a full head of hair, don’t feel too good, The Bald, be not Bold. I am not suggesting that Jesus will pull your hair out, but you can be sure he knows the number of your hair in your head, even it is one.

In Nehemiah, Jesus in profession is the cupbearer of the wrath of God and in provision, He is the provider of Rest (the Sabbath).

Jesus in the OT :: Ezra

The book of Ezra gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

Ezra, the author of Chronicles continues his narrative with conscription and precision, this time with the second exodus motif from Babylonian captivity, working toward the cleansing of the land and the Temple of God.  Unlike the exodus from Egypt, there were only a select few who chose to leave Babylon and there was 2 exodus out of Babylon.

Ezra 1-6    : The 1^st return under Zerubbabel; for physical restoration of the temple
Ezra 7-10   The 2^nd return under Ezra; for spiritual restoration of the people, a.k.a. the temple of God.
Ezra in a manner of speaking, prefigured in shadowy form the One named Jesus who is to Come.

Ezra 7:6 – says Ezra was a skilled scribe – one who wrote down the Law of the Lord.

Remember the account in John 8:1-11. Where a woman caught in the act of adultery is brought before Jesus to be Judged by Him according to the law of Moses. What do you see Jesus doing, He stooped and he Scribed (scribbled on the ground), not ones but twice. We don’t know what he wrote and we can speculate. But really the main point is this. See if he had spoken, he would have spoken to try to write the law into the hearts of the accusers, who asked him “What Sayest Thou?”, but knowing their hearts were hearts of stone, he wrote (just as the finger of God wrote the 10 commandments on tablets of stone), Jesus THE SCRIBE stooped and started to scribe.

Jesus the Scribe wrote down, not necessarily the law, but grace and forgiveness.

Ezra 9:8 reads grace has been shown by giving us a nail in his holy place. Grace of God shown to us, by the nails that were pierced in the Holy One of God (Jesus Christ)

In Ezra, Jesus is the faithful Scribe, writing grace and forgiveness in our stony hearts.

Jesus in the OT :: 2nd Chronicles

The book of 2nd Chronicles gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

2^nd Chronicles 7:14 is a beautiful and well known verse which reads – “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, the will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

2^nd Chronicles can also be said to be the Book of Decline and Revival. There were 3 revivals that happened under the tutelage of 3 kings.
Jehoshaphat – get serious with God (2 Chronicles 20:1-30)
Hezekiah – purified the temple, destroyed idols and brought tithes (2 Chr 29-21)
Josiah – commitment to obey God’s Word (2 Chronicles 34-35)

But let us focus on the last King.  Josiah was made King when he was 8 years old. In his 18^th year, meaning when he was 26 years old, there is a fascinating account, of the discovery of the law of the Lord in the House of the Lord. (2 Chronicles 34:15) that led to the REVIVAL IN THE LAND (2^nd Chronicles 34:31-33). Hilkiah the priest discovers it, gives it to Shaphan the Scribe to take to the King, the King hears of the words of the Lord and rents his clothes, proclaiming that we have not be faithful to God and his Word, and he made a covenant to walk after the Lord, keep his commandments and testimonies and statutes, with all his HEART and all his SOUL and to perform the words of the covenant written in the book.

NOTE, it did not say with all his MIND? Spiritual revival meeting is often just about the mind and not of the heart and soul. We hear of the speaker and go to that meeting. Diligent no doubt, but we must be cautious as well as we may miss out of God’s word brought to us from someone that we may deem very insignificant (example the unnamed maid in Naaman’s household).

We feel refreshed, full of fervor and zeal and a couple of days go by and what happens — back to square 1. Why, because our minds have been intellectually stimulated and emotionally we make decisions, that are hard to abide by once we leave the mountain top and get down to the valley. Spiritual revival should not be about the refreshment of our minds, but infact the renewal of our minds (Romans 12:2) which is demonstrated by the relationship of our heart and soul into a covenant with God.

In 2nd Chronicles, Jesus is the Word of God found in the House of God, bringing about a spiritual revival in our hearts.

Jesus in the OT :: 1st Chronicles

The book of 1st Chronicles gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

The book of 1st Chronicles can be broken down into

1. Royal Line of David or genealogical account (Chapters 1-9).
2. Reign of David (Chapter 10-29)

Starting with the death and removal of David’s main opponent, Saul, God establishes his elect. Saul was appointed by man, David was elected by God.
So for those in leadership position, a note to consider, have you been appointed by man or have you been chosen by God. This determines the longetivity and impact of of your reign.

