The Names of Jesus Found in the Old Testament

There’s something beautiful about realizing that Jesus didn’t suddenly appear in the story at Bethlehem.

His birth was not a surprise.

God had been preparing the way for Him all along.

Long before Mary held Jesus in her arms, Scripture was pointing toward Him.

Long before the shepherds heard the angels, God was making promises.

Long before the wise men followed the star, the Old Testament was giving us glimpses of the Savior who would come.

Sometimes when we read the Old Testament, we can feel like we're reading a completely different part of the Bible.

But when we slow down, we begin to see something beautiful.

The whole story is pointing toward Jesus.

From Genesis to the prophets, we see promises, pictures, titles, and names that help us understand who Jesus is.

And when we recognize those connections, Christmas becomes even more meaningful.

Because Jesus wasn't simply a baby who arrived in Bethlehem.

He was the promised Messiah.

The Savior God had been preparing His people to recognize.

So today, let's slow down and look at some of the names and titles found in the Old Testament that point us toward Jesus.

The Promised Seed

Let's begin at the very beginning.

After Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, everything changed.

Sin entered the world.

Brokenness entered the story.

But even in that moment of judgment, God gave a promise.

Genesis 3:15 speaks of the offspring of the woman who would ultimately defeat the serpent.

Christians have traditionally understood this as the first promise pointing toward the coming Redeemer.

The story begins with a problem.

Sin.

But God immediately begins revealing His plan of redemption.

That's important.

God was not caught off guard by humanity's sin.

He already had a plan.

And throughout the Old Testament, that plan becomes clearer.

The Seed of Abraham

God made a promise to Abraham in Genesis 12:3:

“In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

God's promise wasn't only about one man or one family.

It pointed toward a blessing that would reach the nations.

The New Testament identifies Jesus as the ultimate fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

Through Jesus, God's blessing reaches people from every nation.

Think about the size of that promise.

God was thinking beyond one generation.

Beyond one family.

Beyond one nation.

He was preparing the way for Jesus.

Shiloh

Genesis 49 contains Jacob's blessings over his sons.

When he speaks about Judah, we find the mysterious name Shiloh:

“until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

There has been much discussion about the exact meaning and interpretation of this passage.

But Christians have long seen it as pointing toward the coming ruler from Judah.

And that matters because Jesus came from the tribe of Judah.

The promise was continuing to unfold.

God was giving His people clues.

The Messiah would come through Judah.

The King was coming.

The Lion of Judah

Judah is also connected with the image of a lion.

Genesis 49:9 says:

“Judah is a lion's cub.”

This picture becomes especially meaningful when we reach the New Testament.

Revelation 5:5 calls Jesus:

“the Lion of the tribe of Judah.”

Think about that connection.

The Old Testament gives us the picture.

The New Testament reveals its fulfillment in Jesus.

Jesus is the King.

Strong.

Victorious.

Worthy.

The One who conquers.

The Passover Lamb

One of the most powerful pictures pointing toward Jesus is found in the Passover story.

In Exodus, God instructed the Israelites to sacrifice a lamb and place its blood on the doorposts of their homes.

The blood would mark them for protection as judgment passed through Egypt.

The Passover became a reminder of God's deliverance.

And later, Jesus is described as the Lamb who takes away sin.

John the Baptist saw Jesus and declared:

“Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Suddenly, the Passover story takes on even greater meaning.

Jesus wasn't simply another teacher.

He came to save.

He came to deliver.

He came to give His life.

The Old Testament picture of the lamb helps us understand what Jesus came to do.

The Great I AM

One of the most beautiful names connected with God in the Old Testament is I AM.

When Moses encountered God at the burning bush, he asked what he should tell the Israelites when they asked who had sent him.

God answered:

“I AM WHO I AM.”

This name reveals God's eternal, self-existent nature.

And then something remarkable happens in the Gospel of John.

Jesus repeatedly uses “I am” statements.

“I am the bread of life.”

“I am the light of the world.”

“I am the good shepherd.”

“I am the resurrection and the life.”

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

These statements are more than comforting descriptions.

They point us toward Jesus' identity.

The God who revealed Himself as “I AM” is now revealing Himself through Jesus.

Immanuel — God With Us

Isaiah 7:14 gives us one of the most recognizable Old Testament prophecies about Jesus:

“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”

Matthew later explains that Immanuel means “God with us.”

I don't know about you, but that name always makes me pause.

God with us.

Not God far away.

Not God uninterested.

Not God watching from a distance.

God with us.

Jesus entered our world.

He walked among people.

He touched the hurting.

He welcomed the overlooked.

