The Old Testament Witness to Christ and His Kingdom, Mentor's Guide, MG09

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T H E O L D T E S T A M E N T W I T N E S S T O C H R I S T A N D H I S K I N G D O M

regarding his future reign—God made a covenant with him that the kingdom would never depart from his house, and his reign would be an administration of justice and equity to all the people. Certain characters in the OT deserve our special exegetical attention because of their critical theological significance in helping us comprehend Christ’s role as head of humanity, redeemer of his kinsmen, and warrior in God’s conquest. These characters represent the person of Adam, Joseph, and Joshua. Adam, as the federal head and source of humankind, is a special OT character type of Jesus Christ, by way of contrast, that is, how he is different from the Lord who is also the federal head and source of the new redeemed humanity. In every way, both Adam and Jesus are the source and federal heads of all those connected to them by birth and rebirth respectively. As Adam is the head of the old creation, so Christ is the head of the new creation , and as Adam’s being was “of the earth,” so Christ, by contrast, is the Lord from heaven . While Adam was made a living soul, Christ Jesus was made a life-giving Spirit . As in Adam all die, so in Christ all are made alive, and as Adam brought pride and disobedience into the world, so Christ, through his righteousness, is the source of righteousness and justifies all those who believe in him. Joseph, the redeemer of his kinsman, is perhaps the most prolific and “on-point” OT character type of Jesus. In ways that are both wondrous and moving, Joseph’s experience links and connects with the life and ministry of Jesus Christ. In virtually every way, Joseph’s life story coincides with the experience of the Messiah. He was beloved of his father, sent by his father to his kinsman, hated by his brothers who plotted to kill him, rejected by his brothers the “first time,” and was sold for “blood money” (pieces of silver). Furthermore, Joseph (like Christ) was imprisoned with two criminals (one who “died” and the other “lived”), was considered dead for a long time but lived “as one alive” to the Gentiles. Joseph, like the Messiah, was raised from the dungeon and exalted to a place of authority and power, and took a Gentile bride. Finally, like Christ, he gave all honor to the king, and delivered all glory and treasure into the king’s hand, brought his people to repentance and

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