An Advent Journey Through Prophecy & Fulfillment of Jesus as King
Advent is a season of waiting, hope, and expectation. A time to remember God's promises and anticipate their fulfillment in the first coming of Jesus Christ to the earth as a baby and as King.
This Advent season, we've curated a calendar of scriptures for each of the 26 days of Advent, containing Old Testament prophecies of Jesus and New Testament fulfillments in the life of Christ that show Jesus as the promised Messiah.
On this page you'll find these curated scripture pairings along with a daily devotional for reflection. Use this guide daily to draw nearer to Christ, preparing your heart to celebrate His birth and to anticipate His eternal reign.
ADVENT CALENDAR READINGS
Week 1: Promise of the Messiah
Bethlehem: Birthplace of the Messiah
THEME: Location of God’s Promise
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Micah 5:2
"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 2:1-2, 5-6
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'… They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
REFLECTION:
Oh little town of Bethlehem,
how still we see thee lie!
…yet in the dark streets shineth
the everlasting light.
The hopes and fears of all the years
are met in thee tonight.
At the time of the birth of Christ, Bethlehem was truly “a little town.” Scholars have estimated, based on archaeological remains, that the population was probably around three hundred. The name Bethlehem means “the house of bread,” and the town is located just over five miles south of Jerusalem in the hill country of Judea in the region of Ephrathah (meaning “fruitfulness”).
In New Testament times, messianic expectations were rising during the reign of King Herod over Judea (37–4 BC). It was in the context of hearing news of a possible king’s birth from some traveling wise men that the Old Testament prophecy of Micah became extremely relevant. In response to Herod’s question of where the Christ was to be born, Matthew states that the religious leaders told King Herod, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel’” (Matthew 2:5–6).
Matthew’s use of the term “shepherd” (“who will shepherd my people Israel”), rather than the term “ruler” used in Micah, seems to allude to 2 Samuel 5:2. Interestingly, in Samuel this verse describes David’s rightful kingship over the fateful reign of Saul, and Matthew is demonstrating the rightful kingship of Jesus over Herod.
Having the birth of the Messiah occur in Bethlehem, not in Jerusalem where King Herod was reigning, demonstrates continuity with David, a shepherd from this small town (1 Samuel 16:11). It was a descendant of King David (who reigned a thousand years before Christ) who had the right and authority to be designated as King of Israel. Jesus, not Herod, is the true King of the Jews.
The coming of this King of Israel was a fulfillment of prophecy; the One born in Bethlehem would rule/shepherd the nation of Israel. This Christmas, as you sing “O Little Town of Bethlehem,” let your heart rejoice that in Bethlehem “an everlasting light” began to shine that would change your life and, in fact, the world.
Protoevangelium: The First Promise of Victory
THEME: God’s Redemptive Plan
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 3:14–15
"The Lord God said to the serpent, 'Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.'”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Galatians 4:4; 1 John 3:8
"But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law… The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil."
REFLECTION:
When we think of Christmas, we don’t usually think of snakes—much less “that serpent of old . . . the Devil” (Rev. 12:9). And most normal people wouldn’t turn to Genesis 3—the Fall chapter—for a decidedly winter holiday. On the surface of it, the only thing Christmas seems to have in common with Genesis 3 is the tree!
However, throughout history as Christians read Genesis 3:15 with New Testament lenses, the Messiah’s advent popped off the page like something out of a 3-D movie. The bare text itself contains an odd reference in Hebrew to “her Seed,” a phrase used only once in the entire Old Testament. Typically people would speak of “his seed,” regarding the man as the source of offspring (“seed”). Yet there it stood, like an odd appendage drawing attention to itself on the face of an already obscure text—her Seed.
Then it happened: in “the fullness of . . . time,” Paul wrote, “God sent forth His Son, born of a woman” (Gal. 4:4, emphasis added). Wait a second. Isn’t every child born of a woman? Why would Paul point out such an obvious fact? Because he was shining a New Testament light on that dimly lit Old Testament text. Born of a woman, her Seed had finally come!
For those who have ears to hear, Genesis 3:15 plays faint but audible strains of the first first Noel. It quietly nudges readers far forward to the first advent of the Messiah—her Seed. Yet this important passage also points us even farther forward today. Its gentle yuletide chimes swell into a resounding trumpet blast announcing the glorious second advent of the Messiah, when the nail-pierced foot of the woman’s Seed will crush the head of the serpent.
