Jesus Hidden and Revealed: A Devotional

By Marlene Allen

JESUS IS IMMANUEL, GOD WITH US! 

Who Will Never Leave Us or Forsake US 

Jesus is found in every part of the Bible. Do you want to dig deeper and find some of these nuggets that will help you better understand Jesus' names and characteristics? Then this is the devoti

• Language: English
• Publisher: Trilogy Christian Publishing
• Release date: Jul 26, 2023
• ISBN: 9798887383880

Marlene Allen

Marlene is retired from teaching high school math and is enjoying writing and spending more time with her family. She lives with her husband, Don, of fifty years in beautiful Vermont, where they raised three children. She received salvation as a teenager and has been studying the Bible ever since.

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Introduction

I am a read-through-your-Bible-in-a-year type of person. It is not the only way to have devotional time with God, but it is a way. I have always wanted to have a devotional where the thought of the day matched the portion of the Bible read that day. This year God challenged me to see Jesus in my daily Bible reading. So I have combined all three of these ideas into this daily devotional. I hope you come to love Jesus more every day as you experience your year’s walk through the Bible.

The gospel (good news about Jesus) is concealed in the Old Testament, where Jesus is hidden in types and figures. The New Testament is the Old Testament revealed. God spoke in types and shadows in the Old Testament, but the substance is revealed in the New Testament.

The apostle Paul said it this way, These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ (Colossians 2:17, NIV).

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter; to search out a matter is the glory of kings (Proverbs 25:2, NIV).

I proclaim about Jesus Christ, in keeping with the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all the Gentiles might come to the obedience that comes from faith—to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.

Romans 16:25–27 (NIV)

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do.

Luke 10:21 (NIV)

This devotional is not a complete compilation of all the shadows and types of Jesus in the Old Testament. There is more for you to discover as you search His Word daily. May you enjoy finding them for yourself as you grow to know Jesus more and more.

January 1—Creator and Maker

Read Genesis 1–2 and Matthew 1

I get some ingredients together—sugar, butter, eggs, flour—and I make cookies. God (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) didn’t do that. They created something from nothing. God created the heavens and earth. God spoke, Let there be light, and out of nowhere, light appeared; the darkness was called night, and the light was called day, and it was good. The process continued separating the sky from the seas, making dry land appear and filling it with flora and fauna. God flung the sun, moon, and stars into space.

Not only is Elohim a creator, but He is also a maker. He made birds, fishes, and an abundance of animals. Then God made man in His image (male and female) from the dust of the ground, and it was very good.

Colossians 1:16–17 (NIV) reminds us,

For in him [Jesus] all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

January 2—Seed of the Woman and King of the Jews

Read Genesis 3–4 and Matthew 2

The Bible starts so pristinely, two whole chapters without sin. Adam and Eve lived in a beautifully appointed garden that provided everything they needed. They only had one rule to follow, Don’t eat from the tree of good and evil. They fellowshipped with Jesus in the cool of each day (John 1:18 states that no one has seen the Father, so any time a person saw the pre-incarnate Lord, they saw God the Son, Jesus); what a glorious life. Then they blew it. They ate the forbidden fruit, and sin entered the world; they lost their radiant covering and their fellowship with Jesus. In Adam, we all died, but God didn’t leave us without hope. A redeemer would come from the seed of the woman who would restore us to a right relationship with God. This promise was fulfilled in Jesus.

When you look at the constellation Virgo, one of the stars is named the seed. This is a reminder to us that Jesus is the seed of the virgin, the One who came to reunite us with God. The magi noticed the alignment of the king star in Leo and the seed of the woman star in Virgo and set out to find the King of the Jews. They must have been surprised that Jesus wasn’t in the palace of the earthly king. The religious leaders said that He would be born in the nearby town of Bethlehem. The magi continued seeking until they found the newborn king. They brought Jesus gifts; gold for a king, frankincense for a priest, and myrrh for a savior.

Wise men still seek Him, the King of the Jews.

