Testimonies and Evidence of the Witnesses1.

1John 5:9-11

“Hallelujah! May the grace, peace, and mercy of our Lord be with all of us worshipping today. Today, I want to emphasize that every message I have shared has been based on the testimony of witnesses. This is to help you stand firm in your faith with confidence.

1. Testimony involves sharing facts or experiences one knows about an event or a person, or sometimes speaking in a court of law to prove those facts. Testimony plays a vital role in revealing the truth of a matter and in achieving justice. Thus, a witness must base their testimony on accurate and credible evidence to ensure what they say is true. If the testimony is false, they bear legal, moral, and spiritual responsibility. Therefore, a witness has the duty to be deeply aware of the impact of their words and to provide testimony grounded in truth and justice. Acknowledging this responsibility, I deliver this message to you today.”

A witness must speak about what they have directly seen, heard, and experienced. This is considered the most compelling evidence and should be based on objective facts rather than subjective interpretation. A testimony must be consistent, for if there is inconsistency among the witnesses, its credibility can be undermined. If a witness has a vested interest in the matter or is known to be unreliable, their testimony loses credibility. What I testify to is about Jesus Christ. The evidence I rely on first comes from the Bible, and secondly, the Holy Spirit testifies within me. And whether or not my words are trustworthy, my life itself is the evidence.

Today, I will speak about what the Old Testament testifies, and next week, I will testify about what the New Testament declares.

2. When we look at the Old Testament, we see many elements such as prophecies, people, events, laws, and the sacrificial system. All these point to Jesus Christ, and they are fulfilled through the life and work of Jesus Christ in the New Testament. This consistency demonstrates that the prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in the New Testament, and that many symbols and shadows in the Old Testament find their completion in Jesus Christ, who is the true substance.

1) Evidence of the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus Christ includes the prophecy of the Messiah’s birth. Isaiah 7:14 prophesied that a virgin would conceive and give birth to a son and that his name would be called “Immanuel.” This prophecy was fulfilled through the birth of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew 1:22-23.

There is also the prophecy regarding the place of birth. Micah 5:2 foretold that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Matthew 2:1-6 confirms that Jesus Christ was indeed born in Bethlehem. The terms “Messiah” and “Christ” have the same meaning; “Messiah” is Hebrew, and “Christ” is Greek. The Messiah, or Christ, is the Anointed One, fulfilling the roles of King, Priest, and Prophet. The King governs his kingdom, the Priest atones for the sins of his people, and the Prophet proclaims God’s word according to His will.

Isaiah 53 prophesied about this Messiah as the suffering servant who would bear our griefs and be pierced and crushed for our iniquities. The New Testament confirms in many places that this prophecy was fulfilled in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Matthew 8:17 says, “He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases,” referring to what the prophet Isaiah had said. Yet, people often do not believe because their eyes are blinded, and their hearts are hardened. Only when God pours out His Spirit on us can our eyes be opened and we can understand, like the prophets. This is why we must ask, seek, and knock to God.

The Psalms also testify to the suffering Messiah in various places, with Psalm 22 being the most notable. In this Psalm of David, the words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” align with Jesus’ cry of anguish, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” on the cross (Matthew 27:46, Mark 15:34). Verses 7-8 depict scenes of mockery, verse 16 describes the piercing of hands and feet, and verse 18 speaks of casting lots for garments—all vividly reflected in the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ crucifixion. Psalm 69:21 states, “They gave me vinegar for my thirst,” which aligns with the scene where Jesus, in thirst on the cross, was offered vinegar (John 19:28-29).

Psalm 31:5 describes the Messiah entrusting Himself to God and trusting Him amid suffering. This mirrors Jesus’ words on the cross, “Into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). Psalm 34:20 declares, “He protects all his bones; not one of them will be broken,” which is confirmed in John 19:36, where it is stated that none of His bones were broken during His crucifixion. Psalm 41:9 says, “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” This verse foreshadows Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus, as cited in John 13:18. The verse in Psalm 118:22-23, “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone,” is used in the New Testament to refer to Jesus (Matthew 21:42, Acts 4:11, 1 Peter 2:7).

In Acts 8:27, we read about an Ethiopian eunuch, an official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who had come to Jerusalem to worship and was returning home. While seated in his chariot, he was reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. The Holy Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” As Philip approached the chariot, he heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The eunuch replied, “How can I unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. The passage of Scripture he was reading was: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. In his humiliation, he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus, testifying about His death on the cross, His resurrection, and the kingdom He would bring.

The resurrection was also prophesied. Psalm 16:10 states, “You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.” This prophecy is echoed in Acts 2:27, where Peter says, “You will not abandon my soul to Hades, nor will you let your Holy One see decay…30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we are all witnesses.”

In Acts 13:27, Paul also affirms, “For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him or the utterances of the prophets which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. 28 Though they found no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people.”

These prophecies in the Old Testament consistently speak of the incarnation, suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, and the New Testament clearly declares that these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Such concrete evidence leaves no room for doubt regarding their truthfulness and reliability.

2) The consistency between the Old and New Testaments is also evident in how the Old Testament people and events foreshadow or symbolize what would happen through Jesus Christ.

First, consider Adam and Christ. Romans 5:14 refers to Adam as “a pattern of the one to come.” Adam, as the first representative of humanity, brought sin into the world, but Jesus Christ, referred to as the last Adam, brought salvation to humanity (Romans 5:12-21, 1 Corinthians 15:22).

