Patterns of Prophecy: Christ in Scripture's Story
Summary
Throughout history, God has revealed Himself through patterns—types and shadows that point forward to their ultimate fulfillment in Christ. The story of Lazarus, which we have studied in depth, is not just a miraculous event but a living prophecy, foreshadowing the death and resurrection of Jesus. This way of reading the Bible—seeing history as prophecy—was central to the early Christians. They understood that God’s instructions to Moses about the tabernacle were not arbitrary; they were patterns, blueprints of heavenly realities, later fulfilled in Christ Himself, who “pitched his tent among us.” The Old Testament is full of these types, and the New Testament reveals their true meaning.
The concept of typology, rooted in the Greek word “tupos,” is not just a scholarly idea but a biblical one. Adam, Jonah, Isaac, and many others are described as types of Christ. These stories are not merely moral lessons or historical accounts; they are patterns that find their fulfillment in Jesus. For example, Peter interprets the flood in Noah’s day as a type of baptism, which now saves us through the resurrection of Jesus. The floodwaters that cleansed the earth prefigure the spiritual cleansing we receive in Christ. The Bible itself teaches us to read these stories as foreshadowings of the gospel.
This approach to Scripture was the norm for most of Christian history. The Old Testament was read as a collection of types, all pointing to Christ. Only in recent centuries has this way of reading been largely abandoned. When we look at stories like David and Goliath, we are often tempted to see ourselves as David, called to slay the giants in our lives. But the deeper truth is that David is a type of Christ—the true Son of David—who fights and wins the battles we cannot. We are the helpless Israelites, saved by the victory of another.
Jesus Himself read the Old Testament this way. He saw Jonah’s three days in the fish as a prophecy of His own death and resurrection. The gospel is not just a historical event; it is the shape of all creation, written into the fabric of history and eternity. Our hope is not in our own strength or courage, but in the victory of Christ, the hero of every story, who rescues us and shapes our lives by His resurrection.
Key Takeaways
- God’s patterns in Scripture reveal His unchanging purpose. The instructions given to Moses for the tabernacle were not just about worship, but about reflecting heavenly realities on earth. These patterns are fulfilled in Christ, who is the true tabernacle among us, showing that God’s work in history is intentional and points us to Jesus. [37:35]
- Typology is a biblical lens for understanding both the Old and New Testaments. The stories of Adam, Jonah, and others are not isolated moral tales but prophetic patterns—types—that find their fulfillment in Christ. This way of reading Scripture deepens our appreciation for God’s sovereignty and the unity of His redemptive plan. [39:58]
- Baptism is more than a ritual; it is participation in the story of salvation. Just as Noah’s family was saved through the floodwaters, we are saved through baptism, which unites us with Christ’s death and resurrection. The Old Testament events are not distant history but living realities that shape our faith today. [42:10]
- The victory over sin and death is not ours to win, but Christ’s to give. In the story of David and Goliath, we are not the hero; we are the helpless people in need of rescue. Jesus, the true Son of David, fights the battles we cannot, and our hope rests in His triumph, not our own strength. [49:09]
- The gospel is the shape of all creation, not just a moment in time. All of history, from the earliest stories to the end of all things, is oriented around the death and resurrection of Jesus. Our lives are meant to be shaped by this reality, finding hope and identity in the risen Christ who is the hero of every story. [52:56]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[00:35] - Introduction: History as Prophecy
[02:10] - Patterns in the Tabernacle
[04:15] - Early Christian Perspective on Typology
[07:20] - The Old Testament Concealed, the New Testament Revealed
[10:05] - The Meaning of “Type” in Scripture
[13:00] - Noah’s Flood as a Foreshadowing of Baptism
[16:30] - Translation Traditions and Typology
[19:00] - David and Goliath: Who is the True Hero?
[22:00] - Jesus as the Son of David
[24:00] - Two Ways to Read the Old Testament
[27:00] - Jesus’ Reading of Jonah
[29:00] - The Gospel Written into All Creation
[31:00] - Shaping Our Lives by the Resurrection
[33:00] - Closing Reflections
Study Guide
Small Group Bible Study Guide: Foreshadowing the Death and Resurrection of Jesus
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### Bible Reading
1. Exodus 25:40
“See that you make them according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.”
2. Hebrews 8:5
“They serve at a sanctuary that is a copy and shadow of what is in heaven. This is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle: ‘See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.’”
3. 1 Peter 3:20-21
“…God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. In it only a few people, eight in all, were saved through water, and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.”
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### Observation Questions
1. In Exodus 25:40 and Hebrews 8:5, what is the significance of God giving Moses a specific pattern for the tabernacle?
2. According to 1 Peter 3:20-21, what does Peter say the floodwaters in Noah’s day represent for Christians?
3. In the sermon, what are some examples given of Old Testament people or events that are described as “types” or patterns pointing to Jesus? [39:58]
4. How does the sermon describe the way early Christians read the Old Testament compared to how it is often read today? [45:06]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think God chose to use patterns and types throughout the Old Testament instead of just giving direct instructions or prophecies about Jesus?