January 3—Ark of Safety

Read Genesis 5–7 and Matthew 3

It only took ten generations for God’s perfect world to become so corrupt that He wanted to start over again. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord and was assigned the task of building an ark to keep himself and his family and pairs of all the animals from being destroyed along with the unrighteous. Noah built the ark according to God’s instructions. He pitched it inside and outside (a picture of the saving power of Jesus’ blood), and God Himself shut the door. They waited another week before the rain came and the springs of deep burst forth. Eight people (the number of new beginnings) were all safe inside the ark.

Psalm 91:7–8 (NIV) promises those that are dwelling under that shadow of His wings: A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.

God knows how to save those that are His.

January 4—Promise Maker and Keeper

Read Genesis 8–10 and Matthew 4

After the flood, God put a rainbow in the clouds as a sign of His promise that He would never again destroy the world by flooding it. People like seeing rainbows and taking pictures of them to post on social media; these beautiful images remind us of God’s promise.

Another promise in the Old Testament is Isaiah 9:1b–2 (NIV),

In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

This promise was fulfilled when Jesus lived in Capernaum and began preaching there after He passed the wilderness test by defeating the devil with scripture.

When you find a promise in the Bible, you can be confident that God will keep that promise, too, because He is the great promise keeper.

January 5—Promise of Abraham

Read Genesis 11–12 and Matthew 5:1–26

Abram’s father, Terah, left Ur and started toward Canaan but gave up part way and settled in Harran. After Terah died, God called Abram and made this promise to him.

The Lord had said to Abram, Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.

Genesis 12:1–3 (NIV)

Jesus fulfills this promise to Abram (whose name He later changed to Abraham), that through him, all peoples on Earth will be blessed. Salvation is found only in Jesus. Salvation includes a blessed life now and throughout all eternity.

Jesus tells of the blessed life in the Sermon on the Mount in chapter five of Matthew. Blessed are you when…

Jesus came to fulfill the law and the prophets and be the blessing of Abraham.

January 6—Omnipotent

Read Genesis 13–14 and Matthew 5:27–48

Abram and his nephew, Lot, had so many animals that their herdsmen quarreled. To create peace, Abram let Lot choose the land he wanted for his animals, and Abram would take the leftovers; Lot chose the well-watered plain of the Jordan, and Abram got the hill country.

This turned out not to be a good choice for Lot. He and his family were carried away with the rest of the people who lived in Sodom when they revolted against King Kedorlaomer. A man escaped and reported to Abram what had happened to Lot. Abram, with only his 318 trained men, pursued King Kedorlaomer’s army. So few soldiers against such a big army. Abram divided up his men, and they routed the king and reclaimed all that had been taken, including Lot, his family, and his possessions.

Melchizedek, who was the king of Salem (peace) and also a priest, came out to meet Abram and blessed him, saying, Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And praise be to God Most High, who delivered your enemies into your hand (Genesis 14:19b–20, NIV).

Nothing is too difficult for the omnipotent Jesus.

January 7—The One Who Sees Me

Read Genesis 15–16 and Matthew 6

Have you ever had a promise from God that was slow to be fulfilled, so you tried helping God out? Sarai hatched a plan to help God fulfill His word, her servant Hagar could bear a son for her. Hagar got pregnant by Abram. Then Hagar despised Sarai. Sarai mistreated Hagar, so Hagar ran away from her.

The angel of the Lord (Jesus) found Hagar near a spring in the desert and asked her, Where have you come from, and where are you going? (Genesis 16:8, NIV). After Hagar responded, Jesus told her to go back and submit to Sarai, and He told her to name her son Ishmael which means God hears.

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: You are the God who sees me, for she said, I have now seen the One who sees me. That is why the well was called Beer Lahai Roi [the well of the Living One who sees me].

Genesis 16:13–14a (NIV)

Jesus is omnipresent and sees you in every circumstance of your life to be your shield (protector) and your great reward (Genesis 15:1). He sees you when you are giving, fasting, storing up treasures in heaven, and praying (Matthew 6). He sees you and knows your name just like He knew Hagar’s.

