EIGHT PROPHECIES CONCERNING THE BIRTH OF CHRIST
"And so we have the prophetic word confirmed, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts."
2 Peter 1:19.
Indeed, the prophetic Word is confirmed in every aspect of our Savior’s life. We have selected eight of the great Old Testament prophecies concerning the birth of the Messiah proving beyond question that Jesus is the Christ. You will notice some of the Scriptures quoted refer to more than one aspect of our Lord’s birth.
I. THE MANNER:
The Prophecy:
"And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel." Genesis 3:15
The Fulfillment:
“But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons.” Galatians 4:4-5
II. THE ANCESTRY:
The Prophecy:
"And I will make you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and so you shall be a blessing; and I will bless those who bless you, And the one who curses you I will curse. And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed." Genesis 12:2-3
The Fulfillment:
"You are sons of the prophets and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying to Abraham, ‘And in your seed all the families of the earth shall be blessed’. To you first, God, having raised up His Servant Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from your iniquities." Acts 3:25-26
III. THE TRIBE: Note: Originally, Judah was one of the twelve tribes. After Solomon’s death, the ten northern tribes formed the nation of Israel and the two southern tribes (Judah and Benjamin) became the nation of Judah. Later, under Gentile occupation, Judah returned to tribal status.
The Prophecy:
"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." Genesis 49:10
(Shiloh means tranquility, rest)
The Fulfillment:
“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David.” Luke 2:4
IV. THE FAMILY:
The Prophecy:
"And in that day there shall be a Root of Jesse, who shall stand as a banner to the people; for the Gentiles shall seek Him, and His resting place shall be glorious." Isaiah 11:10
The Fulfillment:
“Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.” Luke 2:4-5
V. THE VIRGIN BIRTH and VI. THE MESSIAH’S NAME
The Prophecy:
"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 .
The Fulfillment:
“So all this was done that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: ‘Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,’ which is translated, ‘God with us.’” Matthew 1:22-23
An angel of the Lord told Joseph "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." (Matthew 1:21). Jesus was “the Son of God” and as the Son of God His name was called “Immanuel” and translated “God with us”.
The name “Jesus” is the Greek translation for “Yeshua” or “Yehoshua” meaning “Yahweh is Salvation.” “Jesus” was His name as “The Son of Man”. It was in His humanity, as the “Son of Man” that He was able to die for our sins. Indeed as Bill Gaither wrote, “There’s Something About That Name!”
VII. THE PLACE OF MESSIAH’S BIRTH:
The Prophecy:
"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." Micah 5:2
The Fulfillment:
Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child. Luke 2:4-7
VIII. THE KILLING OF ALL MALE CHILDREN TWO YEARS OLD AND UNDER
Prophecy: Thus says the LORD: "A voice was heard in Ramah, Lamentation and bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children, Refusing to be comforted for her children, Because they are no more." Jeremiah 31:15 (NKJ)
Fulfillment:
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: "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." Matthew 2:16-18
CONCLUSION:
With such overwhelming and indisputable evidence proving that Jesus is the promised Messiah there is no valid reason why we should not heed everything Jesus said. Let’s consider some of the things He said.
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6
"For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." Mark 8:36-38
"Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 10:32-33
