Monday, December 21, 2009

Christmas Prophecy

Each Christmas I like to read the Gospel stories of the birth of Jesus. After all, Jesus' birthday is the reason we celebrate. It's great to read the story from the Bible....how the angels appeared...how the wise men journeyed to see the new King. I cherish these scriptures.

Last week I was sitting in my living room and decided to read from The Nativity Story book. This book was published after the movie with the same name came out. It has pictures from the move in the book. I've had the book for a while, but haven't really read it. After I picked it up and started to read, I realized that the verses I was reading was not from the Gospels. Actually, they weren't even from the New Testament. The verses talking about the birth and life of Jesus were from the Old Testament, and written hundreds of years before His birth. Now, I've known about these prophecies, but I just never thought about reading them during Christmas. But since I started reading them, I can't think of anything else. I'm amazed at what God had people write hundreds of years ago. Here's a few examples:

  • Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
  • Jeremiah 23:5-6 "For the time is coming", says the Lord, "when I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David's line. He will be a King who rules with wisdom. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. And this will be his name: The Lord is Our Righteousness. In that day Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety."
  • Numbers 24: 17,19 I see him, but not here and now. I perceive him, but far in the distant future. A star will rise from Jacob; a scepter will emerge from Israel...A ruler will rise in Jacob.
  • Isaiah 49:6-7 I will make you a light to the Gentiles, and you will bring my salvation to the ends of the earth...Kings will stand at attention when you pass by. Princes will also bow low because of the Lord, the faithful one, the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.
  • Isaiah 11:1-2 Out of the stump of David's family will grow a shoot- yes, a new branch bearing fruity from the old root. And the Spirit of the Lord will rest on Him- the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
  • Isaiah 11:10 In that day the heir to David's throne will be a banner of salvation to all the world. The nations will rally to Him, and the land where He lives will be a glorious place.
  • Isaiah 16:5 God will establish one of David's descendants as king. He will rule with mercy and truth. He will always do what is just and be eager to do what is right.
  • Micah 5:2-3 You, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, are only a small village amount all the people of Judah. Yet, a ruler of Israel will come from you, one whose origin is from a distant past.
  • Isaiah 9:6-7 For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on His shoulders. And He will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. His government and its peace will never end. He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David for all eternity.

These verses are amazing to me. I read one time that the likelihood of one person fulfilling all the prophecies of the Old Testament regarding the Savior was about like taking a blindfolded person, putting them in the state of Texas covered with quarters on the ground, and asking that person to find the one quarter on the ground with a red mark on it. It would be impossible....yet...and yet....JESUS fulfilled all the prophecies of the Old Testament.

I hope you read Matthew's account, and maybe Luke's account, of the birth of Jesus this Christmas. And if you get a chance, check out The Nativity Story on DVD. I know that will bless your socks off. But if you want to really, really be blessed, check out the prophecies of the Old Testament. I plan on being like Mary when it says in Luke 2:19, "Mary kept all these things in her heart."

Blessings to you all on Christmas, and in the coming New Year. May His love reign in your hearts and in your lives, and may others see Him in you!