(December 21, 2024)
The first prophesy about Jesus is found in Genesis 3:15. Not many in the church pay any attention.
“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.” (Genesis 3:15)
Genesis 3:15 is the first Gospel spoken. It is the “Protoevangelium” or “First Gospel.” It is the first time the coming of the Messiah was spoken about in the Bible. For God so loved the world He gave His one and only son. If Jesus never came into the world, then He would not have been here to die on the Cross of our sin.
The birth of Jesus was not just any birth. It was prophesized in Genesis and spoken about throughout the Old Testament.
· Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
· Micah 5:2 “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.”
· Isaiah 9:6-7 “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
· Jeremiah 23:5-6 “Behold, the days are coming, says the Lord, that I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; a King shall reign and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth. In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell safely; now this is His name by which He will be called: THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.”
· Psalm 2:7: “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father.'”
Significance: This verse is often seen as a reference to the Messiah’s divine sonship, which Christians believe is fulfilled in Jesus.
These passages collectively paint a picture of the coming Messiah, His miraculous birth, divine nature, and eternal reign. They show how the promise of a Savior was woven into the fabric of Old Testament prophecy, culminating in the birth of Jesus as described in the New Testament.
I have always loved Christmas. As a child and into adulthood I have found Christmas as my favorite holiday. I realize Christmas would have no meaning if Christ had not died on the Cross been buried in the grave and resurrected on the third day. I do not just thank God for His sacrifice, coming to live among us and dying on the cross for our sin. It is not just on a Sunday morning I recognize what Christ has done for me, it is a 24-7 lifestyle.