But we are talking about Christ in the Chronicles, what does 1^st Chronicles have to say about Christ. To understand this, we need to go to the very last chapter, Chapter 29:11 Where David makes this promulgation about the OMNIPOTENCY of God. Thine O LORD, is the greatness, and the power and the glory, and the victory and the majesty: for ALL that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom O LORD, and though are exalted as HEAD ABOVE ALL. (1 Chronicles 29:11). In other words, David was proclaiming, O LORD thou art an An Omnipotent God. How does this tie into Jesus? We need to go to Philippians 3:20-21 which records Saviour Jesus Christ, from Heaven subdues ALL things unto Himself.

In 1st Chronicles, Jesus The One and Only Omnipotent God.

Chapters 1- 9 : Royal Line of David (genealogical account)

In these times of economical downturns, one way to save money, especially for expectant parents is to read the book of Chronicles. You don’t need to invest in buying a book like “The 100 best Baby Names” or something of that sort. Read 1^st Chronicles.

For those who are from the North, you have Azubah (2:18) – Amitabh’s movie

For those who are from the South, you have Zimran (1:32) – S. Indian actress
For those with Spanish heritage, you have Salma (2:51) – Salma Hayek

For Beatles fans, You have Ono (8:12) – John Lennon’s wife, Yoko Ono

For TV addicts and soap opera watchers, you have Ophrah (4:14) – Oprah show

For Body Builders, you have Heman (6:33) and

Even For Hindus, you have Ram (2:9)

But one word of caution, be careful what you choose, because your children are stuck with it, so avoid names that today contextually would mean something else, like

Ashur (1:17) – monster

Bakbakkar (9:15) – chatterbox

Chapters 1- 9 gives the genealogical account of the royal line of David

Chapters 10-29 – the Reign of David.

Starting with the death and removal of David’s main opponent, Saul, God establishes his elect.

Saul was appointed by man, David was elected by God.

So for those in leadership position, a note to consider, have you been appointed by man or have you been chosen by God. This determines the longetivity and impact of of your reign.

But we are talking about Christ in the Chronicles, what does 1^st Chronicles have to say about Christ.

We need to go to the very last chapter,

Chapter 29:11

Where David makes this promulgation about the OMNIPOTENCY of God.

1 Chronicles 29:11

11. Thine O LORD, is the greatness, and the power and the glory, and the victory and the majesty (GPG-VM): for ALL that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom O LORD, and though are exalted as HEAD ABOVE ALL.

In other words, David was proclaiming, O LORD thou art an An Omnipotent God.

How does this tie into Jesus?

We need to go to Philippians 3:20-21 – Saviour Jesus Christ, from Heaven who subdues ALL things unto Himself.

Philippians 3:20-21

20. For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

21. Who shall change our vile bodies, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to SUBDUE ALL THINGS unto HIMSELF (note not under Himself, but unto Himself).

Behold, Jesus The One and Only Omnipotent God.

Jesus in the OT :: 2nd Kings

The book of 2nd Kings gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

2nd Kings 5 records a fascinating story about a mighty man named Naaman, who despite his mightiness was a leper in his skin and an unnamed little maid from Israel brings about salvation to his household, by pointing Naaman to the prophet of God, Elisha.  Now we must be careful to note that it was not the prophet that healed Naaman, but it was God who was with the prophet as expressed by the little maid’s words (2 Kings 5:3). The prophet said, Wash and be clean. (2 Kings 5:13). Naaman skin was restored like a child (a new born child – a new creation) , and Naaman’s proclamation was not about the prophet, but about the God of the prophet when he says. Now I know that there is no God in ALL the earth, but in Israel (2 Kings 5:15)

Move forward a few centuries -

You see a leper coming to Jesus, beseeching Him and kneeling down to him and saying if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean (Mark 1:40) . Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand and touched him and said, I will be thou clean. On the cross, Jesus moved with compassion, stretched out his hand and touched the hearts of all who heard Him then and hear Him now, (not I will but) I have borne your leprosy (sin), be thou clean (Holy). The blood of Jesus washes us of all unrighteousness and makes us clean. (1 John 1:7).

In 2nd Kings, Behold, Jesus the healer of our leprous state.

Jesus in the OT :: 1st Kings

The book of 1st Kings gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

It is mostly about King Solomon, the son of David, the king of Israel. Solomon was not only a king, but he was wiser than any other man, an architect, arbitrator, administrator, botanist, composer of 1500 songs,  herpetologist, ichthyologist, ornithologist, poet, philosopher, preacher, zoologist (1 Kings 4:32-33). Solomon’s heart was however divided between his love for God and his love for women that led to a divided kingdom in a collision course with captivity. (1 Kings 11:11; Nehemiah 1:26)

1 Kings 11:11
11. Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee, and thou hast not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant (not son).

Nehemiah 1:26
26.  Did not Solomon king of Israel sin by these things? yet among many nations was there no king like him, who was beloved of his God and God made him king over all Israel: nevertheless even him did outlandish women cause to sin.