2. The sermon says that the story of David and Goliath is not mainly about us being brave like David, but about Jesus being the true hero who wins the battle for us. How does this change the way we read familiar Bible stories? [49:09]
3. What does it mean that “the Old Testament is the New Testament concealed, and the New Testament is the Old Testament revealed”? How does this idea affect the way we understand the Bible as a whole? [38:34]
4. Peter connects the flood and baptism, saying baptism “now saves you…by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.” How does this deepen our understanding of what baptism means? [42:10]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon says that God’s instructions to Moses about the tabernacle were not just about worship, but about reflecting heavenly realities on earth. Are there areas in your life where you are just “going through the motions” instead of seeing a deeper purpose? How could you look for God’s patterns in your daily routines? [37:35]
2. When you read Old Testament stories, do you tend to see yourself as the hero, or do you look for how the story points to Jesus? How might shifting your focus change your faith or your struggles? [49:09]
3. The sermon mentions that baptism is more than a ritual; it’s participation in the story of salvation. If you have been baptized, how does this shape your identity and daily life? If you haven’t, what questions or thoughts do you have about its meaning? [42:10]
4. The message says our hope is not in our own strength, but in Christ’s victory. Are there “giants” or battles in your life right now where you are trying to win on your own? What would it look like to trust Jesus as your champion in those areas? [49:09]
5. The sermon says the gospel is “the shape of all creation,” not just a moment in time. How can you let the reality of Jesus’ death and resurrection shape your week ahead? Is there a specific situation where you need to remember that Christ is the hero of your story? [52:56]
6. The early Christians read the Old Testament as a collection of types pointing to Christ. How could you practice this way of reading Scripture in your own Bible study? What is one Old Testament story you want to revisit with this perspective? [45:06]
7. The sermon says, “If you come without a thing, you come with all you need.” What does it mean for you to come to Jesus with empty hands? Is there something you need to let go of to receive His victory? [49:59]
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Devotional
Day 1: God’s Patterns: History as Prophecy
God reveals patterns in history that point to His greater purposes, showing that events in the Old Testament are not isolated stories but foreshadowings of Christ’s work. The tabernacle, for example, was built according to a heavenly pattern, and the early Christians saw this as a key to understanding how God interacts with His people—He establishes types and fulfills them in Christ. This way of reading Scripture invites us to look for God’s hand at work, weaving together the story of redemption across generations, and to trust that our lives, too, are part of His unfolding plan. [37:35]
Exodus 25:40 (ESV)
"And see that you make them after the pattern for them, which is being shown you on the mountain."
Reflection: Where in your life do you see God repeating patterns or themes, and how might these be pointing you toward a deeper understanding of Christ’s work in your story?
Day 2: The Fulfillment in Christ: Shadows and Reality
The earthly tabernacle and its worship were only a shadow of the true reality in heaven, and Jesus is the ultimate fulfillment of these patterns—He is the living tabernacle, God dwelling among us. The Old Testament conceals the New, and the New reveals the Old, showing that all of Scripture points to Christ’s death and resurrection. This understanding calls us to see Jesus not just as a figure in history, but as the center of God’s eternal plan, the one who brings heaven’s reality to earth and invites us into His presence. [38:34]
Hebrews 8:5 (ESV)
"They serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things. For when Moses was about to erect the tent, he was instructed by God, saying, 'See that you make everything according to the pattern that was shown you on the mountain.'"
Reflection: How does knowing that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s patterns change the way you approach the Old Testament and your relationship with Him today?
Day 3: Baptism: The Antitype of Salvation
The story of Noah’s flood is more than ancient history; it is a living prophecy, a type that points to baptism, which now saves us through the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Just as the floodwaters cleansed the earth, baptism symbolizes our spiritual cleansing and new life in Christ. This connection reminds us that God’s acts of salvation are consistent and intentional, and that our participation in baptism is a response to His saving work, not merely a ritual but a profound entry into the story of redemption. [42:10]
1 Peter 3:20-21 (ESV)
"…because they formerly did not obey, when God’s patience waited in the days of Noah, while the ark was being prepared, in which a few, that is, eight persons, were brought safely through water. Baptism, which corresponds to this, now saves you, not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ."
Reflection: If you have been baptized, how does seeing it as the fulfillment of God’s ancient pattern deepen your gratitude and sense of belonging in Christ? If you have not, what questions or hesitations do you have about entering this story?
Day 4: Jesus, the True Hero: Our Victory in Him
The story of David and Goliath is not primarily about our courage, but about Jesus, the true Son of David, who fights and wins the battles we cannot. Like the Israelites, we are powerless against sin and death, but God has sent a Savior who is victorious on our behalf. Our hope is not in our own strength, but in trusting the one who has already won the victory, inviting us to share in His triumph and freedom. [49:09]
Romans 1:3-4 (ESV)
"Concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been trying to be your own hero? How can you surrender this to Jesus and trust in His victory for you today?
Day 5: The Gospel Shapes All of History—and Our Lives
The gospel is not just a past event but the very shape of all creation, written into history and eternity, and meant to shape our lives by the character of the resurrected Christ. Even in heaven, the Lamb who was slain is at the center, reminding us that God’s plan of redemption is the foundation of everything. As we allow the gospel to shape our perspective, we find hope and purpose, knowing that our lives are part of God’s great story of salvation. [52:56]
Revelation 5:6 (ESV)
"And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth."
Reflection: In what practical way can you let the reality of Christ’s death and resurrection shape your attitude, decisions, or relationships this week?
Quotes
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