Great info guys, thanks! The above statement I have heard before but can't recall seeing it in either the OT or NT, can you or anyone link me to that please?
I do not believe I have seen this fully answered yet but I have not read the entire thread. The oldest 'prophecy' concerning the sacrifice of God's only begotten Son is to be found in Genesis 22.
In this chapter God prompts Abraham to sacrifice his only son Isaac. In the story, as Abraham and Isaac are walking up Mount Moriah (ordained of the Lord---anointed, set apart, christened), Isaac asks his father: "Where is the lamb for the offering?" Abraham responds: "God will provide Himself a lamb for the offering". Abraham proceeds to bind up his son and prepares to slay him, a voice then comes from heaven and says: "Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me." Then the voice continues: "By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son"... "in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice."
So in return for Abraham's faith in that little Voice in his head, God, through Abrahams seed which would become the nation of Israel, gave up His only son in order to bless the inhabitants of the world with redemption and eternal life.
Quite a powerful prophetic "type", especially when you begin to look at the rites and rituals of the ancient Hebrews you will find many that represent a sort or foreshadowing of the Messiahs life and sacrifice. Remember also Christ was ultimately given over to be slain by those who claimed to be (and ultimately were) God's representatives. They rejected Christ just as Abraham was fully prepared to reject his own son.
Interesting stuff to which the depths seem to be unfathomable.