Christmas Series 2024: The Wonder of Christmas
Video transition: The Wonder of Christmas – the wonder is Jesus!
Sermon title 1 – “Wonder of prophecies and promises!”
Thesis: The prophecies Jesus fulfilled to keep the promise of the Father should make us Wonder this time of the year.
Introduction:
What makes you “wonder” at this time of the year? Maybe another way to say this is what “Amaze’s” you at Christmas? Let me say another way, what makes you stop and say “Wow!”
• Is it the Christmas Lights?
• Is it the time you spend decorating the house?
o Share your experience of the last two days!
• Is it the amount of money you spend?
• Is it the crazy Christmas shoppers?
• Is it the Christmas movies?
• Is it Christmas travel?
• Is it a Christmas vacation somewhere exotic?
• Is it the family get together?
• Is it the work Christmas parties?
• Is it the crazy Christmas schedule?
• Is it the Christmas events?
• Is it the snow?
• Is it the generosity of others at Christmas of lack of?
• Is it the cheerful Christmas attitude or the Scrooge attitude of some this time of the year?
What amazes you – What makes you wonder – What makes you stop and say “Wow!”
Let me share what makes me wonder – to make me scratch my head and go “Really!”
Note: The following illustrations below are from sermoncentral.com by Joe La Rue and some of my own research:
Have you ever heard the predictions of the so-called psychics for every new year? If you follow these predictions, you discover how often they are wrong! Usually, the predictions start coming out this time of the year for the New Year!
Jon La Rue tells us to consider a psychics’ predictions made for 2007: Trust me It will make you “Wonder about these future predictors!”
Television psychic Sylvia Brown, who appears regularly on the Montel Williams show said on December 27, 2006, airing of Montel the following: Sylvia made her predictions for 2007. They were all wrong by way. Yes, every one of them. For instance, Ms. Brown predicted that a tsunami would cause flooding in the United States in 2007. No such flooding occurred. She suggested that a tsunami would hit New York City. It didn’t. She said that there would be a major volcanic eruption in Mexico. There wasn’t. She said that she worried about some type of terrorist attack involving trucks and trains in the United States. None occurred. All told, Sylvia Brown made 13 concrete predictions for 2007 on the show on December 27, 2006 episode of Montel, none of which came true. Yet she is regarded as an accurate psychic. (http://www.progressiveu.org/192215-alleged-psychic-sylvia-brownes-2007-predictions-success-rate (last visited Feb 25, 2008).
Now that makes me “Wonder and scratch my head!”
What are some current psychic predictions? In December of 2022 – there were many 2023 Psychic Predictions: Here’s what’s was suppose to have happened this year of 2023 – the following from 2023 Psychic Predictions: Here’s what’s coming this year (kasamba.com) by a pronounced 4th generation psychic “starseedsandra” a famous celebrity psychic!
1. LIKE DOMINOS THEY WILL FALL: When I talk about dominos falling I am talking about the 1% percent of the World that holds power over the rest of us 99%. They will fall in 2023 is her prediction. Has not happened!
2. Earthquakes, Volcano and Tsunamis: I am predicting a lot more Earthquakes this year than last. I feel as though they will be in more isolated places and also where the 1% percent, (the Elite) have secret houses and bunkers. The Tsunamis will take place on the Caribbean Islands and Indonesia. A volcano will erupt in New Zealand. Nothing yet!
3. THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY WILL COLLAPSE: While many of us have been speaking out about what really goes on in Hollywood for many many years, WE are finally seeing the Huge Awakening of Humanity of the evil of this industry. We will see a huge downfall in the making of Hollywood movies due to budgets. There will be no 40-50 million paychecks for Actors and Actresses, Pop Stars, Reality Stars. 2023 is the year of The GREAT AWAKENING. Has not fallen but has taken backlash!
