JESUS-Prophesy to Birth
Now is the time of preparation for Christmas. We ready our hearts and our lives for the celebration of the coming of Christ. We should reflect on the true meaning of Christmas. What does Christmas show us about God? Who is this Christ? Why did He need to come? Christ came for us, to fulfill God’s promises. All the Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus. What new thing will you learn about Jesus this Christmas? How will it impact your life? Or someone else’s?
“It had taken centuries for God’s promises to be ready, but now the time had almost come for the best part of God’s plan.”
“God himself was going to come. Not to punish his people – but to rescue them.”
“God was getting ready to wipe away every tear from every eye.”
“And the true party was just about to begin…”
~The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally-Lloyd-Jones (Page 173)
From the beginning of time, all of those centuries ago, God promised that He would send His Son to be our Savior, to wipe away our tears and to love us, if we will commit our lives to Him.
Prophesy to Birth
The first prophecy is found in Genesis, just after the first sin.
Genesis 3:15 (NIV)
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers;
He will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Then the Old Testament Prophets also tell of the coming of the Savior Jesus Christ. This passage
gives us some names for Him and how He will rule forever.
Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)
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.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
In Micah, God tells us from what tribe and line Jesus will come from and where He will be born.
Micah 5:2 (NIV)
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans[a] 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.”
The next verse in Isaiah, tells us how God will send his Son.
Isaiah 7:14 (NIV)
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
“Everything was ready. The moment God had been waiting for was here at last! God was coming to help his people, just as he promised in the beginning.”
“But how would he come? What would he be like? What would he do?”
“Mountains would have bowed down. Seas would have roared. Trees would have clapped their hands. But the earth held its breath. As silent as snow falling, he came in. And when no one was looking, in the darkness, he came.”
~The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally-Lloyd-Jones (Page 174)
Now in Matthew, the Bible shows us how the prophesies have come true.
Matthew 1:21-22 (NIV)
She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
God demonstrates to us how he had planned a Savior for us all the way back in Genesis. And He goes on to tell us about His plan for Salvation all the way through Scripture, especially through the prophets.
Most importantly, “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5: 8 Jesus not only came to earth as man, but then He died to save us. He gave us the greatest gift of all.
Take time this season to Thank God for sending His Son so that we have a way to eternal life with Him.
2 Corinthians 9:15
Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!
And read the whole Christmas story in Luke 2!
