Who Will Go For Us

The Bible presents Jesus as the central figure of all history, but many Christians struggle to connect the Old Testament with the New Testament. While Jesus doesn't appear as a human until the Gospels, He was actively present throughout the Old Testament as the second person of the Trinity. Understanding this connection reveals a beautiful mosaic of God's redemptive plan.

Why Did Jesus Need to Become Human?

The incarnation wasn't arbitrary - it was absolutely necessary. Humanity, created as God's image-bearers, had fallen into moral weakness and rebellion. For God's restoration vision of Eden to be fulfilled in the new heaven and new earth, humans had to be redeemed.

If humanity wasn't redeemed, Satan would have effectively won by removing God's image from the earth. But God didn't change His plan in response to human weakness. Instead, He provided redemption through Jesus, knowing exactly how to win this cosmic battle.

What Does "The Name" Really Mean in Scripture?

We often pray "in Jesus' name" without fully understanding the profound theology behind it. In biblical thought, a name wasn't just a title - it represented the essence and presence of a person.

Jesus Reveals God's Name

In John 17, Jesus repeatedly speaks of revealing the Father's "name" to His disciples. This wasn't about teaching them a new title - they already knew "Yahweh" from the Old Testament. Instead, Jesus was revealing who God truly was through His own life and character.

When Jesus lived among humanity, He was literally God among them - the incarnation of God's presence and nature. The "name" that resided in the Old Testament angel of the Lord was now incarnated in Jesus.

Calling on the Name of the Lord

Romans 10:9-13 provides a powerful example of this name theology. Paul quotes Joel 2:32, which originally said "everyone who calls on the name of God will be saved." But Paul connects this to confessing "Jesus is Lord," showing that Jesus' name carries the same divine authority as Yahweh's name in the Old Testament.

How Do We See Jesus in the Old Testament?

The Angel of the Lord

Throughout the Old Testament, we encounter the "angel of the Lord" - a figure who speaks as God, receives worship, and carries God's name and presence. This wasn't just another angel, but God Himself appearing in human-like form.

Jude 5 makes this connection explicit, stating that "Jesus, who saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed those who did not believe." This directly identifies Jesus with the angel of the Lord who led Israel out of Egypt.

The Divine Council

Scripture reveals that God operates with a heavenly council - supernatural beings who serve and advise Him. When God asks "Who will go for us?" in Isaiah 6, He's addressing this council, not just speaking to the Trinity.

This council backdrop helps us understand many Old Testament passages where God uses plural pronouns or seeks volunteers for divine missions.

What Was Really Happening at Jesus' Baptism?

The baptism of Jesus wasn't just a quiet, mundane event - it was the opening salvo in a spiritual war to reclaim what rightfully belonged to the Father.

A New Exodus Begins

When Mark describes the heavens being "torn open" at Jesus' baptism, he uses the same Greek word (schizo) used for the parting of the Red Sea. This wasn't coincidental - Mark was showing that a new Exodus was beginning.

Just as God delivered Israel from Egypt through Moses, now God Himself incarnate was leading a new deliverance. This time, the Exodus wouldn't fail because the leader wasn't a human prophet but God in human flesh.

The Beloved Son

When God's voice proclaimed "You are my beloved Son," this wasn't just sentimental affection. The term "beloved" connects to Solomon, who was called "Jedidiah" (beloved) as David's legitimate heir. God was publicly announcing Jesus as the rightful heir to David's throne and the promised Messiah.

How Does This Change Our Understanding?

Recognizing Jesus as the second Yahweh figure throughout Scripture transforms how we read the Bible. The Old and New Testaments aren't disconnected - they're part of one unified story of God's redemptive plan.

Every appearance of the angel of the Lord, every divine council scene, every messianic prophecy builds toward the incarnation. Jesus didn't suddenly appear in history - He had been actively working throughout Israel's story, preparing for the moment when He would take on human flesh to accomplish our redemption.

Life Application

This week, challenge yourself to read familiar Old Testament passages with new eyes. Look for appearances of the angel of the Lord, divine council scenes, and references to God's "name." Ask yourself: How might this passage point to Jesus?

Consider these questions as you study:

• When I pray "in Jesus' name," do I understand the full authority and presence that represents?

• How does seeing Jesus throughout the Old Testament change my understanding of God's consistency and faithfulness?

• Am I living with the awareness that Jesus' incarnation was a cosmic battle for my redemption, not just a nice religious story?

• What does it mean for my daily life that the same Jesus who led Israel out of Egypt is leading me through my own spiritual battles?

The incarnation wasn't Plan B - it was God's perfect plan from the beginning. Understanding Jesus as the second Yahweh helps us see that our redemption was always at the heart of God's purposes, woven throughout the entire biblical narrative.