4. ALL UFO SECRET INFORMATION WILL BE RELEASED AND WE WILL KNOW THE TRUTH: Report of a “flying saucer” over U.S. airspace in 1947 – we will learn the truths from the Project Blue Book, which launched in 1952. Area 51 will be revealed – this is the name of the highly classified United States Air Facility in Nevada. Nothing has been released!
5. UFOS AND ETS WILL REVEAL THEMSELVES TO US: From the Time I was a little girl I have seen UFOS and ETS. As well as this, I communicate with them and receive regular uploads from them. Those extremely weird clouds that you are seeing in the sky, (when did clouds ever look like that) don’t you ever wonder and think, clouds never looked like that. That’s because they are UFOS. They are Cloaked Mother Ships and they are here to reveal themselves to us. They have come for the Great Awakening, The Great Dawn. Humanity is far too advanced now and we know they are among us and are no longer scared. For a very long time they have been sent to help but were in hiding as Humans were not ready for the reveal but that time is over and it’s time for DISCLOSURE!
6. THE AI WORLD WILL BE BIGGER THAN EVER: The first AI Chip that will be implanted in the human brain and linked to a computer. Correct. This chip will monitor and potentially stimulate brain activity. The chip Neuralink is developing is about the size of a coin, and would be surgically inserted into the brain using robotics by neurosurgeons.
7. FOOD SHORTAGES, MUCH OF THE PLANET TURNING TO VEGAN/VEGETARIAN DIET: Extreme weather will hurt harvests and devastate certain crops. The end result is food shortages, with more on the horizon. With the rise of food in some countries more than double many will turn to Vegan/Vegetarian Diets.
8. THE NEW POPE: A new Pope shall arrive that will judge the Roman Church, he will expose the church and all the ones involved in crimes. There will be a huge scandal and no one will see the Vatican but for IT REALLY IS.
9. BE READY FOR THE NEW GOLDEN AGE! Its here! If you are not familiar with the Golden Age let me explain! A golden age is a period considered the apotheosis in the history of a country or people, a time period when the greatest achievements were made. The term originated in ancient times when early Greek and Roman poets used the term when mankind was living in pure and better times and those times are here! Not just for Humans but for Animals, The whole ecosystem will now be able to repair and thrive again! Mother GAIA will reward us with new species of plants, bugs and rich soil. It has taken much time Dear Warriors and Starseeds but we have succeeded in our mission! AHO!
a. As we are entering into the last month of 2023, we see that the majority of her predictions did not come to pass. Hard to miss saying more natural disasters!
Are you “Wondering “yet from this psychic’s predictions – are you wondering about her sanity? Are you awed she is a highly sought after celebrity physic?
Let’s be in wonder a little more – who is with me? - another famous psychic: “Of course, the best-known psychic-predictor of modern times was Jean Dixon. She rose to fame by predicting in 1956 that the winner of the 1960 presidential contest would die in office, and when President Kennedy was assassinated, her popularity was assured. Of course, what was overlooked was the fact that she had also predicted that Richard Nixon would win the presidency in 1960, not JFK. Undaunted, Ms. Dixon convinced herself and the rest of America that she was a modern-day prophet. Every year until her death in 1997 she would issue her list of predictions for the coming year. Most people assume that most of her predictions came true. The reality is that most didn’t. For instance, she predicted that World War III would begin in 1958 and that the Soviets would land the first man on the moon. She predicted that the first George Bush would beat his challenger, Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas. For 1997, the final year of her life, she predicted that actor Alec Baldwin would become terribly ill, comedian Ellen DeGeneres would have a run-in with the Secret Service when she crashed the presidential inauguration; and a plane would crash in late October. None of these things occurred. Yet she is regarded as the greatest of the modern psychics. (http://www.cnn.com/SHOWBIZ/9701/26/dixon/ (Last visited on Feb 25, 2008)).
T.S. – So are you filled with “Wonder” at the accuracy of the famous psychic’s? Here is the point I want to make – look at how inaccurate all those so-called famous psychics are and were! So why do people follow them and pay them money to read their future? They are wrong most of the time. But today I want to draw your attention to the prophets of the Bible and notice just how accurate they were in predicting Jesus’ birth, even the place of his place of birth and it’s details – Notice all the prophecies about His ministry, His betrayal and even His death.
