Prefigurations of the Cross in the Old Testament
The Cross — an Instrument of Victory and Reconciliation
“And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it (Greek: ἐν αὐτῷ — “in it” or “in Himself”)” (Col. 2:13-15)
“and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:16)
“and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20)
The Cross Is an Altar, a Great Sacred Object
The Lord Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice on the cross, the altar:
“so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many” (Heb. 9:28)
A confirmation of this is the Old Testament prefiguration of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross — the sacrifice of Isaac. Abraham (the father) offers in sacrifice Isaac (his only son):
“Then He said, ‘Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you’” (Gen. 22:2)
“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son” (John. 3:16)
Isaac carries up the mountain that on which he is to be sacrificed:
“So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together” (Gen. 22:6)
“So they took Jesus and led Him away. And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him” (John. 19:16-18)
Abraham Laid Isaac on the Altar
“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” (James. 2:21)
“Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death” (Act. 2:23)
On the cross, as on an altar, the salvation of mankind is accomplished:
“and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:16)
The Altar Is Most Holy
“the altar shall be most holy. Whatever touches the altar must be holy” (Ex. 29:37)
The Gospel
“Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me’” (Mark. 10:21)
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, ‘Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” (Mark. 8:34)
“And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me” (Matt. 10:38)
“Then Jesus said to His disciples, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me’” (Matt. 16:24)
“Then He said to them all, ‘If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me’” (Luke. 9:23)
“And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple” (Luke. 14:27)
“and saying, ‘You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross’” (Matt. 27:40)
“He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him” (Matt. 27:42)
“save Yourself, and come down from the cross!” (Mark. 15:30)
“Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him” (Mark. 15:32)
The Apostle
“looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Heb. 12:2)
“But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world” (Gal. 6:14)
“For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect” (1 Cor. 1:17)
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Cor. 1:18)
“As many as desire to make a good showing in the flesh, these would compel you to be circumcised, only that they may not suffer persecution for the cross of Christ” (Gal. 6:12)
“And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased” (Gal. 5:11)
“and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity” (Eph. 2:16)
“For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ” (Phil. 3:18)
“and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross” (Col. 1:20)
“having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col. 2:14)