As I'm joyously working my way through the OT book of Isaiah, I've noticed clear allusions to Jesus (and sometimes direct quotations) – even though written 700 years before his birth. I hope this encourages your heart to see that the entire Bible speaks of the greatness of Jesus, who came in the fullness of time...
12 Jesus-Sightings in Isaiah:
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Branch and Righteous One (4:2): “In that day, the Branch of the Lord will be beautiful and glorious…” Branch? Jeremiah 23:5-6 says, "I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King, who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land ... His name: the Lord our Righteousness." Sounds like Jesus, eh? Three times in the Book of Acts, Jesus is referred to as "the Righteous One." (Acts 3:14, 7:52, and 22:14.
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Virgin with Child, whose Name means God With Us (7:14): “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel (God with us).” Matthew 1:23 quotes this directly.
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A Stone and a Rock (8:13-14): “The Lord Almighty … will be a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.” 1 Peter 2:7-8 also refers to Jesus as “a stone that causes men to stumble and a rock that makes them fall.”
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A Great Light in Galilee (9:1-2): “In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles … the people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” Matthew 4:12-16 quotes these verses to introduce Jesus as he begins his public ministry in Galilee!
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The Son and Prince of Peace (9:6): “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.” Though not quoted directly in the NT, these titles in 9:6 agree well with verses like John 3:16 (a Son is given = "He gave His only Son"). Also, Mighty God comports with Jesus' claims to deity, and Prince of Peace with John 14:27.
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The Shoot or Root of Jesse (11:1, 10): “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit (see 4:2 and Branch above, with Jeremiah 23:5-6 and 33:14-16). Romans 15:12 attributes the title Root of Jesse to Jesus, quoting Isaiah 11:1.
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A Precious Cornerstone (28:16): “See, I lay a stone in Zion, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone for a sure foundation; the one who trusts will never be dismayed.” 1 Peter 2:6-8 quotes this verbatim as a reference to Jesus. Additionally, Jesus is called the stone or cornerstone in Acts 4:11-12, Luke 20:17-18, Romans 9:33, Matthew 21:42, Ephesians 2:20. These are powerful verses that show Is. 28:16 is all about Jesus.
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John the Baptist re Jesus: (40:3): “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord; make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God.” See Matthew 3:1-3, Mark 1:1-4, Luke 3:1-6, John 1:23.
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A Shepherd (40:11): “He tends his flock like a shepherd: he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” See John 10:11-16.
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My Servant, a Bruised Reed He Will Not Break (42:1-4): “Here is my Servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations… he will not shout or cry out or raise his voice in the streets. A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.” This is quoted in Matthew 12:18-21, referring to Jesus.
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A Light for the Gentiles (49:6b, 42:6): “I will make You a Light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth” is quoted in Luke 2:29-32 by Simeon at Jesus’ birth.
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My Servant, Who Will Be Disfigured/Marred (52:13-15): "See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up (see Is 6:1 and John 12:41) and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him (on cross) – his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness – so he will sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him.”
Isn't God good to give us these glimpses of Jesus in Isaiah, in the Old Testament? Yes, He is!