The Coming of the Messiah: Prophecy and the Birth of Jesus
A Bible study exploring how the Old Testament foretold the coming of the Messiah and how Jesus fulfilled these prophecies through His virgin birth, eternal kingship, and divine identity as Immanuel—God with us.
Jake Hooper
The coming of Jesus into the world is the most important and incredible event in all of the history of the world. The idea that God would become a fully human child born from a woman like us to live as our perfect example, is something truly amazing. The fact that the great Most High God--The Ancient of Days--would do what Jesus did for us is hard to fully grasp.
14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
The Coming of The Messiah Is Foretold
Jesus didn't just show up one day, but his coming was prepared for and prophesied over one thousands years before Jesus came to the earth. Just about every detail of his life and ministry was declared in the Old Testament long before he actually arrived. He fulfilled many hundreds of prophecies and it is good to take a look at a few of the big ones.
2 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.
Study Question
What does it mean that he goes forth from of old, from everlasting?
- We were told that Jesus would be born in a small town called Bethlehem that is also David's hometown.
- Notice that he will be "from of old, from everlasting" so he will be more than just another person, but God incarnate.
5 Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, that I will raise unto David a righteous Branch, and a King shall reign and prosper, and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth.
Study Question
What are some of the main things the Messiah does?
- Jesus was also going to be from a royal lineage of great kings.
- The Messiah's kingdom and reign will never end, which also suggests more than human like we are now.
- Jesus would judge the world and bring perfect justice too, which is another thing that God does.
6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Study Question
Do you think there is enough in the Old Testament about the Messiah to suggest he is God incarnate?
- He will lead the whole world as a unified government and he will be called "the Mighty God"
- "God in the flesh" was not something Christians came up with, but was firmly rooted in the Torah/OT
The Birth of Jesus
Christmas was a holiday that began to be observed several centuries after Jesus died on the cross and rose again. There's several theories of why the December 25th date was chosen. In the second temple period, people didn't celebrate birthdays like they do now as a later tradition. People saught to celebrate the birth of Jesus too which began a lot of people trying to figure out the date of his birth.
The winter solstice became a symbolic date of the darkest day of the year, a few days later on the 25th, people celebrated the return of the light in the world. Jesus was described as the light of the world.
30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus.
32 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:
33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.
Study Question
If Jesus's kingdom will have no end, is he ruling now?
- The virgin Mary was told that she will conceive a child.
- The child would be the Son of God and would sit on teh throne of David.
- Jesus's kingdom would rule forever and have no end.
34 Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man?
35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God.
36 And, behold, thy cousin Elisabeth, she hath also conceived a son in her old age: and this is the sixth month with her, who was called barren.
37 For with God nothing shall be impossible.
38 And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord; be it unto me according to thy word. And the angel departed from her.
- Mary would become pregnant by the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Mary accepts what the angel has told her.
- Elisabeth conceives John the Baptist who would prepare the way for Jesus.
Study Question
Why do you think God chose 12 apostles and John the Baptist to prepare the way?
19 Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily.
20 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.
21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins.
- Joseph was put in an awkward situation, that would certainly be hard to believe for him.
- Jospeh was told by an angel in a dream what happened to Mary and why she is pregnant.
- Joseph was also told that Jesus will save the Jewish people from their sins.
Study Question
How can we better trust God even when things look bad?
What is the significance of the King of Kings being born in a barn/manger?
4 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:)
5 To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
6 And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
7 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.
- Joseph and Mary live in Nazareth of Galilee, but are called to Bethlehem because of a Roman census being required by Caesar Augustus.
- The census was to figure out what Roman taxes would be required of everyone.
- The prohecy is fulfilled that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem and Jesus was born in a manger because the inn was full.
8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Study Question
Why do you think the angels told the shepherds about Jesus being born?
- A group of shepherds were keeping wath when an angel announced the good news of Jesus's birth, the birth of the savior of the world.
- They were told that the great King of the Jews would be laying in a manger.
- Then a huge crowd of angels all sang glory to God, peace, and good will to men.
7 Then Herod, when he had privily called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared.
8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word again, that I may come and worship him also.
9 When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.
10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.
11 And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense and myrrh.
12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
- The wise men that came from the east, follow a star that appeared
- Somehow they knew a great child king was born.
- The bible doesn't actually say three wise men, only three gifts
Conclusion
Jesus came into the world at the perfect time. The Roman roads were ready to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and the people of earth were at a point where the maximum number of people were thinking about God and what it means to be divine. It was the perfect cross-roads of everything and even our calendar's year zero is based on Jesus with BC dates being "before Christ" and AD it means "Anno Domini" or "in the year of our Lord."
Jesus's coming was foretold well in advance with a miraculous entry by a virgin birth and extremely detailed prophecy of his entire life, teachings, death, and resurrection.
12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
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