As a parent, have you ever struggled to help your kids understand the Bible? Have the stories of Scripture ever felt disconnected? The Bible is not a collection of random stories, but if we are honest, it can sometimes feel that way. In reality, the Bible is one unified story that points to Jesus. How can we, as parents, help our kids discover this truth and find Jesus in places we might not expect—especially the Old Testament?

Each year, as a children’s pastor, I take our fifth graders on a journey through the Bible (Genesis–Revelation). Over the course of nine weeks, we examine the grand metanarrative of Scripture, discovering one simple truth: The Bible is one story all about Jesus.

This truth should shape how we disciple our kids. We must help them see the gospel message clearly throughout the pages of Scripture so that they can better understand God’s plan of salvation.

Seeing the Bigger Story

Many people, including parents, are surprised to discover that Jesus can be seen throughout the Old Testament, but God embedded signs, patterns, and promises throughout Scripture that pointed forward to the coming Messiah. As we faithfully study God’s Word and discover these truths, we must also pass them down to our children.

In literature, one tool many skilled authors use is foreshadowing. As they are crafting their story, an author always has the bigger picture in mind. As a result, they can insert subtle details throughout their work to foreshadow the climax and resolution. On a first reading, readers miss many of these details because they do not see the bigger picture or know how the story will end. On a second read, however, astute readers will pick up on those small details intentionally woven into the story.

One of my favorite examples of this practice comes from C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia. After writing The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Lewis later wrote a prequel: The Magician’s Nephew. In that story, he explained the origin of many of the key characters and objects from the rest of the series: Aslan, Professor Kirke, Queen Jadis, the lamppost, and even the wardrobe. When read in chronological order, these might feel like insignificant details, but when equipped with an understanding of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, these details mean so much more!

In many ways, the Old Testament functions like The Magician’s Nephew. When we’re equipped with an understanding of the New Testament (specifically Jesus’s life, death, and resurrection), small details God included in the Old Testament become much more significant. It becomes clear how Old Testament personalities and events foreshadowed Jesus’s own life and sacrifice.

From even before the beginning, Jesus was always God’s plan for redemption. Even as the Old Testament had meaning for its original audiences as it was being written, it was never meant to remain a standalone story. It is the foundation that points us to our Savior. Every promise, every sacrifice, and every act of deliverance was meant to reveal a faithful God whose aim was to rescue His people from the bondage of sin.

Why is it important to view the Old Testament in this manner? It helps us to avoid thinking of the Old Testament as obsolete or insignificant. Many times, the Old Testament is viewed as a list of commands from a judgmental God that are no longer relevant in today’s culture. But so much is missed with this faulty understanding. The Old Testament showcases God’s love and faithfulness. It prepared the world for the coming of our Messiah, and it is important for our kids to see the nuances and connections from Genesis to Revelation.

Finding Jesus in the Old Testament

Jesus can be seen throughout all of Scripture, including the Old Testament. Here are a few simple ways you can help your kids find Jesus in the Old Testament:

Creation: Jesus was present at creation with God and the Holy Spirit (John 1:1).

The Fall: Jesus was the promised One who would come from Adam and Eve’s family to crush the head of the serpent (Genesis 3:15).

Noah: The ark serves as a picture of salvation, saving the righteous (Noah and his family) from God’s judgment while the rest of the world perished (1 Peter 3:20–21).

Abraham: Abraham’s near sacrifice of his only son, Isaac, mirrors God’s sacrifice of His Son, Jesus. The ram God provided as a substitute for Isaac parallels Jesus’s sacrifice for each of us (Genesis 22:13).

Moses: God used Moses to deliver His people from slavery in Egypt, which points forward to Jesus delivering mankind from their slavery to sin (Exodus 3:10, Romans 6:22).

The Passover: The blood of the lamb spared God’s people from the judgment of death. Similarly, the blood of Jesus, the Lamb of God, was sufficient to save us from sin (Exodus 12:13, 1 Corinthians 5:7).

Samson: Though he wasn’t perfect, Samson chose to sacrifice his life for his people to deliver them from their enemies. Jesus’s sacrifice on the cross delivers us from the bondage of sin (Judges 16:30).

David: Jesus is the promised King who would come from the line of David and establish His kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:16, Luke 1:32–33).

This is just a small sampling of the many ways the Old Testament foreshadows Christ. As you continue to study God’s Word, help your kids discover new connections and see that the Bible is truly one story all about Him. Try it this week in your family devotion time. As you read, ask the question, “How does this story point us to Jesus?”

Teaching Your Kids to See Jesus

Helping your kids see Jesus throughout Scripture does more than grow their knowledge of the Bible; it helps shape their understanding of the gospel. They begin to see that Scripture is not merely a book of commands telling us what to do. It is the story about what God has done for us through Jesus.

Through each story you read, look for those key gospel elements and discover God’s plan to redeem mankind. Every story in the Bible gives us an opportunity to point our kids to Jesus: to remind them about the problem of sin, the gift of God’s grace, and the hope of the gospel. Start small. Even familiar stories give you the opportunity to pause and ask, “What does this story teach us about God?” and “How does this story point to Jesus?”

May the gospel continue to transform how you read and teach God’s Word to your kids each day. Guide them to see that, from beginning to end, the Bible is one beautiful story of God’s plan for redemption through His Son, Jesus.

And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself (Luke 24:27, ESV).

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Author Bio

Matt Brewer has served in children’s ministry for nearly twenty years. Matt is an alumnus of Union University and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, and he currently serves as the Children’s Pastor at FBC Martin in Tennessee. He is the founder of the Family Ministry Portal, where he equips parents and grandparents to disciple the next generation through simple rhythms of faith at home. He lives in Tennessee with his wife and three children. You can find his weekly articles at mbrewer24.substack.com.

Additional Resources:

Christ in All of Scripture | 4 Volume Set | Year-Long Bible Study		Eden to Eternity		Story of the Bible Bundle
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