Wednesday, December 21, 2011

The Christmas Story & Prophecy

The Christmas story, from the Bible...

Luke 2:1-21:
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.


Matthew 2:1-2,9-12:
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
...
After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.


I recently read some prophecies in Isaiah that describe or foreshadow these events. Here is one example.
The following passage was written over 500 years before Jesus' birth about the restoration of Israel. When you read it, think of it from the perspective of God the Father speaking to his Son about his birth in Bethlehem. I've highlighted and numbered parts of it that were fulfilled in the Christmas story accounts in Matthew and Luke above.

Isaiah 60
“Arise, shine, for your light has come,(1)
and the glory of the LORD rises upon you.
See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples,
but the LORD rises upon you and his glory appears(2) over you.
Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
“Lift up your eyes and look about you: All assemble and come to you; (3)
your sons come from afar, and your daughters are carried on the hip.
Then you will look and be radiant, your heart will throb and swell with joy;
the wealth on the seas will be brought to you, to you the riches of the nations will come. (4)
Herds of camels will cover your land, young camels of Midian and Ephah.
And all from Sheba will come, bearing gold and incense and proclaiming the praise of the LORD.
(5)
All Kedar’s flocks will be gathered to you, the rams of Nebaioth will serve you;
(6) they will be accepted as offerings(7) on my altar, and I will adorn my glorious temple.

“Who are these that fly along like clouds, like doves to their nests? (8)
Surely the islands look to me; in the lead are the ships of Tarshish,
bringing your children from afar, with their silver and gold,
to the honor of the LORD your God, the Holy One of Israel,
(9) for he has endowed you with splendor.


Just a quick explanation on each one:
1) "Light of the World" is another name for Jesus.
2) This was the appearance of the Lord.
3) The magi and shepherds (and presumably the servants and animals of the magi) assembled to see the baby Jesus. The magi, who were from eastern nations, probably Persia, came by following the light of a bright star.
4) Camels may likely have been the mode of transportation used by the magi and much of their caravan.
5) Gold and (frank)incense were given to Jesus in acts of worship.
6) Shepherds (and possibly their flocks?) were the first to come to Jesus.
7) The gifts were accepted, and Mary treasured all these things in her heart.
8) "These that fly along like clouds" may refer to the angels who gave the message to the shepherds.
9) Once again, the mention of the assembly of many people and the gifts to honor Jesus.


If you can, take some time to explore the many Messianic prophesies scattered around the latter half of the book of Isaiah. There are quite a few, many relating to his death, resurrection, and second coming.