The Birth of Christ
The promise goes way back to Abraham
Some people know these verses by heart, but if you don’t, or don’t remember them exactly, I’ll number them and put the links at the bottom so you can look them up.
Merry Christmas!
The story began about 4000 years ago, when God called Abraham, and told him he would not only become the father of a great nation, but that all nations (ethnicities) would be blessed through him. (1)
At the time, Abraham and Sarah were childless and too old to have children, so it was a miracle when Isaac was born.
About 500 years later, God called Moses, and through a series of miracles, Moses led the children of Abraham out of slavery in Egypt, and into the promised land. Moses was a great prophet, and God said that one day he would raise up another prophet like him. (2)
Some 800 years later, another prophet, Isaiah, said a virgin in the line of David would bear a son, and call his name Immanuel. (3) (God with us)
Isaiah also prophesied that this son would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace”. (4) – on the throne of David. (This is figurative – David had already died when Isaiah made this prophecy – but it’s a prediction that a descendant of David would re-establish the kingdom – Jesus explained that his kingdom is “not of this world – it is in the hearts of men.”)
Finally, after about 700 years more, Jesus was born to the virgin Mary. (5)
The birth of Jesus by a virgin was not only the fulfillment of prophecy; when combined with his resurrection from the dead and ascension into heaven these are the foundational miracles that the Christian Faith is built on. To be a Christian, a follower of Jesus, means you believe these miracles.
The apostle Paul said there were over 500 eye witnesses who saw Christ after he raised from the dead, during about 40 days, until the apostles saw him rise up in the clouds to sit at God’s right hand in heaven. Miracle upon miracle upon miracle!
I’ll close with that passage, for in it, Paul also defined the gospel, which means Good News:
“Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, (another name for Peter) then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.”
1. Genesis 12:2-3
2. Deuteronomy 18:15
3. Isaiah 7:14
4. Isaiah 9:6-7
5. Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 1:26-37, John 1:14