I. Jesus fulfilled over 60 Old Testament predictions about His birth, life, death and ministry. (He actually in the end fulfills 1,000)
a. Their accuracy is precise and exact – even to some of the fine details! Now this makes me “Wonder” This “Amazes” me!
i. Jesus himself said in Luke 22:37 the following:
1. The NIV states that Jesus said: 37It is written: ‘And he was numbered with the transgressors; and I tell you that this must be fulfilled in me. Yes, what is written about me is reaching its fulfillment.” Jesus is speaking to the followers, and He says in essence: “Everything written about me by the prophets will come true.” (Luke 22:37, New Living Translation).
a. Jesus affirmed that all the prophecies about Him would be fulfilled in his birth, life, death and resurrection and His 2nd coming!
i. Does this make you wonder in amazement!
2. Jesus knew He was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy – here is another example from Scripture!
a. Luke 4:16-30: 16 Jesus traveled to Nazareth, the town where he grew up. On the Sabbath day he went to the synagogue as he always did. He stood up to read. 17 The book of Isaiah the prophet was given to him. He opened the book and found the place where this is written:
b. 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me.
He has chosen me to tell good news to the poor.
He sent me to tell prisoners that they are free
and to tell the blind that they can see again.
He sent me to free those who have been treated badly
19 and to announce that the time has come for the Lord to show his kindness.”
c. 20 Jesus closed the book, gave it back to the helper, and sat down. As everyone in the synagogue watched him closely, 21 he began to speak to them. He said, “While you heard me reading these words just now, they were coming true!” 22 Everyone there said good things about Jesus. They were amazed to hear him speak such wonderful words. They said, “How is this possible? Isn’t he Joseph’s son?”
b. Jon La Rue makes this observation: “Standing in stark contrast to these modern prophets are the prophets of the Bible. Time after time the biblical authors said that something would occur; and then, it occurred, exactly as they said. This fact lends great weight to the argument that the Bible really is true, and really can be trusted.”
i. Question do you trust in the Bible more than in Psychics? Which one gets more of your attention?
1. Jesus and The Bible?
2. Daily Psychic readings?
3. Fortune cookies?
ii. Question do you trust more in people’s prophetic words or in the Bible and Jesus words?
1. Let me get personal – I believe in prophecy and prophetic words, but they are always confirmation of what God is doing in your heart! Not revelations!
c. Today – “I want you to Wonder – to be amazed at how Jesus fulfilled a promise and – fulfilled predictions about Him.” We will look at 8 prophecies Jesus fulfilled at His birth:
i. Today as we enter the Christmas Season, we are going to consider one particular type of prophecy today—messianic prophecy. This is the prophecy given in the Old Testament, long before the birth of Jesus, relating to the coming of the Messiah, the Anointed Savior. Jesus is The Wonderful One that God promised to send into the world.
1. Jon La Rue notes: “Jesus had a very real belief that (a) he was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy; and (b) that what had been written about him must come true. And the early church shared that view: they believed that the life of Jesus fulfilled the Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah.”
ii. Please note there are many more - Parsons Bible Dictionary states: But the great body of Old Testament prophecy relates directly to the advent of the Messiah, beginning with Gen. 3:15, the first great promise, and extending in ever-increasing fulness and clearness all through to the very close of the canon. The Messianic prophecies are too numerous to be quoted. “To him gave all the prophets witness.” (Compare Micah 5:2; Hag. 2:6-9; Isa. 7:14; 9:6, 7; 11:1, 2; 53; 60:10, 13; Ps. 16:11; 68:18.) Many predictions also were delivered by Jesus and his apostles. Those of Christ were very numerous. (Compare Matt. 10:23, 24; 11:23; 19:28; 21:43, 44; 24; 25:31-46; 26:17-35, 46, 64; Mark 9:1; 10:30; 13; 11:1-6, 14; 14:12-31, 42, 62; 16:17, etc.)