January 8—El-Shaddai, God Almighty

Read Genesis 17–18 and Matthew 7

Genesis 17:1 is the first time the name God Almighty, El-Shaddai, appears. What is El-Shaddai doing? He is giving new names to Abram and Sarai. He changed Abram (exalted father) to Abraham (father of many). He changed Sarai (my ruling princess) to Sarah (also my ruling princess). Notice that an h is added to each name; you can’t say h without breath going out of your mouth. The breath of God, His Spirit, is added to both of their names and both their lives. They will be fruitful, and nations and kings will come from them. El-Shaddai has established an everlasting covenant with them to be their God Almighty, and they will possess the land of Canaan. They are now earthly beings with a heavenly purpose sustained by God’s Spirit.

Jesus changed Jacob’s name to Israel (he retains God) after Jacob (supplanter) wrestled with Jesus and hung on. After that, he is called Jacob when he is being earthly and Israel when he is fulfilling God’s destiny for him.

God Almighty continues giving new names to people today. Those who overcome and whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life also receive a new name.

Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To the one who is victorious, I will give some of the hidden manna. I will also give that person a white stone with a new name written on it, known only to the one who receives it.

Revelation 2:17 (NIV)

When the Spirit comes to live within each of us, a new name is written down in glory by El-Shaddai.

January 9—Rescuer

Read Genesis 19–20 and Matthew 8

Jesus rescues the righteous (2 Peter 2:7 (NIV), He rescued Lot, a righteous man, who was distressed by the depraved conduct of the lawless). The angels grasped the hands of Lot, his wife, and the two daughters who were living at home when they hesitated and got them safely out of the city. Genesis 19:29, He brought Lot out of the catastrophe that overthrew the cities where Lot had lived.

Jesus rescued Sarah when Abimelech took her because Abraham had said that she was his sister. Jesus came to Abimelech in a dream and warned him not to have sex with her. God kept Abimelech from sinning and kept Sarah safe.

Jesus rescued Abraham from being killed because of Sarah’s beauty, and he ended up blessed with sheep and cattle, male and female servants, being free to live anywhere in the land, and 1000 shekels of silver to atone for Abimelech’s offense.

Jesus rescued Abimelech from the inability to have children when Abraham prayed for him.

In Matthew 8, Jesus rescued many from sickness by healing them. He took our infirmities and carried our diseases (Isaiah 53:4). Jesus is our rescuer.

January 10—Lamb of Burnt Offering

Read Genesis 21–22 and Matthew 9:1–17

Genesis 22:2 (NIV), God said, ‘Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.’

Early the next morning, Abraham and Isaac headed out and traveled three days to Mount Moriah. When they got there, Abraham put the wood on Isaac’s back to carry up the hill while he carried the fire and the knife. Isaac asked, Where is the lamb for the burnt offering? (verse 7), and Abraham replied, God himself will provide the lamb (verse 8).

Abraham built an altar, arranged the wood, and reached out to slay his son, but God stopped him. Do not lay a hand on the boy (verse 12). Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught in the thicket and sacrificed it instead.

What a beautiful picture of God sacrificing His only beloved Son for us. Jesus carried His wooden cross to a hill as Isaac carried the wood. Just like Isaac was symbolically dead for the three days of the journey, Jesus was in the grave for three days. The ram caught by its horns was not marred so that it could not be used as a sacrifice; God Himself provided Jesus as the sinless Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Jesus is the Lamb of Burnt Offering.

January 11—Patient, Healer

Read Genesis 23–24 and Matthew 9:18–38

Matthew 9:35 (NIV), Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness.

Jairus came to Jesus and asked Him to heal his sick daughter. Jesus agreed to go with him, but along the way, He was interrupted by a woman who had been bleeding for twelve years. She touched the hem of His cloak and was healed. Jesus turned and saw her and said, Take heart, daughter, …your faith has healed you (Matthew 9:22, NIV). Jesus was not irritated at all by the interruption.

The Luke account (Luke 8:40–54) adds that a messenger came from Jairus’ house and said to Jairus, Your daughter is dead… Don’t bother the teacher anymore (verse 49).

Jesus told Jairus, Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed (verse 50). They continued on to Jairus’ house.

Once there, Jesus sent the mourners outside and went in where the girl lay. He took her by the hand and said, My child, get up (verse 54), and she did.