Then, there is Melchizedek and Christ. Hebrews 7 explains that Melchizedek, who blessed Abraham upon his return from victory in battle, is a type of Christ. Melchizedek is described as the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and the king of righteousness and peace, with a priesthood that surpasses the Levitical priesthood. This prefigures Jesus Christ’s eternal and transcendent priesthood.

Next, the Passover lamb and Christ, the Lamb of God. In the Passover event of Exodus, the Israelites were saved by the blood of a lamb. The New Testament describes Jesus Christ as “the Lamb of God” (John 1:29), whose blood brings salvation from sin to all humanity (1 Corinthians 5:7).

Lastly, consider the bronze serpent and Christ. In Numbers 21, Moses set up a bronze serpent in the wilderness so that anyone who looked upon it would live. Jesus interpreted this event in John 3:14-15 as a foreshadowing of His own being lifted up on the cross so that whoever believes in Him would have eternal life.

3) The Old Testament law and sacrificial system were fulfilled through Jesus Christ in the New Testament.

First, the fulfillment of the law. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” This makes it clear that Jesus Christ is the one who perfectly fulfills the Old Testament law. The Old Testament law reveals sin. Romans 3:20 states, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.” Thus, everyone knows that they are under God’s judgment and cannot argue against the verdict of that judgment. The law, therefore, shows us our need for Christ.

Next, the fulfillment of the sacrificial system. Hebrews 10 explains that the Old Testament sacrificial system was fulfilled through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The sacrifices of the Old Testament were only temporary shadows pointing to forgiveness of sins, but the once-for-all sacrifice of Jesus Christ redeemed all sins forever. This shows that the Old Testament sacrificial system was a foreshadowing of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

4) The theological themes of the Old Testament are fulfilled through Christ.

First, consider the covenant of God. In the Old Testament, God made covenants with figures like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and David. In the New Testament, these covenants are fulfilled in Jesus Christ as the new covenant. Jeremiah 31:33 prophesies, “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” Jesus, after sharing the cup with His disciples, said, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you” (Luke 22:20). Jesus Christ is the mediator and fulfillment of the covenant.

Next, consider the Kingdom of God. The Old Testament emphasizes God’s plan to establish His Kingdom. Jesus Christ appears as the King who brings this Kingdom of God. In Mark 1:15, Jesus says, “The time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The concept of the Kingdom in the Old Testament is expanded into a new spiritual dimension in Jesus Christ.

Then, consider redemption and salvation. In the Old Testament, God is portrayed as the Redeemer who saves Israel repeatedly. In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is emphasized as the Redeemer for all humanity. Ephesians 1:7 states, “In Him, we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace.” The redemptive events in the Old Testament foreshadow the ultimate redemptive work of Jesus Christ.

Therefore, the argument that the Old Testament consistently testifies to Jesus Christ is clearly evidenced through the fulfillment of prophecy, the typology of people and events, the completion of the law and sacrificial system, and the consistency of theological themes. The Old and New Testaments are not separate messages but unified testimonies to God’s redemptive plan. Jesus Christ is the one whom the prophets foretold, to whom the law and sacrificial system pointed, and who completes God’s covenant and plan of salvation. Through this, it is clear that the entirety of the Old Testament consistently testifies to Jesus Christ.

Let me conclude today’s message. Through the arguments we have examined, we can clearly see that the Old Testament is filled with consistent testimony and prophecy about Jesus Christ and His work. The prophecies, people, events, laws, sacrificial system, and theological themes of the Old Testament are all fulfilled and completed in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the Messiah whom all the prophets of the Old Testament foretold. He is the Savior to whom the law and the sacrificial system pointed, and He is the center through whom God’s covenant and redemptive plan are accomplished.

Moreover, the consistency between the Old and New Testaments goes beyond mere historical connection; it represents the integrated fulfillment of God’s redemptive plan. This consistent fulfillment shows that the Old and New Testaments are not two separate documents but one unified Word that continually testifies to God’s plan of salvation, designed by one God. Therefore, Jesus Christ is revealed as the core of the salvation that the Old Testament anticipated and the New Testament fulfilled, the ultimate fulfillment of all prophecies. This makes it clear that the entire Bible testifies to God’s redemptive plan centered on Jesus Christ. As a result, our faith can be strengthened through the consistency of the testimonies and prophecies recorded in Scripture, and we can hold a deep assurance that all of this is within God’s plan of salvation for us.

For over 40 years of ministry, I have testified to my congregation, based on these evidences, that Jesus is our Redeemer, Savior, and the coming Judge. Jesus is our King and Good Shepherd. Therefore, I bless you in the name of the Lord, that you move forward in faith, trusting that He will care for you, protect you, and guide you so that you lack nothing. In this way, you will live as a victorious and joyful believer.

Let’s pray together. Gracious and loving God, we have come to know that the testimonies of the witnesses recorded in Scripture are consistent and that the evidence for their testimonies is clear. Just as You poured out Your Spirit upon the forefathers of our faith when they sought, asked, and knocked for truth, opening their eyes and granting them understanding, we ask that You grant us the same grace by pouring out Your Spirit upon us. Help us to have a steadfast faith and to daily demonstrate through our lives that You dwell within us. May those who see us come to meet our Lord Jesus Christ through us, and may their eyes be opened and their hearts transformed and renewed. To You, Lord, we give all glory, honor, and thanks. We pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.