He wept with those who grieved.

He ate with people.

He listened.

He came near.

That's what Christmas celebrates.

God with us.

Wonderful Counselor

Isaiah 9:6 gives us several beautiful names and descriptions of the coming Messiah:

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Let's slow down here.

A child is born.

A Son is given.

And then Isaiah begins describing who He is.

The first name is:

Wonderful Counselor.

Think about how much we need wise counsel.

We don't always know what to do.

We have decisions to make.

Relationships to navigate.

Seasons we don't understand.

Questions we can't answer.

But Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor.

He isn't confused by our circumstances.

He knows the beginning and the end.

We can bring our questions to Him.

Mighty God

The next name in Isaiah 9:6 is:

Mighty God.

Jesus is not merely a good example.

Not simply a prophet.

Not just a teacher.

He is mighty.

He has authority.

He has power.

He is able to save.

When we feel powerless, we can remember who Jesus is.

Our circumstances may be bigger than we are.

They are never bigger than Him.

Everlasting Father

Isaiah also calls Him:

Everlasting Father.

This speaks of His eternal nature and His fatherly care and authority.

Jesus reveals the heart of God to us.

He welcomes.

He protects.

He provides.

He cares.

He doesn't grow tired of us.

He doesn't run out of patience.

His love isn't temporary.

He is everlasting.

Prince of Peace

Then comes one of the names our hearts may need most:

Prince of Peace.

Jesus doesn't promise that we will never experience difficult circumstances.

But He offers something deeper.

His peace.

John 14:27 says:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you.”

The peace Jesus gives isn't dependent on everything going smoothly.

It is rooted in who He is.

So when your heart feels restless this Christmas season, remember His name.

Prince of Peace.

You can bring your anxious thoughts to Him.

You can sit with Him.

You can breathe.

You can trust.

The Branch

The prophets also use the picture of a Branch to describe the coming Messiah.

Isaiah 11:1 says:

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit.”

The image is beautiful.

A stump can look dead.

Finished.

Hopeless.

But God says a new shoot will come.

Life will emerge.

Fruit will grow.

The Messiah would come from the line of Jesse.

Jesus is the fulfillment of that promise.

And perhaps there's a personal reminder here for us too.

God can bring life from places that look finished.

He can grow something where we thought nothing could grow.

He is not limited by what things look like right now.

The Root of Jesse

Isaiah later says:

“There shall be a root of Jesse, who shall rise to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”

The New Testament connects this promise directly to Jesus.

Again, we see the pattern.

The Old Testament gives the promise.

Jesus fulfills it.

God's plan is unfolding.

And it reaches beyond Israel to the nations.

Jesus is Savior for all who put their trust in Him.

The Righteous Branch

Jeremiah 23:5 speaks of a coming king from David's line:

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch.”

This promised King would reign wisely and bring righteousness.

Jesus came from the line of David.

He is the promised King.

And unlike earthly rulers, His kingdom is not temporary.

His authority isn't dependent on elections, popularity, wealth, or human approval.

Jesus is King.

The Lord Our Righteousness

Jeremiah 23:6 gives another remarkable name:

“And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’”

Think about that.

Our righteousness.

We don't have to create our own perfect record.

We don't have to earn God's love by performing well enough.

Our hope is found in Christ.

This is one of the most freeing truths of the gospel.

Jesus does for us what we could never do for ourselves.

He is our righteousness.

The Shepherd

The Old Testament repeatedly uses shepherd imagery to describe God's care for His people.

Psalm 23 begins:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

What does a shepherd do?

He leads.

He protects.

He provides.

He watches.

He searches.

He stays close.

And when Jesus comes, He says:

“I am the good shepherd.”

Suddenly Psalm 23 becomes even more beautiful.

The God who shepherds His people has come near in Jesus.

Jesus knows His sheep.

He calls them by name.

He lays down His life for them.

What a beautiful picture of our Savior.

The Messiah

Another important title is Messiah.

The Hebrew word means “anointed one.”

Kings and priests were anointed in the Old Testament.

But Scripture points toward a coming, ultimate Anointed One.

Daniel 9 speaks about the coming Messiah.

The Old Testament builds expectation.

The people were waiting.

And then Jesus came.

The promised Messiah.

The Anointed One.

The One who would fulfill God's plan of redemption.

The Son of David

God made a covenant with David that his throne would have an enduring kingdom.

Throughout the Old Testament, the people looked forward to the promised King who would come from David's line.

Jesus is repeatedly called the Son of David in the New Testament.

That title isn't simply about family history.

It points back to God's promise.

The King had come.

The promised line had reached Jesus.