Jesus says of himself that one greater than Solomon is here (Matthew 12:42)

But where I want you to focus your attention is the similarity that you find in the Coronation of Solomon into Kingship and the entry of Jesus into the Jerusalem as a fulfillment of the prophecy accordingly to God’s prophet Zechariah as stated in Zechariah 9:9.When David appoints Solomon to be King, the King tells three of his trusted men, the Priest (Zadok), the Prophet (Nathan) and the Protector (Benaiah – 1 Chronicles 11:22) and told them to take with them his servants and to cause his Son, Solomon to ride upon his own mule … and anoint him as King over Israel and proclaim saying God save king Solomon. (1 Kings 1:32-34)

Zechariah 9:9
9. Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zio; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

John 12:15
15. FEAR NOT, DAUGHTER OF SI’-ON: BEHOLD THY KING COMETH, SITTING ON AN ASS’S COLT.

A mule is a cross between a donkey stallion and a horse mare.

Jesus rode on the donkey, when he entered into Jerusalem, bringing in salvation.
Jesus will ride on a horse (the white horse), when he will return, bringing Judgment.

In 1st Kings, He is the crowned King.

1 Kings 4:32-33
32. And he spake 3000 proverbs (poet), and his songs were a thousand and five (composer),
33. and he spake of trees from the cedar tree that is in Lebanon even unto the hyssop that spring out of the wall (botanist), he spake also of beasts (zoologist), and of fowl (ornithologist), and of creeping things (herpetologist) and of fishes (ichythologist).

Jesus in the OT :: 2nd Samuel

The book of 1st and 2nd Samuel (originally written as one book) gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

2nd Samuel talks about a man named Abishai (2 Samuel 23), who is one of David’s fighting men, along with Eleazar, Shammah and Benaiah (who were valiant in battle, mighty men skilled in the art of war and fought fearlessly) of whom it is said that He was more honorable and made commander over even the chiefs of the armies of David  (2 Samuel 23:19). 1 Samuel 26:6-8 records that valiant Abishai goes with David to the camp of Saul, going behind enemy lines. We named our Son’s middle name after this character and also become of its meaning. Abishai means – Gift of God.

Romans 6:23 says that the wages of sin is death, but the Gift of God (but the Abishai) is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord (who went behind enemy (ha shaitan – adversary) lines to pay for this gift.

In 2nd Samuel, Jesus is the Abishai (gift of God) who went behind enemy lines to be with us as we walk in the valley of the shadow of death, on earth.

Jesus in the OT :: 1st Samuel

The book of 1st and 2nd Samuel (originally written as one book) gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

1 Samuel is mostly about the life of David, who was a shepherd boy that God took and made Him ruler of His people. This is what God has to tell of David. Now therefore so shalt thou say unto my servant David, Thus saith the LORD of hosts, I took thee from the sheepcote, from following the sheep, to be ruler over my people, over Israel: (2 Samuel 7:8)

1 Peter 2:25 says that we are like Sheep that have gone astray, but the good news is that Jesus said in John 10:11 and John 10:14, I AM the good shepherd that will

1. Give my life for my sheep
2. Care for my sheep
3. Knows my sheep
4. Lay down my life for my sheep and
5. Bring other sheeps into my sheepfold

And 1 Corinthians 15:24 says that God made Him (Jesus Christ) to be, ruler over ALL men

David, was a king who was elected, established and enlarged
In 1st Samuel, Jesus, The king is God’s elect, who was established by man (in birth, he was sought as the King of the Jews and even in His death He lived up to his name, INRI – The Rex Iudaeorum – king of the Jews) and God (as King of kings) and His kingdom is being enlarged today by the sheep that returns to his fold and is a kingdom forever indestructible and forever established.

Jesus in the OT :: Ruth

The book of Genesis gives us a glimpse of who Jesus is in the Old Testament (O.T).

In the book of Ruth, we often focus on the main character, Ruth, who was not a Jew but was from the land of Moab and Ruth is speculated to be a possible modification of the Hebrew word Reuit which means “Friendship” or “Association”. She did not belong to the Jews but was married to one who was a relative (kinsman) of a mighty man of wealth, an individual named Boaz. She finds favor in his eyes and this is a cameo story of love, romance, devotion and redemption because she choose to stay with her mother-in-law Naomi, affirming that Naomi’s God, the true God will be her God as well when she says I will go where you will go and your God will be my God (Ruth 1:16).

But I want us to focus on what Boaz tells Ruth. He tells her Come, let’s eat. (Ruth 2:14) . This is very similar to Jesus’ saying - Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. (Rev 3:20)

In Ruth, Jesus is our Friend, our Kinsman Redeemer, beckoning us to open the door of our heart, so that he can come in and we can eat (fellowship) together.