6. Jesus’ Divinity in the Old Testament
It is evident that the New Testament portrays Jesus as divine, as the Son of God, equal with God the Father. Was this a new revelation, or was the Christ’s divinity revealed even in the Old Testament Scriptures? There are several passages in the Old Testament that clearly showcase the divine nature of the Christ who was to come.
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14) Not only does this passage predict the Christ’s virgin birth, but He shall be called Immanuel, meaning ‘God with us’ showing that this virgin born Savior will be God in the flesh.
“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6-7) This passage has several indicators of the Christ’s divinity. There is to come a human child to be born, whose name is Mighty God and Everlasting Father. His reign (government) shall have no end, and we know from Scripture that the only everlasting kingdom is God’s.
“I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of Heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him. Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.” (Daniel 7:13-14) This passage again shows that someone who is a Son of Man, a human, receives an everlasting kingdom which shall never be destroyed. Again, we know from Scripture that the only everlasting kingdom is God’s; so this Man must be more than any other mere mortal: He is the Son of God who took upon Himself human flesh.
There’s also the famous passage that predicts the Christ’s birth in Bethlehem, “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me the One to be Ruler in Israel, whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2) This passage declares that the coming Christ will be born in Bethlehem, but it’s important to note that His ‘goings forth’ will be from everlasting. Who is from everlasting but God Himself? Therefore the one to be born the Christ must also be God.
Lastly, there’s a passage concerning the seed of King David through whom the Christ was promised to come. “‘Behold, the days are coming,’ says the LORD, ‘That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgement and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.’” (Jeremiah 23:5-6) This passage clearly shows that a ‘branch’, a descendent, of King David according to the flesh will arise in a future day, but His name will be THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS. This means that the human descendant of King David will also be the Lord Himself.
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