iii. The 8 main prophecies of fulfilled at Jesus birth taken from 8 Fulfilled Prophecies Foretelling the Birth of Jesus Christ - Levaire: 8 Fulfilled Prophecies Foretelling the Birth of Jesus Christ By Matthew Schoenherr -January 6, 2018 https://levaire.com/8-fulfilled-prophecies-foretelling-birth-jesus-christ/
1. PROPHECY: Descendant of Abraham
a. “And through your offspring all nations on earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 22:18)
b. Prophesied: Around 1500-1300 BC
c. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38
i. The genealogy of Jesus laid out in the book of Matthew and Luke details Jesus’ lineage through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
2. PROPHECY: Descendant of Jacob
a. “A star will come out of Jacob; a scepter will rise out of Israel.” (Numbers: 24:17)
b. Prophesied: Between 1446-1260 BC
c. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:1-17, Luke 3:23-38
i. The genealogy of Jesus laid out in the book of Matthew and Luke details Jesus’ lineage through Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
3. PROPHECY: Virgin Birth, Immanuel
a. “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
b. Prophesied: 740 BC
c. Fulfilled: Matthew 1:20-25, Luke 1:26-35
i. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife: And knew her not till she had brought forth her firstborn son: and he called his name JESUS.”
4. PROPHECY: A Child Will Be Born
a. “For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
b. Prophesied: 740 BC
c. Fulfilled: Luke 1:32-33; 3:23-38, Matthew 1:1, 6-7
i. “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.”
5. PROPHECY: The Time of Messiah’s Arrival
a. “Know therefore and understand, that from the going forth of the commandment to restore and to build Jerusalem unto the Messiah the Prince shall be seven weeks, and threescore and two weeks: the street shall be built again, and the wall, even in troublous times.”
b. “And after threescore and two weeks shall Messiah be cut off, but not for himself: and the people of the prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end thereof shall be with a flood, and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.” (Daniel 9:25-26)
c. Prophesied: 605 BC
d. Fulfilled: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John
i. “(1) This passage tells us when Messiah will appear on the scene. (2) It tells us that after His appearance, Messiah will be rejected by His people, and (3) that Messiah will be cut off temporarily, an obvious reference to the cross.”
ii. “The seven weeks with the sixty-two weeks combine to make 69 weeks of years (483 years) until the coming of Messiah. The starting point for the 483 years was the decree to restore and rebuild Jerusalem. This is a reference to the decree given in the time of Nehemiah in the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes in 445 B.C. (Neh. 2:1-8). After this, Messiah would appear on the scene.”
iii. “The words ‘until Messiah the Prince’ refer to a time when Messiah would be manifested as the prince of Israel. This would be around A.D. 30-33, so the time of His birth as the Immanuel of God would have to be around A.D. 0-4.” (Keathley.)
6. PROPHECY: Born in Bethlehem
a. “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.” (Micah 5:2)
b. Prophesied: 742 BC
c. Fulfilled: Luke 2:1-7; Matthew 2:1-6, John 7:42
i. “And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) […] And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.”
7. PROPHECY: Destruction of the Children
a. “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.” (Jeremiah 31:15)
b. Prophesied: 597 BC
c. Fulfilled: Matthew 2:16-18
i. Though this prophecy was likely fulfilled during the Babylonian exile of 586 BC, many extend it as a foreshadowing of Herod’s (and Satan’s effort through him) attempt to slay the Davidic king. “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”
8. PROPHECY: Return from Egypt
a. “Out of Egypt I called My Son.” (Hosea 11:1)
b. Prophesied: 755 BC
c. Fulfilled: Matthew 2:13-15
i. “And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Out of Egypt have I called my son.”
