The concept of Jesus being mentioned in the Old Testament is a matter of theological interpretation. Christians believe that many passages in the Old Testament foreshadow and point to Jesus, but these are not explicit mentions of him by name. They are often referred to as prophecies or typological connections.
Here's a breakdown of why the question is complex and where some commonly cited passages are:
* No Direct Mention by Name: The name "Jesus" is the Greek form of the Hebrew name "Joshua," meaning "God saves." It wasn't used in the Old Testament in the same way it is in the New Testament. The Old Testament was written primarily in Hebrew, and the New Testament primarily in Greek.
* Prophetic Interpretation: Christians interpret certain Old Testament passages as prophecies about the coming Messiah, whom they believe to be Jesus. These passages often describe a figure who will be a king, a savior, and a suffering servant.
* Typological Connections: Some Old Testament figures or events are seen as "types" or foreshadowings of Jesus. For example, the sacrifice of Isaac is seen as a foreshadowing of God's sacrifice of Jesus.
Commonly Cited Passages Considered to Point to Jesus:
* Genesis 3:15 (The Protoevangelium): This verse is often called the "first gospel" or the "first promise of redemption." It speaks of the "seed of the woman" crushing the head of the serpent (representing evil). Christians interpret this as a prophecy that a descendant of Eve (ultimately Jesus) will defeat Satan.
* Isaiah 7:14: "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." This is often interpreted as a prophecy of the virgin birth of Jesus.
* Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." This describes a future king with divine attributes.
* Isaiah 53: This entire chapter describes a "suffering servant" who is afflicted and bears the sins of others. Christians believe this is a prophecy of Jesus' suffering and death on the cross.
* Psalm 22: This psalm begins with the words "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" which Jesus quoted on the cross. The psalm also contains other details that seem to parallel Jesus' crucifixion.
* Micah 5:2: "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This prophecy specifies that the Messiah will be born in Bethlehem.
Conclusion:
There is no single "first" mention of Jesus in the Old Testament that is universally agreed upon. The interpretation of these passages as prophecies of Jesus is a matter of faith and theological perspective. Genesis 3:15 is often considered a very early hint of a future redeemer, but it is open to interpretation. The New Testament authors frequently cite and interpret Old Testament passages to demonstrate that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies about the Messiah.