One might ponder what Nephi (and/or Mormon) had in mind when he recorded that "Jesus … expounded all the scriptures in one which they had written (3 Nephi 23:14).
Almon Fackrell notes that the Lord has used parallels, comparisons, types or examples, throughout the scriptures, to help distinguish between truths and falsehoods, to choose between good and evil, and especially to identify the Messiah, His prophets, and His people the Saints. The more we parallel our lives with the life of the Son of God, with the lives of the prophets, or with the lives of the successful Saints, the better off we will be in the hereafter.
These parallels give evidence to the age-old theory that “history repeats itself” and the old saying, “There is nothing new under the sun,” which is a paraphrase of Ecclesiastes 1:9-10.
Some of the most obvious examples of these types or parallels pertain to the Messiah:
a. Abel’s sacrificial offerings were the “firstlings” of his flock. (see Genesis 4:4).
God’s sacrificial offering was his “firstborn” Son. (see Romans 8:29 & Colossians 1:15).
b. Abraham’s offering was a “lamb.” (see Genesis 22:8)
Jesus is called the “Lamb” of God. (see John 1:36)
c. Moses’ sacrificial lamb was a male without blemish. (see Exodus 12:5)
God’s sacrificial lamb was a male without blemish. (see 1 Peter 1:19)
d. Manna was the bread of life for the Israelites in the wilderness. (see Exodus 16:15)
Jesus is the bread of life for Christians. (see John 6:35)
e. The rock in the wilderness provided water for the Israelites. (see Exodus 17:6)
Jesus is the rock which provides living water for Christians. (see 1 Corinthians 10:4)
f. There would come a prophet like unto Moses. (see Deuteronomy 18:15)
Jesus was that prophet like unto Moses. (see Acts 7:37).
Almon Fackrell, Parallels of Moses, Jesus, and Joseph Smith, pp. 17-19]
Note* To more fully understand these types and parallels which appear in cycles over and over through the history of the earth, the reader might refer back to the words of Nephi at the conceptual chiastic center of his book of First Nephi. These thoughts would chiastically be the most important concepts in all of First Nephi and they are as follows:
For He is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever; and the way is prepared for all men from the foundation of the world, if it so be that they repent and come unto him.
For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost, as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round. (1 Nephi 10:18-19)
[Alan C. Miner, Personal Notes]