T.S. – Jesus knew He was fulfilling Old Testament Prophecy about Him – this should make you wonder by the way – He knew what He was doing, and He wanted us to know Who He was – is and will be – I hope that makes you wonder today and in this season!
II. Has the wonder of Jesus and His birth impacted you yet this Christmas season?
a. Questions: Let me go back to my original question: Have you ever been struck with wonder at the Christmas season? Do you see the wonder of this most wonderful time of the year? Do you understand why so many movies have been made at this time of the year? Have you wondered at many of the meanings behind the themes in these Christmas movies! Do they make you wonder?
i. Themes like:
1. Family is more important than work!
2. The big city is not always where fulfillment is found but it is found in the country enjoying the simple things of life.
3. Raising kids and sharing lives together is better than a prestigious career!
4. Slowing down and enjoying the season is better than rushing through it!
5. Taking time to reflect on Christmas and its meaning is better than just doing it with hype, glitter and pomp and money.
6. The wonder of Christmas is that we have a wonderful life because of this baby born in the manger if we take the time to slow down and focus on Him.
7. The movies focus on slowing down and stop rushing through the season and miss it’s meaning!
8. The movies say focus on your family not on the money and forget the prestige of a super career.
a. Have you ever sat back and watched your family’s faces at Christmas Time: The smiles, the hugs, the excitement in the kids, the anticipation of opening that gift or the Christmas dinner?
b. Wonder is seen in those eyes! But wonder should be in our heart and mind too?
i. We should Wonder at what Jesus did in His coming as a bay!
ii. We should be amazed by Him and His actions!
c. My challenge this Christmas season is for you to “Experience the wonder of Christmas!” – it is in the meaning of many of the Christmas movies and I would say it’s the message of the Bible about this time of the year and it all points to the baby in the manger!
b. How do you experience the wonder of Christmas?
i. You may be thinking – I have lost it!
ii. I am way too busy to focus.
iii. I am way too stressed to even think about it.
iv. I don’t have time to ponder and wonder?
1. But you can stop and rediscover or discover the wonder of Christmas! Yes you can experience the wonder of Jesus birth if you really want too! The question is do you want to?
a. Do you want to be filled with “Wonder?”
b. Do you want to be “Amazed?”
c. Do you want to stop and say “Wow!”
c. I suggest getting your wonder back – or getting your wonder started – to do this we need to go back to the Scripture texts like: Isaiah 9:1-7 For to Us a Child Is Born (let’s read it).
i. 1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful - Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
1. Did you catch how Jesus was called 1st “Wonderful” the original Hebrew did not have commas so when Isaiah prophesied this he started with saying the Messiah who would come – He would be “Wonderful.”
a. The definition from https://www.bing.com/search?q=definition+wonderful&form=ANSPH1&refig=bce5e1c3e805471f87536c34514b0d21&pc=HCTS
i. IS inspiring delight, pleasure, or admiration; extremely good; marvelous:
d. HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED “WONDERFUL” – Jesus is the wonder of Christmas.
i. Jesus knew the meaning of his name and knew His purpose!
1. Do you?
2. Do you know what you were called to do?
3.
ii. Names are important in Scripture – your name is important - Do any of you know what your name means?
1. How did you get your name?
2. Were you named after someone special?
3. There are some interesting names being used out there today. They say, “A picture paints a thousand words.”
4. In Scripture, a name paints a thousand words. A person’s name described who he or she was, his/her character/personality.
a. Michael means “Who is Like God.”
b. Kathy means “Pure.”
c. Isaac means “laughter.” He brought laughter to Abraham/Sarah.
d. Isaiah means “God is my salvation.” His prophecies clearly point to this.
e. Peter means “rock.” He became the “bedrock” and a pillar for the church.
f. Jesus’ name means many things spoken off in our text this morning – but I want to start with Wonderful – Jesus’ name is wonderful – not just a wonderful counselor but wonderful!
iii. What does it mean to wonder?
1. From my research it means “it means to ponder something amazing or a miracle” think about that thought for a moment – Jesus is “Amazing” Jesus is “The miracle.”
a. So we should have a holy “Wonder” for Him!
