Let’s look at some prophecies:
Genesis 3:15
“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.”
Prophetically spoken about Jesus in the beginning. Seed of the women for reconciliation of God with man. The story of Creation. Let us make man in our own image. However, sin happened and man fell. It hurt God but he made a plan already.
Genesis 12:3
“I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
Points out to the Messiah who would be coming to save us. From the clan of Abraham, God will bless. THROUGH YOU – it will be a generation long process. God will send prophets and then the son.
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.”
Micah 5:2
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans 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.”
Isaiah and Micah were prophets a few centuries apart, the sin grew so much and also other kings started invading the people of God that there was kind of no hope all God’s people and that is the time when Isaiah and Micah prophecy.
Why prophecies?
How many of us predict the weather? Or have believed that this is what the weather would be when it is being predicted in news. Similarly, prophecies about Jesus was to give hope to mankind. There will be relief from sin, sacrifice, God’s wrath. God himself made a way and he kept giving hope to mankind that things will change. You will be shown mercy.
Even today, God gives us prophetic utterance for direction, prophecies of hope.
We know Jesus was born in Bethlehem and this Scripture tells us in advance the place Jesus would be born. This prophecy was written by Micah approximately 800 years before Christ was born.
Prophecies gives me a reason to celebrate this fulfilment
Prophecies gives me faith.
It gives me an evidence of the truth of the word of God.
We See His Humility In His Obedience To His Parents
(Luke 2:51) And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart.
subject – Greek 5293. hupotasso, hoop-ot-as’-so; from G5259 and G5021; to subordinate; reflex. to obey:–be under obedience (obedient), put under, subdue unto, (be, make) subject (to, unto), be (put) in subjection (to, under), submit self unto.
- We See His Humility In His Obedience To His Path
(Philippians 2:7-8) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: {8} And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
III. JESUS CAME AS A BABY TO MAGNIFY THE HOLINESS OF CHRIST
- He Magnified His Holiness As He Fulfilled Every Expectation Of Prophecy
(Matthew 5:17-18) Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. {18} For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.
In his book “Why the Nativity?” David Jeremiah offers the following reflections…
Just when people most needed hope, God sent spokesmen to offer a foretaste of a better future. Throughout the words and work of the prophets, there were glimmers of a savior – a king who would rescue his people and restore them to God. In fact, there were more than three hundred specific prophecies in the Hebrew scriptures about the promised “Messiah,” as they called him. … Can you see the picture that emerges? It was as if many different artists had drawn strange squiggles on paper separately – only to find that when their fragments of art were combined on a single canvas, there was a beautiful portrait of a kind we would come to know as Jesus Christ.
- He Magnified His Holiness As He Fulfilled Every Expectation Of Purity
(Matthew 3:13-15) Then cometh Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him. {14} But John forbad him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me? {15} And Jesus answering said unto him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfil all righteousness. Then he suffered him.
- JESUS CAME AS A BABY TO MAGNIFY THE HEARTACHE OF CHRIST
- There Is Heartache In The Mention Of A Sword
(Luke 2:34-35) And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this child is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; {35} (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.
- There Is Heartache In The Mention Of His Suffering
(1 Peter 3:18) For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
Again, David Jeremiah wrote…
We are bought with a price that could never have been paid without the full burden of humanity having been accepted. If he had been God only, his sacrifice would have been cheap and unconvincing. If he had been man only, his sacrifice would have had no power; he would have been a martyr like ten thousand others. But he was man and he was God, and therefore he was all in all. He came as a child to confront and conquer every challenge and every temptation common to humanity. We trust him with our lives because he was God.
- JESUS CAME AS A BABY TO MAGNIFY THE HOPE IN CHRIST
- Because Of His Human Birth, There Is The Hope Of Sympathy
(Hebrews 4:15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
- Because Of His Human Birth, There Is The Hope Of Salvation
(Luke 2:11) For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
Throughout the old Testament and New Testament Jesus is seen as a redeemer of mankind.
How these prophecies help me today?
Truth:
- We couldn’t have saved ourselves
Because it is not about flesh and blood but it is a spiritual truth.
- Gives me a new Relationship with God
- He is our Saviour
- He took all our sins upon himself so that we can receive atonement (reconciled with God)
In the olden times physically, invasion would take place but these days, emotional and psychological invasion of our minds and heart happen. Reconciliation is one thing that will give us victory over our emotions.
- The truth about his birth is that this salvation is not for us alone but for the nations.
The fact that Jesus healed people from all kinds of culture and background shows that he is a saviour for all. Book of Matthew starts with the genealogy showing that Jesus had people from all kinds of culture.
It also gives me an opportunity to witness and evangelize to all that you don’t have to suffer alone but Jesus the Saviour is out there for us.
- The truth is that it is for all kinds of humanity not only the poor but also to the rich.
The angel appearing to shepherds first. Jesus calling the fisherman to be disciples, all show case that Jesus doesn’t want the poor to be left behind. He has a heart for the rich and poor alike.
Sandra wife of Virjil .The Renewed Hope Community is situated in the heart of the city between Old and New Panvel. We can confidently share that Renewed Hope Community is a Church in Kamothe, Church in Khandeshwar, Church in Khanda Colony, Church in Karanjade, Church in Panvel, Church in New Panvel because we are centrally located and these places surround our church Venue.
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