Where’s Waldo?: How to Find Jesus in Every Bible Story

Have you ever played Where’s Waldo? In each picture, Waldo is hidden among a crowd of characters and details, and the challenge is to find him. My son loves his Star Wars look and find books where Waldo is replaced with our favorite Star Wars characters. Did you know that reading the Bible can be a bit like that? In every Bible story, Jesus is there—even if it’s not obvious at first. The Bible is one big story about God’s plan to save the world through Jesus, and every part of it points forward or back to Him.

The Big Picture of the Bible

The Bible is made up of 66 books, but they all tell one story: God’s rescue plan for humanity through Jesus. Even in the Old Testament, long before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, we can find clues and promises about Him. These are sometimes called "prophecies," "types," or "shadows" of Jesus—hints of what God was planning all along.

Some Examples:

• In Genesis, God killed an animal and made clothes for Adam and Eve after they sinned. This points to Jesus, who would one day die for us and cover our sins.

• In Exodus, Moses led God’s people out of slavery. This reminds us of Jesus, who frees us from the slavery of sin.

How to Find Jesus in Every Bible Story

1. Look for Promises of a Savior Throughout the Bible, God promises to send someone to save His people. These promises are called prophecies. For example:

• Isaiah 9:6 (NLT): “For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

• This verse, written hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth, points directly to Him.

2. Notice Big Themes Themes like forgiveness, love, and sacrifice often point to Jesus. When you read about someone sacrificing for others (like Abraham almost sacrificing Isaac), it’s a clue about Jesus, who made the ultimate sacrifice for us.

3. Find Characters Who Remind You of Jesus None of the people of the Bible are perfect examples of Jesus, but some Bible characters act as "previews" of Jesus. For example:

• Joseph: He was betrayed by his brothers, but God used his suffering to save many people. This reminds us of Jesus’ betrayal and how His suffering saves us.

• David: He was a shepherd and a king, just like Jesus, who is our Good Shepherd and the King of Kings.

4. Ask Questions When you read a Bible story, ask yourself:

• What does this story show me about God?

• How does this story point to Jesus?

• What can I learn about how much God loves me?

Activity: Find Jesus in a Bible Story Let’s practice! Read the story of Noah and the Ark (Genesis 6-9). Then, answer these questions:

1. How does the ark remind us of Jesus? (Hint: The ark saved Noah and his family from the flood, just like Jesus saves us from sin.)

2. What does this story show us about how God sees and treats sin?

3. What does this story show us about God’s love and care for His people?

Extra Challenge: Draw a picture of how you see Jesus in the story of Noah. Share it with your family and talk about what you learned.

Discussion Questions:

1. Why do you think it’s important to look for Jesus in every part of the Bible?

2. Can you think of another Bible story that reminds you of Jesus?

3. How does finding Jesus in a story help you understand God’s love better?

Call to Action:

This week, pick another Bible story (like Daniel in the lion’s den or Jonah and the big fish) and look for clues about Jesus. Use the questions and tips from this post to help you. Remember, Jesus is always there, ready to show you how much He loves you.

For more kid-friendly Bible lessons, check out Bible App for Kids.