The birth of Jesus was foretold thousands of years before it happened. Prophesies were given about Jesus (The Messiah) before He was ever born. These are but a few of the events of Jesus’ birth that were written prior to them taking place and should be a great encouragement for those of us who believe to know that God had a plan for His glory and our salvation in eternity past.
A star and scepter came from Israel. Prophecy… Numbers 24:17. Fulfillment… Matthew 2:1-2.
The Messiah was to be born of a virgin and named “Immanuel” meaning “God with us” (Jesus was God in human form). Prophecy… Isaiah 7:14. Fulfillment… Matthew 1:18-25.
The Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Prophecy… Micah 5:2. Fulfillment… Matthew 2:1-6; Luke 2:1-7.
The Messiah descended from Jesse (David’s father) and the Spirit of the Lord rested upon him. Prophecy… Isaiah 11:1-3. Fulfillment… Matthew 1:1-17; 3:16.
Presented with gifts. Prophecy… Psalms 72:10 (Isaiah 60:6). Fulfillment… Matthew 2:1, 11.
Herod kills children when the Messiah was born. Prophecy… Jeremiah 31:15. Fulfillment… Matthew 2:16.
The LORD raised up a great prophet. Prophecy… Deuternomy 18:15-19. Fulfillment… John 7:40.
Escape to, and return from, Egypt. Prophecy… Hosea 11:1. Fulfillment… Matthew 2:14-15.
Josh McDowell wrote in Evidence That Demands a Verdict (Page 175) that H. Harold Hartzler of the American Scientific Affiliation calculated the chances of just 8 of the over 60 major prophesies being fulfilled in one person would be 1 in 10 to the 17th power… or 1 in 100,000,000,000.000,000!
To illustrate this, he said it would be like the state of Texas being covered two feet deep in silver dollars with one having a special mark. After stirring them up, a person would then be blindfolded and told to pick up just one silver dollar. The chances of them picking the marked silver dollar is the same chance of just 8 prophesies coming true in one person!
Here’s the point. God had a plan. His plan was for Jesus to be born and provide salvation for all who would believe. The Christian faith is not one that is believed because we have faith… it is believed because it is TRUE!
Merry Christmas!
(From “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” by Josh McDowell and “God With Us” by John MacArthur)