The Old Testament (OT) prophecies about Jesus Christ and there are around sixty different prophecies, and numerous references to Jesus in OT Scriptures. The OT, written over a 1000 year period, contains over 300-350 references to the coming Messiah. Christians honor the OT as the Word of God, just as Jesus did. Matthew, who was a tax collector and wrote the gospel Mathew, quotes many OT references to Christ throughout his narrative. Throughout the OT, reference is made to the Messiah, and again to Jesus Christ literally as The Branch, Immanuel, and other titles like Savior.
There are many other references in the OT to a particular Angel of the Lord being the Lord Himself. There are references to Jesus especially in the Book of Isaiah and elsewhere. Jesus Christ and the various New Testament (NT) writers frequently quoted from the OT. Jesus said that all of the OT Scriptures “testify of me” (John 5:39). The deity of Jesus Christ is revealed through the fulfillment of the OT.
Jesus the messiah’s life was foretold many times by the OT writers. Some of the verses that foretell the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ include Psalm 2 containing the following reference to Jesus, "You are my son; today I have become your father." (Psalm 2: 7) A reference to Jesus’ resurrection is made in Psalm 16:10, “You protect me from the power of death. You will not abandon me to the world of the dead”.
Psalm 22 is a vivid picture of the crucifixion. “My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?” (v.1) Those were Jesus’ very words as He hung on the cross. The scene is foretold with these words, “All who see me make fun of me; they stick out their tongues and shake their heads”. Also, “You relied on the Lord” they say. “Why doesn’t he save you?” (v. 7 and 8) “They gamble for my clothes”. (v. 18)
It seems In Zechariah 1:12 the angel of the Lord (Jesus Christ) prays to the Lord that “Lord and Savior” in verses 1:11, 2:20 and 3:18 are in reference to Jesus only. In John 5:46, this verse is quoted in Hebrews 1 in reference to Jesus Christ.
Jesus Christ is indeed the God of the OT. Many Christians also state that the OT predicts the birth, death, and resurrection of Jesus in the NT and the OT prefigures the NT. Genesis 14:17-20 (Hebrews 5:6; 7:1-8) – Jesus is called Melchizedek, priest, man, Son of God. He blessed Abraham. Jesus Christ is the second member of the God family. He is the son. Jesus is not mentioned by name in the OT. Isaiah 7:14, which says that “the young woman shall have a child” and the young woman did indeed have a child several verses later. Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of all the symbols and predictions of the OT. Somewhere it’s also mentioned that most of the references to the LIONS in the Scriptures are about Jesus’ powerful voice.
Thus, I conclude that some of the references are very subtle, and others are very obvious. Jesus Christ is the Lord (Jehovah/Yahweh) of the OT and the Lord Jesus Christ of the NT.
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