Next, Jesus was stopped by two blind men who wanted to receive their sight. Jesus patiently interacted with them and told them, According to your faith let it be done to you (Matthew 9:29, NIV), and they could see. Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

January 12—Provider

Read Genesis 25–26 and Matthew 10:1–23

Rebekah asked God why her babies jostled within her. God said that there were two nations in her and that the older child (Esau—hairy) would serve the younger child (Jacob—heel grabber, deceiver). Jacob did not wait on God to provide for him.

One day Esau was famished when he came in from hunting. Jacob was cooking a red stew and offered to trade a bowl of stew for Esau’s birthright as the first son. Esau made the deal because he didn’t value his birthright. Jacob tricked his brother into giving him the birthright.

Jesus did not trick His twelve disciples as He sent them out to the lost sheep of Israel:

As you go, proclaim this message: ‘The kingdom of heaven has come near.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Matthew 10:7–8 (NIV)

Jesus provided everything they needed.

Jesus told them to go with just what they had, nothing extra. They were to stay in the home of any worthy person that asked them and bless it with their peace. They were not to worry if they got arrested, for the Spirit would tell them what to say. If they got persecuted in one town, they were to flee to another place. They would not finish going through the towns of Israel before the Son of Man came.

God provides for what He ordains; we don’t have to use trickery.

January 13—Older Brother

Read Genesis 27–28 and Matthew 10:24–42

Now that Jacob had the birthright, he also needed the blessing that goes along with it, so he disguised himself and presented himself to his father as his older brother Esau. He and his mom hatched a plan so that he would seem like Esau. He covered his hands and neck with goat skins (Esau must have been very hairy), and he put on Esau’s clothes which smelled like the great outdoors. His mom made a savory stew, and Jacob brought it to Isaac. Isaac accepted the stew from Jacob even though Isaac heard Jacob’s voice; the hairy hands convinced him that it must be Esau. Isaac enjoyed the stew. Now it is time for the blessing, and Isaac asks his son to draw near so that he can smell him; Jacob smells like the great outdoors, which is what Esau smells like, so Isaac blesses him with heaven’s dew, the earth’s riches, an abundance of grain and new wine, nations serving and bowing down to him, the responsibility of taking care of his mother and family, and a curse for those who curse him or a blessing for those who bless him. Jacob received the blessing when he came in the name of his older brother.

Jesus is our older brother, the first born in the family of believers. When we pray to the Father in His name, the Father hears and answers our prayers. Jesus said in John 15:16b (NIV), Whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. And just like the angels on Jacob’s ladder, our prayers ascend, and the answers descend.

January 14—All In

Read Genesis 29–30 and Matthew 11

Isaac and Rebekah sent Jacob to Paddan Aram to get a wife for Jacob from Rebekah’s family because the women of the area were ungodly. So Jacob went there and found beautiful Rachel watering her sheep at the well. Jacob was smitten. Jacob didn’t bring any riches or wealth with him to be able to afford the cost of the bride, so he offered to work for Laban for seven years to have the privilege of marrying Rachel. It just seemed like a few days to him because of his great love for her. After he was tricked into marrying Leah first, he worked another seven years to pay for marrying Rachel. Jacob was all in because of his great love.

Jesus left the riches of heaven behind when He came to Earth. He brought nothing with Him; all He had was His own body to give. For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16, NIV).

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV), For the joy set before him he endured the cross.

Jesus was all in when He joyously paid the ultimate sacrifice to purchase His bride, all the whoevers that believe in Him.

January 15—Lord of the Sabbath, Servant

Read Genesis 31—32 and Matthew 12:1–21

Jesus healed a man with a withered hand as He is the Lord of the Sabbath. He compared the man to a sheep that had fallen into a pit. The sheep would be rescued on the Sabbath, and in the same way, the man should be rescued. Jesus was aware that the Pharisees were plotting to kill Him because of this, so Jesus withdrew from that place (Matthew 12:15b–21).

A large crowd followed Him, and He healed all who were ill. He warned them not to tell others about Him. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah,

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom I delight;

I will put my Spirit on him,

and he will bring justice to the nations.

He will not shout or cry out,

or raise his voice in the streets.

A bruised reed he will not break,

and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

In faithfulness, he will bring forth justice;

he will not falter or be discouraged

till he establishes justice on earth.

In his teaching the islands will put their hope.

