Christmas Prophecies
The prophecies regarding Jesus Christ’s birth, life, death, burial, resurrection, and coming again are remarkable beyond words. Nothing validates the accuracy and divine inspiration of Scripture like the fulfillment of Prophecies given hundreds of years before their fulfillment.
Because Christmas is approaching, I will focus my remarks on some of the prophecies regarding Christ’s birth and how they validate his claim to deity
Genesis 49:10 prophesies the timing of the Messiah’s birth. This is the first prophecy in the Bible regarding Christ, uttered from the feeble lips of Jacob himself before he breathed his last breath. He uttered them to his son Judah; “The scepter (monarchy) shall not depart from Judah . . . until Shiloh comes, and to Him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”
The term “Shiloh” is a Messianic title, and the term “scepter” refers to the nation’s judicial power. As long as Israel was in its land, it was allowed to have its own judges. But when Christ returns to Jerusalem, he alone will be judge, jury, and executioner. No roundtable discussions will occur when Christ the King returns to set up his kingdom. The nation and nations will do as he says.
The Place of the Messiah’s birth had also been precisely prophesied five hundred years earlier by 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” (Micah 5:2).
Have you ever wondered what the term ” Ephrathah” means in this passage? It is a geographical designation that indicates precisely which Bethlehem is being identified. It’s like differentiating between Springfield, Missouri, and Springfield, Illinois.
The point is that there was another Bethlehem in the land of Israel in the area to the north, near the Sea of Galilee. It had been allotted to the tribe of Zebulun.
By specifying the area of Ephrathah, Micah’s prophecy made it clear that the Bethlehem in which the Messiah was to be born would be in the south of Israel, near Jerusalem.
In fulfillment of this very precise prophecy, Matthew tells us that “Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea” (Matthew 2:1).
The Nature of the Birth It had also been prophesied that the special child born in Bethlehem would be both human and divine.
Daniel emphasized the Messiah’s humanity by referring to Him as “the Son of Man” (Daniel 7:13).
Isaiah stressed His divinity when He said that the Messiah would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
Isaiah prophesied that he would be given a name signifying His divinity. He will be called “Immanuel,” which means “God with us” (Isaiah 7:14)
Six hundred years later, the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her that she would be the mother of the Messiah. He specified that she was to name the baby Jesus, which in Hebrew means “God’s Salvation” (Matthew 1:21, Luke 1:31).
The birth of the Messiah was celebrated in remarkable prophetic hymns. Mary prophesied in a song of rejoicing that the child she had conceived was evidence that God’s “mercy is upon generation after generation.” She went on to prophesy that He would “scatter the proud,” “bring down rulers,” “exalt the humble,” and “fill the hungry” (Luke 1:50-53).
Her relative, the priest Zacharias, also sang a prophetic song of celebration when his son, John the Baptist, was born. Referring to the baby in Mary’s womb, he proclaimed that God “has raised up a horn of salvation for us. ” He then declared that his own son would be called “the prophet of the Highest.” He prophesied that his son would “go before the Lord to prepare His ways.” He concluded his song with one of the most beautiful poetic prophecies concerning the Messiah that can be found anywhere in Scripture: “Because of the tender mercy of our God . . . the Sunrise from on high shall visit us, to shine upon those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace” (Luke 1:69, 76-79).
The next prophetic song of celebration was sung on the night of the Messiah’s birth when an angel appeared to the shepherds of Bethlehem and proclaimed: “Behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord.” That angel was suddenly joined by a multitude of angels who sang a triumphant chorus: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased” (Luke 2:10-14).
The final prophetic song related to the Messiah’s birth was sung by a “righteous and devout” man of Jerusalem by the name of Simeon. The Holy Spirit had come upon him and revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Messiah. He was given that glorious privilege forty days after the Messiah’s birth when the parents of Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem to dedicate their baby to God. Simeon took the Christ child in his arms, thanked the Lord, and then sang: “My eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared in the presence of all peoples — a light of revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).
The Significance of all these Prophecies is their fulfillment. They are proof positive that Jesus of Nazareth is all he claimed to be, the Messiah of God. No exaggeration here. (Mark 14:62 and Luke 22:70).
God’s faithfulness in fulfilling each of these prophecies in detail is our assurance that He will likewise fulfill all the future prophecies He has given to Christians regarding His return. Our God knows the future and has the foreknowledge to proclaim it. He also has the power to see that it will come to pass. Despite the turmoil we see swerving around us, let us rest easy in his promises that the best is yet to be. (Isaiah 46: 10-11).
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that He should strike the nations with it. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written:
KING OF KINGS AND
LORD OF LORDS.
(Revelation 19:15-16).
Have a Blessed Christmas
Dr, Robert Bryant