Seeing Jesus in the Old Testament - The Door

In the beginning, God created a perfect world. A world without sin. A world without crying and pain. A world without suffering. A world without death. However, sin entered the world through Adam and Eve as they rejected what God had for them, thus corrupting God’s perfect world.

The punishment and consequence of sin is death (Rom. 6:23). People would continue to sin and seek their own pleasure while perverting the world that God had created. During the earlier years, the fallen angels (Nephilim) were on the earth and they would take human women as their wives, having children with them. The world became a wicked place.

Genesis 6:5-8 says:

“The Lord saw how great the wickedness of the human race had become on the earth, and that every inclination of the thoughts of the human heart was only evil all the time. The Lord regretted that he had made human beings on the earth, and his heart was deeply troubled. So the Lord said, ‘I will wipe from the face of the earth the human race I have created—and with them the animals, the birds and the creatures that move along the ground—for I regret that I have made them.’ But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord.”

The world became so wicked that it saddened God. What He intended as perfection was perverted and full of sin everywhere. However, one man, Noah, found favour with the Lord.

Genesis 6:9 says:

God decided that He would wipe the whole earth out with a flood, killing every living thing. God instructed Noah to build an ark, making sure to build a door on the side. This ark and door would save him and his family. They were also instructed to bring animals on board.

Noah did as God commanded. People would mock him and call him crazy, but he remained faithful. When the flood was on the way, Noah, his family, and the animals were all aboard the ark and God shut the door. The water began to consume the earth and all who were protected by the door were saved, while those outside the door perished. God gave new life to those protected by the door.

Fast forward thousands of years later and the world is once again full of wickedness. During the time of Noah, God promised He would not flood the earth again, so there needed to be a better solution. In response to the sin, wickedness and hopelessness on earth, God sent His Son, Jesus (John 3:16), to be a sacrifice for the world. He sent Jesus to deal with the sin problem once and for all.

Romans 3:23 says:

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Jesus would live a sinless life, sacrificing Himself on the cross, taking upon the sin of the world. He would pay the price and penalty of sin for everyone. During the time of Noah, the only way to be saved was through the door of the ark. Today, the only way to be saved is through Jesus.

John 10:9 says:

“I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved.” (ESV)

Jesus is the door.

Let’s look at some striking parallels between Noah and Jesus.

The world was full of sin and God provided new life and redemption through one man, Noah. Today, our world is still full of sin and God provides new life and redemption through one man, Jesus.

God gave a warning and saved Noah and his family through the ark. God gives us a warning and we can be saved through Jesus. God’s desire is for us to listen to His warning and instruction.

The people mocked and scoffed at Noah as he was building the ark. The people mocked and scoffed at Jesus as He was building God’s Kingdom and sacrificing Himself on the cross.

God made a covenant with Noah that He would never flood the earth again and that he and his family would be saved. God made a covenant with Himself and with us that through His Son, Jesus, we will be saved.

Noah was a light in a dark world, while Jesus Himself is the light of the world (John 8:12).

Noah released a dove from the ark after the flood. It first returned with an olive branch and then seven days later, when sent out again, it did not return. The dove represents peace, calmness, new beginnings, and new creation. When Jesus came up from the water after being baptized, a dove fell on Him, signifying peace between human beings and a sign of the new creation and new life to come.

There are so many amazing parallels between the times of Noah and Jesus. (There’s even more than listed here. Check out the significance of 40 days!) But the most amazing thing from this connection with Noah is that Jesus is the answer to the problem of sin.

Just like during the times of Noah, it saddens God to see the way His perfect world has been corrupted. However, just as He provided a door to save Noah and his family, He provides us with a door (Jesus) so that we can be saved. A beautiful act of God’s love and faithfulness. He has given us hope. He has given us a chance to be saved. Judgment is coming. Just like God judged the world during the time of Noah, He will judge it again.

The choice is ours. We will be protected by the door or will we perish?

Romans 6:23

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 10:9

“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

John 14:6

“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’”

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