One thing that jumps off the pages of Scripture at me from time to time are parallels between OT and NT texts, between different events in Jesus’ life……..
Consider an event after Jesus’ Resurrection, when he appeared to his disciples, particularly the encounter with Thomas: Jn 20:19-31-
19 Now when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, (which was Resurrection Sunday) and when the doors were shut where the disciples were together due to fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and *said to them, “Peace be to you.” 20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be to you; just as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” ……….(22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them and *said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”
24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, who was called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.”
26 Eight days later His disciples were again inside, and Thomas was with them. Jesus *came, the doors having been [f]shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be to you.” 27 Then He *said to Thomas, “Place your finger here, and see My hands; and take your hand and put it into My side; and do not continue in disbelief, but be a believer.” 28 Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus *said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you now believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.”
It reminds me of another time when Jesus was in Jerusalem, as a newborn: Luke 2:21-38
Jesus was taken by his parents to the temple there, which was just a short distance from Bethlehem, on the 8th day after his birth, the day of dedication and circumcision of the child.
21 And when eight days were completed [a]so that it was time for His circumcision, He was also given the name Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.
22 And when the days for [b]their purification according to the Law of Moses were completed, they brought Him up to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord 23 (as it is written in the Law of the Lord: “Every firstborn male that opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), 24 and to offer a sacrifice according to what has been stated in the Law of the Lord: “A pair of turtledoves or two young doves.”
25 And there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; and this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel; and the Holy Spirit was upon him. 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. 27 And he came by the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to carry out for Him the custom of the Law, 28 then Simeon took Him in his arms, and blessed God, and said,
29 “Now, Lord, You are letting Your bond-servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;
30 For my eyes have seen Your salvation,
31 Which You have prepared in the presence of all the peoples:
32 A light for revelation [f]for the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”
33 And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him. 34 And Simeon blessed them and said to His mother Mary, “Behold, this Child is appointed for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and as a sign to be opposed— 35 and a sword will pierce your own soul—to the end that thoughts from many hearts may be revealed.”
36 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in jyears and had lived with her husband for seven years after her marriage, 37 and then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She did not leave the temple grounds, serving night and day with fasts and prayers. 38 And at that very moment she came up and began giving thanks to God, and continued to speak about Him to all those who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem. Here we see:
Two Events and Two Timeframes With Several Parallels:
8 days after his birth-Jesus in Jerusalem with his parents.
8 days after his Resurrection- Jesus in Jerusalem with his followers in whom a type of rebirth for them was occurring.
Jesus was touched by Simeon who was given information through that touch by the Holy Spirit, when Simeon had not yet seen Messiah but longed to and hoped that he would.
Jesus was touched by Thomas who had not yet seen the risen Messiah and doubted because he had not yet seen and touched Jesus. The Holy Spirit revealed the truth to Thomas in that moment.
One was the ceremonial circumcision of Jesus which made him officially part of the God’s chosen Jewish people.
In the encounter with Thomas, it was Thomas’ heart that was circumcised and doubt removed. He believed and officially became part of the Kingdom of God on earth.
Jesus’ parents, in obedience to the law, made a sacrifice to God on the day of his dedication.
Jesus Christ, in obedience to God, was revealed as having given himself as a sacrifice for all humanity’s salvation.
Simeon proclaimed the peace he felt in seeing and being in the presence of the Messiah.
Christ himself proclaimed peace to all in in his presence as he is revealed as the risen Christ, Messiah.
His human Name, Jesus, was proclaimed by Simeon who knew he was Divine
His Divine Name, My Lord and My God, was proclaimed by Thomas who had thought he was merely human.
Jesus identity was confirmed to Anna, a prophetess who began telling everyone.
Jesus’ identity was confirmed to his disciples who would soon begin their ministry of proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the earth.
Two events, 33 years apart, but with distinctive similarities of time, place, revelatory purpose, and principles- Jesus’ entire life was an example to us of God’s desire to be one in unity with humankind through incarnation in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ fulfilled God’s desire for unity with all humankind through the power of Christ’s Resurrection and the gift of eternal life through the power of the Holy Spirit to give humankind unity with God.
Among believing people who are sharing in meaningful intimate fellowship for godly purposes, Christ is known. Knowing and believing in Christ is best accomplished in the context of faithful believing community where we are united in Christ.