III. I could focus more on other prophetic prophecies about Jesus from the Scriptures – Ones He fulfilled: I would hope they make you all “Wonder.”
a. Is 53:5–11: But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all…
b. Ge 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.”
c. Is 52:13–53:12: See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will…
d. Da 7:13–14: “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him…
e. Mic 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.”
f. Mk 8:31: He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again.
IV. The Wonder of fulfilling prophecy: The reality of the odds of Jesus fulfilling just 8 of the 60 plus scriptures about Him:
a. Jon La Rue from sermoncentral.com states the following about the odds and research done to confirm how amazing it was that Jesus fulfilled just 8 of these prophecies:
i. Jons states, “In 1969, Dr. Peter Stoner published a book called “Science Speaks.” Dr. Stoner was the Chairman of the Departments of Mathematics and Astronomy at Pasadena City College until 1953, when he became Chairman of the Science Division at Westmont College. In other words, he was a capable mathematician. And in “Science Speaks,” Dr. Stoner calculated the probability that any one man could fulfill just these eight prophecies to be 1 chance in 10 to the 17th power, meaning a 1 with 17 zeros after it.”
ii. Jon adds: “To illustrate how unlikely a chance that would be, Stoner gave this illustration. Cover the entire state of Texas with silver dollars to a level of two feet deep. The total number of silver dollars needed would be 10 to the 17th power. Now, choose just one silver dollar, mark it, and put it back. Then thoroughly stir all the silver dollars all over the state. Now, blindfold someone and tell them they can travel wherever they want in Texas, but sometime they must pick one of the silver dollars. The chance of finding that one silver dollar that we marked in a pile 2 feet deep covering the state of Texas would be the chance the prophets had for these eight prophecies coming true in any one man in the future. (Peter Stoner, Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible 107 (Chicago, Moody Press, 1969)). Interestingly, Dr. Stoner submitted his figures for review to a Committee of the American Scientific Affiliation. After examining his figures, they verified that his calculations were dependable and accurate in regard to the scientific material presented. (Id. at 4).
1. And that is just eight of the more than sixty prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled.
2. Are you filled with Wonder yet of Jesus?
b. Illustration: How can I help them remember?
i. Illustration: Bucket with coins in it!
ii. Handout on fulfilled prophecies (8 of them)!
Conclusion: Application
How wonderful is Jesus? Ponder the odds above and wonder- no really - just think about this calculation of the odds – This is done on just eight of the more than sixty prophecies about the Messiah that Jesus fulfilled.
I just say “Wow” and pondering this makes me “Wonder” how “Wonderful Jesus is!
Jesus is the wonder of Christmas. What does it mean to wonder? Let me explain one more time” From my research it means “amazing or miracle” think about that thought for a moment – Jesus is “Amazing” Jesus is “The miracle” Jesus is the wonder of Christmas that circulates through this time of the year – this season – He is the presence of Christmas and what makes this time the most magical time of the year.
What do they need to know?
Answer: Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies concerning His birth, His life, His ministry, His death and His resurrection – this in itself is mind boggling and tells me why Isaiah said Jesus the Messiah would be wonderful – He would amaze us, he would be and do miracles, He would be the answer to the sin problem for the human race which is simply amazing and wonderful!
Why do they need to know this?
Answer: We need to get our Wonder back for Christmas or get Wonder unleashed in us for the first time – Jesus is the essence and the wonder of Christmas many are seeking!
What do they need to do?
Answer: We need to do the handout and before we do pray and ask God to implement the wonder of Christmas in your heart and mind. We need to read the scriptures and get ignited with the wonder of Christmas and the arrival of Jesus to this earth!
Why do they need to do this?
Answer: If you do these things, I really believe Jesus will restore your wonder for this time of the year and or Jesus will ignite the wonder of the season in your heart as you see Jesus as the baby who is the Savior of the World.
