Where was Jesus before the events of the New Testament? For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son..


I only thought about this when recently explaining the difference between Old and New Testament to somebody.


Did the Son of God appear in the OT? Was his name Jesus?
Was Jesus present in Heaven (or at God's side) before he appeared on earth? Did God "send" his son to earth or was Jesus "created" on earth for the first time?


I can list many more, but limiting it to these two, I hope my question is clear.
It seems that the Second Person of the Trinity took on the name of Jesus when He entered into creation and was born of Mary.  Prior to this, He was with the Father and the Spirit.

When Jesus prays in John 17, He mentions the glory He had with the Father before the world began.


  And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with
  you before the world began.  John 17:5 NIV


Jesus, God the Son, certainly may have been the One who appeared in the Old Testament from time to time, walking in the garden with Adam and Eve, speaking to Abraham about the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, the fourth Man in the fire with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, perhaps Melchizedek, the "angel" who wrestled with Jacob, etc.  However, He was not called Jesus until He was born into the world.

The receiving of the name "Jesus" identified the purpose for which God the Son entered into creation.  "Jesus" or "Yeshua" literally means "The Lord Saves".  So, Jesus was called "The Lord Saves", because He (the Lord) would, in fact, save His people from their sins.


  She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will
  save his people from their sins.”  Matthew 1:21 ESV