This truly is a wonderful time of the year. In many ways, there is a greater focus on Christ’s first advent. The very word “advent” means “coming.” He came the first time as a little baby born under very humble circumstances. He is going to come again as a conquering King.
The advent season begins the first Sunday after Thanksgiving and concludes Christmas eve. Christ’s first advent was the fulfillment of a long series of specific prophecies. The first was given by God Himself in Genesis 3:15 — “And it will put enmity between you (Satan) and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed (Jesus); He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (NKJV)
The Israelites embraced the idea that the promised Messiah would be similar to Moses, based on what was recorded in Deuteronomy 18:18. Here we have the LORD stating —
“I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and (I) will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him.” (NKJV)
God established a special covenant with Abraham. This covenant made it clear that his descendants, the nation of Israel, would have a special relationship with God and that through them all the families of the earth would be blessed. Genesis 12:1-3, “Now the LORD had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation: I will bless you and make your name great, and you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you and I will curse him who curses you, and in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
I hope as you read that covenant that you will see why Satan has tried again and again to annihilate the Jewish people and ultimately Christ, personally. He wanted to keep the promise from being fulfilled.
Another fascinating prophecy was given by Jacob when he declared the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. In Genesis 49:10 we read “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to Him shall be the obedience of the people.”
To David, God promised that in the fullness of time, (God’s time) one of his descendants would reign on his throne forever. (2 Samuel 7:12-16 NKJV)
“When your days are fulfilled and you rest with your fathers, I will set up your seed after you, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for My name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men. But My mercy shall not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I removed from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be established forever before you. Your throne shall be established forever.”
Isaiah predicted that Messiah would be born of a virgin. (Isaiah 7:14 NKJV) “Therefore the LORD HIMSELF will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
Folks, that prophesy was made 700 years before Jesus appeared. Mary, His mother was a virgin and she was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit.
The prophet Micah predicted over 500 years before the Savior was born, that He would be born in Bethlehem. (Micah 5:2 NKJV) “But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of you shall come forth to Me, the One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”
Let’s string these prophecies together and see what we have…
The Messiah would be born of a woman – thus He would be one of us, He would be human.
He would be Jewish, from the tribe of David.
He would be in the lineage of David.
His mother would be a virgin and He would be born in the town of Bethlehem.
Conclusion – these prophecies declare that Jesus Christ alone is the fulfillment of the promise that one would be sent by God to be our Savior.
I hope you are as blessed as I am in reviewing these promises and knowing they have been fulfilled by only one Person – Jesus Christ.
Have you welcomed Him into your life?
Are you honoring Him with your life?
Welcome to Advent,
Pastor Leonard
