Through a rich tapestry of types and shadows—people, events, and institutions that prefigured Christ—God was already telling the story of redemption long before the manger in Bethlehem. These patterns aren’t just literary devices; they’re Spirit-woven previews of the gospel.
Recognizing these Christ-types helps us read the Bible as one unified narrative, where the Old Testament anticipates and the New Testament fulfills.
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” – Luke 24:27
What Are Types and Shadows?
Remember, a “type” is a person, event, or institution in the Old Testament that prefigures something greater in the New Testament, particularly Christ. The “shadow” points to the “substance” that is Christ.
As Colossians 2:17 says regarding Old Testament practices: “These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ.”
Three Key Examples of Christ-Types
1. Moses as a Type of Christ
Moses foreshadowed Christ as:
- A deliverer who rescued his people from bondage
- A mediator between God and the people
- A prophet who spoke God’s words
- A lawgiver who established God’s covenant
Jesus is the greater Moses, delivering us from sin’s bondage, mediating a better covenant, and fulfilling the law.
2. The Passover Lamb as a Type of Christ
The Passover lamb pointed to Christ through:
- Its unblemished condition
- Its sacrificial death
- Its blood providing protection
- Its flesh providing nourishment
This connection is explicitly confirmed in 1 Corinthians 5:7: “Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.”
3. The Tabernacle as a Type of Christ
The tabernacle foreshadowed Christ as:
- God’s dwelling among His people
- The place of sacrifice and atonement
- The location where God met with humanity
John 1:14 confirms this connection: “The Word became flesh and dwelt [literally ‘tabernacled’] among us.”
Seeing Christ More Clearly
Typology isn’t just a clever interpretive tool—it’s a testimony to God’s intentionality. From Moses to the lamb to the tabernacle, each type whispers the name of Jesus long before His birth. These shadows stretch across centuries, converging in the radiant substance of Christ.
As we learn to recognize these patterns, we begin to see Scripture not as a collection of disconnected stories, but as one unfolding drama of redemption. The road to Emmaus becomes our road too—where Christ opens our eyes and hearts to the truth that He has been there all along.