Why is the Old Testament important in understanding the coming of Jesus?

Answer 1

It was important because the Jews were looking for a messiah - as prophesied in the Old Testament.

Jesus fulfilled the OT propecies but most of the people were expecting a messiah to take them out of the rule of the Romans and they weren't expecting a messiah who was put to death.

On the road to Emmaus Jesus explains to two disciples how and why he must die - as prophesied in the OT.

Luk 24:13 Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem.

Luk 24:14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened.

Luk 24:15 So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. ...............................................

Luk 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!

Luk 24:26 Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into His glory?"

Luk 24:27 And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

Answer 2

As the old testament has prophecies , which are to be fullfilled as well, and they tell of the birth and death of Jesus.

Answer:

The Bible is the inspired written Living Word of God, and Jesus Christ is that Living "WORD" [John 1]. The "Words" of the Bible [Old and New Testaments] ARE THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST as His Father commanded Him to have them inspirationally recorded through men:

"...When ye have lifted up the Son of Man, then shall ye know that I am He, and that I DO NOTHING OF MYSELF; BUT AS MY FATHER HATH TAUGHT ME, I SPEAK THESE THINGS. And He that sent Me is with Me: the Father hath not left Me alone; FOR I DO ALWAYS THOSE THINGS THAT PLEASE HIM." (John 8:28-29)

"For He whom God [the Father] hath sent SPEAKETH THE WORDS OF GOD [the Father]: for God [the Father] giveth not the Spirit by measure unto Him. The Father loveth the Son, and hath given all things [the universe] into His hand." (John 3:34)

The "Words" that Jesus Christ, His disciples, Paul and all the others of the "early Christian church" used to TEACH "Christianity" was FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT. There was no New Testament.

The discovered "inspired" manuscripts of the followers of Christ [which became the New Testament centuries later] serve in these latter days to "clarify" and "illuminate" the SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING that the "closed and sealed" Old Testament scriptures always contained.

"...for the Words are closed up and sealed TILL THE TIME OF THE END. Many shall be purified, and made white, and tried; but the wicked shall do wickedly: and NONE OF THE WICKED SHALL UNDERSTAND; but THE WISE SHALL UNDERSTAND." (Dan.12:9-10)

The New Testament isn't the "New Bible" -- but the COMPLETION of the Old Testament.

"...many among them shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and snared, and taken. BIND UP [complete] THE TESTIMONY, SEAL THE LAW AMONG MY DISCIPLES." (Isa.8:15-16)

To this very day, the vast majority of mankind does not understand the Bible, because they don't have the "illuminating" power of the Holy Spirit of God, which imparts that "WISDOM of understanding" in these last days of man's rule on earth.

Jesus Christ brought that "understanding to light" through the Holy Spirit, given to His disciples, beginning on that first day of Pentecost after His ascension into heaven, to sit at the right hand of His Father.

As stated, the "wicked" will never understand God's Word... only the "wise":

"the FEAR OF THE LORD is the beginning [foundation] of WISDOM: and the knowledge of the Holy [revealed from the Bible to those who fear God] is UNDERSTANDING." (Prov.9:10)

The "TESTIMONY" of God is both "Testaments" of the Bible. The Old Testament is the "core" teaching of God's revealed Word. The New Testament "binds" it all up and COMPLETES it, through its END TIME "spiritual understanding" imparted by the Holy Spirit... that became available to "all the families of the earth" with Christ's sacrifice and resurrection from the dead.

All of God's Word is ALIVE. It's the Living Word of God. The terms "Old" and "New" testaments came about with the later translations of manuscripts of God's elect... along with the categorizing of "chapters, verses and headings."

Jesus Christ... for whom "Christianity" is named... quoted MOSES... not Paul.

Jesus Christ... for whom "Christianity" is named... said to watch for DANIEL's prophesied "abomination of desolation" standing in the Holy Place [Matt.24:15] ... not Luke's.

Jesus Christ... for whom "Christianity" is named... read from ISAIAH's book in church [Luke 4:17-] ... not Peter's.

Jesus Christ... for whom "Christianity" is named... gave the Old Testament His seal of approval and guarantee of authenticity when He told His disciples:

"These are the Words which I spake unto you, while I was yet with you, that all things must be fulfilled, which were written in the LAW OF MOSES, and in THE PROPHETS, and in THE PSALMS [Jesus Christ's breakdown of the Old Testament], CONCERNING ME.

"Then OPENED HE THEIR UNDERSTANDING [to the Old Testament, which Daniel was told the end time 'wise' will understand], THAT THEY MIGHT UNDERSTAND THE SCRIPTURES..." (Luke 24:44-45).

That's the relevancy of the Old Testament to "Christianity." It's the heart and core of it. It makes one wonder how many "Christians" today could preach Jesus Christ solely from the Old Testament... all of which, according to Christ, is written "concerning Him."

Answer 3

The Old Testament is important to the jewish people as they are looking for their messiah to end wars, famine, prejudice, and to set up a utopian world.