Isaiah 42:1–4 (NIV)

Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is still the Lord of the Sabbath who heals.

January 16—Son of David, Reasoner, Son of Man

Read Genesis 33–34 and Matthew 12:22–50

When the people saw that Jesus healed the blind and mute man so that he could now see and speak, they were amazed and wondered if Jesus could be the Son of David. The Pharisees attributed the healing to Beelzebul, but Jesus reasoned with them against that idea; if Satan drives out Satan, his kingdom will be divided and fall. Then He pushed them further in their thinking, If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come on you (see Matthew 12:28).

Just like a strong man has to be bound so his goods can be plundered, Satan had to be bound so the man could be healed.

People’s speech is like the fruit of trees. Good trees bring forth good fruit; bad trees bring forth bad fruit. People speak whatever is in their hearts. Jesus’ good speech brought forth life and the Pharisees’ bad fruit brought strife, which leads to death.

When the Pharisees lost the reasoning debate, they asked for a sign to prove that Jesus was the Son of David. Jesus said that just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the huge fish, so would the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. The Pharisees had to wait until the resurrection to see this sign fulfilled.

January 17—Parable Teller, the Word

Read Genesis 35–36 and Matthew 13:1–30

A parable is a simple story used to illustrate a spiritual lesson. Jesus used parables to teach the people about the kingdom of God. The disciples wanted to understand the spiritual lesson and not just hear a good story about seeds falling on different kinds of ground.

When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart. This is the seed sown along the path. The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, they quickly fall away. The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful. But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.

Matthew 13:19–23 (NIV)

Jesus is the Word. He is the message of the kingdom of heaven that is to be received by a heart ready to understand. This person will be born again and produce fruits by sharing the Word with others so that they, too, might believe.

January 18—Joseph (a Type of Jesus), Hidden Treasure, Pearl of Great Price

Read Genesis 37–38 and Matthew 13:31–58

In Genesis 37, we read that Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons and gave him an ornate robe. Joseph lost his robe when his brothers threw him in a cistern. Jesus is God’s only beloved Son who left the splendor of heaven to come to Earth.

Joseph had a dream that his brothers would bow down and worship him, and then he had a second dream in which his mother and father and all his brothers would bow down and worship him. This came to pass when Joseph was second in command to Pharaoh and saved his family from starvation.

Jesus will also be worshiped as it says in Philippians 2:9–11 (NIV),

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Just like Joseph was not honored by his brothers, Jesus was not honored as a prophet in His hometown, either (see John 1:11).

Jesus is the valuable treasure hidden in a field that must be gotten at all costs. He is also the pearl of great price, which must be bought will all one has.

January 19—Pure, Caregiver

Read Genesis 39–40 and Matthew 14:1–21

Joseph foreshadows Jesus. When Joseph was in Potiphar’s house, the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered so that Potiphar didn’t concern himself with anything under Joseph’s care. Jesus cared for the multitude of people who were with Him; they were weary, and He fed them with five barley loaves and two fish. They all ate until they were satisfied, and there were twelve basketfuls left over.

Innocent, pure Joseph was condemned and put in with the other prisoners. Instead of sinning, he fled from Potiphar’s wife. In the same way, innocent Jesus was condemned to death on the cross with two other prisoners. Jesus was pure and without sin so that He could be offered as the spotless sacrifice to take away the sin of the world.

Joseph continued to care for those in prison who were under his charge. He noticed that the cupbearer and the baker were sad. They told Joseph their dreams, and God gave him the interpretation—one would be restored to life, and the other would die. Jesus hung on the cross between two prisoners. One would enter paradise and live, and the other reviled Jesus and died.

January 20—Dream Fulfiller

Read Genesis 41–42 and Matthew 14:22–36

Pharaoh had two dreams that his wise men could not interpret. The cupbearer remembered that when he was in prison, Joseph had interpreted his dream and the baker’s dream correctly and told the Pharaoh about it. Pharaoh summoned Joseph from prison; Joseph was cleaned up and given new clothes so that he could be in the presence of the king. (God cleans us at salvation and gives us a robe of righteousness.) Joseph listened to the Pharaoh’s two dreams which represented what was to come in two different ways. The two representations emphasized that God firmly established that this event would