You are probably reading this one day away from Christmas Day. How do I not write about Christmas? Christmas is a day set aside each year to celebrate not just the birth of Jesus Christ, but more importantly, the entrance of the Son of God into our world in a human body. It is not likely that Christ was actually born on December 25th, but that day was set aside long ago as the day to celebrate it. Why celebrate His birth?
At our church we looked at six Old Testament prophecies that foretold the coming of Christ. In each case there are stunning predictions that the original recipients would not have been able to understand. They date from the garden of Eden to 400 years before Christ was born. If one gives simple consideration to the extraordinary fact that these could be written so far prior to His birth, the only reasonable explanation is — God.
The first prophecy was that a descendant of Adam and Eve would deal Satan a “crushing blow” (Genesis 3:15). From this side of the cross, we can see that it happened at the cross. No longer would a person be left in condemnation and separation from God for giving in to Satan’s deceptive lure into sin. (See Romans 8:1). God promised Abraham, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 22:18, NASB). Jesus was a descendant of Abraham, and the good the world has seen from those who’ve truly followed Him is undeniable.
Another example is what God said through the prophet Micah, “But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.” (Micah 5:2). Who would predict a coming ruler born in a tiny town of obscurity, and yet who would have existed from the days of eternity? Then there’s the often cited, Isaiah 9:6-7, “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” A human leader on David’s throne, and called “Mighty God, Eternal Father” who will rule without end, who could that be? A message is also given through Jeremiah that a special king is coming, “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “When I will raise up for David a righteous Branch; And He will reign as king and act wisely And do justice and righteousness in the land.” (Jeremiah 23:5). God kept pointing through the centuries toward Christ Jesus. The message was that He would reign as King forever.
His kingdom is a spiritual kingdom right now (John 18:36), but He is coming again. What do we do with this? Is giving one another gifts the best we can do? Does it end with going to a Christmas Eve or Sunday church service? 1 John 4:14 says, “The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.” If that’s why Jesus was sent, it seems to me that investigation into what this means for each of us, should be our starting point.
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Dan Krahenbuhl is pastor of Monroe Bible Church.