Why These Names Matter

You might be wondering:

Why spend time studying all these names and titles?

Because names tell us something about character.

They help us know who Jesus is.

And the more we understand who He is, the more we can trust Him.

When you need wisdom, remember:

Wonderful Counselor.

When you're afraid:

Mighty God.

When you feel alone:

Immanuel — God with us.

When your heart is restless:

Prince of Peace.

When you feel lost:

Good Shepherd.

When you're struggling with guilt:

The Lord Our Righteousness.

When you need hope:

The Messiah.

When you feel like something in your life is finished:

The Branch.

These aren't just names to memorize.

They are reminders of who Jesus is.

The Old Testament Was Pointing to a Person

Sometimes we can read the Bible looking for instructions.

What should I do?

How should I live?

What should I change?

Those questions matter.

But Scripture also invites us to ask:

Who is God revealing Himself to be?

The Old Testament isn't simply a collection of disconnected stories.

It's part of one story.

A story of creation.

Brokenness.

Promise.

Redemption.

And throughout that story, God is preparing the way for Jesus.

The names and titles we find aren't random.

They help us recognize Him.

They help us understand His character.

They help us see that God keeps His promises.

What Stands Out to You?

As you read through these names, which one catches your attention?

Maybe it's Immanuel.

Maybe you've been feeling alone and need the reminder that God is with you.

Maybe it's Prince of Peace because your heart has been anxious.

Maybe it's Good Shepherd because you don't know which way to go.

Maybe it's Wonderful Counselor because you need wisdom.

Maybe it's Mighty God because you're facing something bigger than you can handle.

Don't rush past that.

Sometimes the name that stands out is exactly the reminder our hearts need.

A Simple Christmas Bible Study

If you want to spend some quiet time studying the names of Jesus, choose one name each day.

Write the name at the top of a journal page.

Then read the Old Testament passage connected to it.

Ask:

What does this name tell me about Jesus?

What does it reveal about God's character?

Where do I need this truth in my life right now?

How can I pray this name back to God?

Then write a simple prayer.

You don't need to make it complicated.

For example:

“Jesus, You are my Shepherd. I don't know what to do next, but You do. Lead me today.”

That's a prayer.

A simple one.

But a meaningful one.

A Prayer of Worship

Jesus,

Thank You for showing us who You are.

Thank You that Your coming wasn't an accident.

You were promised long before Bethlehem.

You were part of God's plan from the beginning.

You are our Wonderful Counselor.

Our Mighty God.

Our Prince of Peace.

Our Shepherd.

Our Righteousness.

Our Messiah.

Our King.

And You are Immanuel.

God with us.

Help me remember who You are when life feels uncertain.

When I'm afraid, remind me that You are mighty.

When I don't know what to do, remind me that You are my Counselor.

When my heart is restless, remind me that You are my peace.

When I feel lost, remind me that You are my Shepherd.

When I feel alone, remind me that You are with me.

Thank You for every promise that points us to You.

Help me slow down this Christmas season and make room to know You more.

In Jesus' name,

Amen.

Jesus Was Always the Plan

When you look at the Old Testament through the lens of Jesus, you begin to see something beautiful.

The story was moving somewhere.

God was making promises.

He was preparing hearts.

He was revealing His character.

And then, in the fullness of time, Jesus came.

A baby in Bethlehem.

A Savior.

A King.

The promised Messiah.

Immanuel.

God with us.

That's why the names of Jesus matter.

They remind us that Christmas is not simply about a baby in a manger.

It is about the One Scripture had been pointing toward all along.

And He is still the same Jesus today.

The same Wonderful Counselor.

The same Mighty God.

The same Prince of Peace.

The same Good Shepherd.

The same Savior.

The same King.

Keep the Names of Jesus Close

As you move through the Christmas season, I want to encourage you not to simply read the names of Jesus once and move on.

Choose one.

Carry it with you.

Write it on a note card.

Put it in your Bible.

Pray it when you need it.

Let it become personal.

Because the goal isn't simply to know more names.

It's to know Jesus more deeply.

If you're looking for a little peace during a busy or emotional season, I want to invite you to download our free 36 Encouraging Scriptures on Peace.

It's a simple collection of Scripture to help you keep God's promises close and turn your heart back toward Jesus when life feels noisy or uncertain.

Read one slowly.

Pray it.

Write it down.

Come back to it when you need a reminder.

Because the more we know Jesus, the more we discover that we never have to face a season alone.

He is our peace.

Our Shepherd.

Our Counselor.

Our King.

Our Savior.

Immanuel.

God with us.

And He has been pointing us to Himself all along.