Good morning. The Old Testament contains many prophecies regarding the Messiah of God. The Messiah is central to God’s plan for the salvation of all people who will humbly return to Him, and the Messiah was always at the heart of God’s plan for redeeming sinful mankind. There are many details within the prophecies that tell us about the Messiah, many regarding His birth. I think it is important for Christian people to be aware of these prophecies and to recognize that Jesus Christ, who grew up in the Galilean community of Nazareth, the supposed son of a carpenter named Joseph, completely fulfills every prophecy in every detail. The following listing is of some of the prophecies that specifically tell us about His coming and His birth. The truth is given, followed by the OT reference and the NT fulfillment:
Messiah would be born of a woman, which is to say that He will be of flesh and blood. OT reference Genesis 3:15 – NT fulfillment: Matthew 1:20; Galatians 4:4
Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2- Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-6
Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 – Matthew 1:22-23; Luke 1:26-31
Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3; Genesis 22:18 – Matthew 1:1; Romans 9:5
Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19; Genesis 21:12 – Luke 3:34
Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2
Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 – Luke 3:33; Hebrews 7:14
Messiah would be heir to King David’s throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13; Isaiah 9:7 – Luke 1:32-33; Romans 1:3
Messiah’s throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7; Daniel 2:44; Isaiah 9:6-7 – Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12
Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 – Matthew 1:23
Messiah would spend time in Egypt after His birth. Hosea 11:1 – Matthew 2:14-15
A massacre of children would happen at Messiah’s birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 – Matthew 2:16-18
In particular I would like to focus on the prophecy of Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
Immanuel – which means God is with us. Think of that for a moment, God is with us. The promise is not that God will leave His throne in glory and pay mankind a brief visit. The promise is that God will come to us, be one with us, that God will put on flesh, the eternal will for a time accept the form of mortality. God will feel our joy and will feel our pain. God will know our desires and will feel the pull of temptation. God will know hunger and thirst, and God will know the joy of a hug from a loved one or friend.
God will weep and God will laugh. God will grow up and have whiskers. God will feel tired and need sleep. God will know what it feels like to have outgrown His shoes. God will walk with sore feet and God will smell the sweet scent of Spring.
God will suffer and God will die. God will suffer the indignity of a death that was never his design for the people of His love. God will die, and be buried in a tomb, and on the 3rd day God will arise in victory over the grave.
But all of this begins with God being born. Within a virgin young woman, the Holy Spirit causes her to conceive. Within that young woman God will grow, His cells dividing to multiply. When the time was right God was born, and He was laid in a manger where animals were feeding only minutes before. But God has come to us, He is with us!
Immanuel!
Praise God throughout this season of joy!
Vern