The Parenting Moment
You are sitting around the table with your children, Bibles open to Genesis or Exodus, and your seven-year-old asks, “But what does this have to do with Jesus?” It is a brilliant question — and one that many parents feel unprepared to answer. The Old Testament can feel like a separate world, filled with unfamiliar names, ancient laws, and dramatic battles that seem far removed from the Saviour we love. Yet Jesus Himself insisted that every part of it points directly to Him. Teaching children to see Jesus in the Old Testament is not an advanced theological exercise; it is a gift you can begin giving your family this week.
Biblical Foundation
“And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.” Luke 24:27
On the road to Emmaus, the risen Jesus did not hand two grieving disciples a systematic theology textbook. He walked with them, opened the Scriptures, and showed them that His life, death, and resurrection were the destination every Old Testament road had always been heading towards. This is the hermeneutical anchor for our family reading: the Old Testament is not a collection of moral fables or historical records alone — it is a grand, unfolding story whose hero is Jesus Christ. When we read it through that lens, even the most puzzling passages begin to glow with meaning.
This approach is not a modern invention. The New Testament writers were saturated with it. Paul saw Jesus as the rock that followed Israel in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4). The writer of Hebrews traced the entire priesthood and sacrificial system to its fulfilment in Christ. John opened his Gospel by echoing Genesis 1, announcing that the Word who created all things had now become flesh. Scripture itself invites us to ask, at every turn, “Where is Jesus here?” — and that is precisely the question we want to place in our children’s hands.
Practical Wisdom
- Start with the “Where is Jesus?” question as a family habit. After reading any Old Testament passage together, pause and ask simply, “Where do you think Jesus might be hiding in this story?” Frame it as a treasure hunt rather than a test. Even young children aged four to six can grasp that the lamb in Genesis 22 points to Jesus, our sacrificial Lamb, once you show them the connection warmly and clearly.
- Use age-graded bridges for specific passages. For younger children (ages four to seven), focus on vivid, story-rich texts: the Passover lamb (Exodus 12), Joseph’s forgiveness of his brothers (Genesis 50), and the bronze serpent (Numbers 21). Ask: “Who else rescued people who couldn’t rescue themselves?” For older children (ages eight to twelve), move into the Psalms and prophets — Psalm 22, Isaiah 53, and Zechariah 9 — and invite them to match the details to the Gospel accounts. Teenagers can explore typology more deeply, tracing the tabernacle, the priesthood, and the covenants as shadows pointing to Christ.
- Keep a “Jesus in the Old Testament” journal. Give each child a simple notebook where they record the passage, what they noticed, and how it connects to Jesus. This builds both biblical literacy and a personal devotional habit. Over months, the journal becomes a tangible record of how God was always pointing His people to His Son.
- Read the New Testament echo alongside the Old Testament passage. Wherever possible, read the Old Testament text and then the New Testament passage that interprets it. For example, read Isaiah 53 and then 1 Peter 2:24. This models the very method Jesus used on the Emmaus road — letting Scripture illuminate Scripture — and helps children see that the Bible is one cohesive, Christ-centred story.
- Celebrate discovery over correctness. When a child offers an unexpected connection — even an imperfect one — affirm their engagement and gently guide them deeper. The goal is not for them to recite the right answer but to cultivate a lifelong habit of reading every page of God’s Word with eyes looking for Jesus. That hunger, once ignited, will sustain their faith long after they leave your home.
Encouragement for Parents
You do not need a seminary degree to lead your family in Christ-centred Old Testament reading. You need a willing heart, an open Bible, and the same Spirit who opened the eyes of those two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus is not hidden so well that only scholars can find Him — He is woven into every sacrifice, every covenant, every rescue, and every king, waiting to be recognised by any family that looks with faith. Your children’s questions are not obstacles to this journey; they are the engine that drives it. Every “But why?” and every “What does this mean?” is an invitation to point them to the Saviour once more.
Be patient with yourself and with your children. Some sessions will feel rich and full of wonder; others will feel like you are simply reading words on a page. Both are part of faithful parenting. The Spirit who illuminated the Scriptures for those disciples on the road is the same Spirit who dwells in your home. Trust Him to do what only He can do — open eyes, warm hearts, and reveal Jesus in every page of His Word. As you persist in this practice, you are not simply teaching Bible stories; you are shaping disciples who will one day read Luke 24 and say, “Were not our hearts burning within us?” — because they have experienced exactly that around your family table.
Family Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You that the whole of Scripture tells Your story. As we open the Old Testament together as a family, open our eyes the way You opened the eyes of those disciples on the Emmaus road. Give us wisdom to see You in every passage — in every sacrifice, every promise, and every rescue. Help our children to love Your Word and to love You more with every page they read. May our home be a place where the Scriptures burn bright and where Your name is always glorified. In Your precious name we pray, amen.
If this framework has been an encouragement to you, why not share it with another family in your church community? And if you try the “Where is Jesus?” question at your next family Bible time, we would love to hear what your children discovered — leave a comment below and let us celebrate together what God reveals.