Abrahamic Covenant: Blessing for All Nations
THEME: God’s Covenant Faithfulness
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 12:1–3
"Now the Lord said to Abram, 'Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.'”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Luke 3:32–38, Matthew 1:1-17, Gal. 3:6-9
(Genealogy of Jesus tracing back to Abraham, culminating in Christ.)
REFLECTION:
Although connected contextually, Genesis 12:1–3 has a stark presence in the biblical text. With the growing problems of humanity after the flood, God intervenes by making promises to a man named Abraham. Specifically, three promises are stated: 1) A people, 2) A land, and 3) A blessing.
First, God promised Abraham a people. As the story unfolds, God blesses the barren Abraham and Sarai by giving them a son of promise named Isaac. Through Isaac, Jacob, and his twelve sons, the “children” of Abraham become numerous. There is a people. Check.
Second, God promised Abraham’s people a land. That promise unfolds in the book of Joshua. After suffering the consequences of unbelief in the desert, the “people” go into the land of promise. This land is the home of the descendants of Abraham. They have a land. Check.
But don’t forget promise number three. God said there would come a worldwide blessing (Gen. 12:3). The NRSV phrases it well by stating “and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” God is saying that through the line of Abraham will come one who will bless all people. One will come through the “people,” in the “land,” that will bless the world.
Matthew doesn’t want us to miss the fact that Jesus provides that worldwide blessing promised to Abraham. In introducing Jesus, Matthew states, “An account of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham” (Matt. 1:1). Nor does Luke want us to overlook the connection. In recording Mary’s song, an emphasis resides on the fact that Jesus is the blessing from and to the descendants of Abraham (Luke 1:55). God has blessed the world through Christ. The third promise is a person—Jesus.
This Christmas blessing has changed us forever. “You are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (Matt. 1:21). Worldwide blessing. Double Check!
God Provides a Sacrifice: Isaac Spared
THEME: God as Provider
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 22:13–14
"And Abraham lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, behind him was a ram, caught in a thicket by his horns. And Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called the name of that place, 'The Lord will provide'; as it is said to this day, 'On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.'”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Hebrews 12:22–24; John 1:29, 17:1
"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant…"
REFLECTION:
“When Jesus had finished saying these things, he looked upward to heaven and said, ‘Father, the time has come. Glorify your Son, so that your Son may glorify you’” (John 17:1, NET).
One of the first words from a baby’s mouth is “Daddy.” And, in a caring family, even before words, infants understand themselves as belonging and being loved as “Daddy’s little girl” or “my son.” At Christmas, we remember many titles of Jesus: Immanuel, Messiah, Son of David, Son of Mary, even Son of Joseph.
Yet of all the names of Jesus, none takes us into a deeper understanding of Him than “Son of God,” or more plainly the “Son” who is together with the “Father.” The Gospel of John introduces Jesus Christ as “the Word,” who is eternal God. But, Jesus never speaks of Himself as “the Word.” Rather, some 35 times in John alone He speaks of Himself as the “Son,” often in direct communion with His Father. The Father loves the Son and the Son loves the Father. The Father glorifies the Son and the Son glorifies the Father. And, Jesus sends us forth to baptize “in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matt. 28:19)—the expression that shapes the primary Christian creeds in the centuries that follow.
The simplicity of God as “Father” and “Son” can conceal the astonishing depth of their relationship. Other divine names speak of God in relation to creation. But, knowing God as “Father” and “Son” brings us into the fellowship of the Holy Trinity itself. These most elementary, universal divine names serve as the bridge that allows us access into the innermost reality of God. Without God’s revelation as “Father” and “Son,” we would have no Trinity. Without the gracious invitation of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we would have no Christmas—no invitation to become, by faith, children of the living God.
God’s Only Son: Abraham’s Only Son
THEME: God’s Gift of Promise
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 22:14–18
"So Abraham called the name of that place, 'The Lord will provide'; as it is said to this day, 'On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.' And the angel of the Lord called to Abraham a second time from heaven and said, 'By myself I have sworn, declares the Lord, because you have done this and have not withheld your son, your only son, I will surely bless you… and in your offspring shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.'”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Galatians 3:15–16; John 3:16
"Now the promises were made to Abraham and to his offspring. It does not say, 'And to offsprings,' referring to many, but referring to one, 'And to your offspring,' who is Christ… For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
REFLECTION:
Two Gospels, Matthew’s and Luke’s, include genealogies of Jesus Christ. Luke traces Jesus back through Abraham, while Matthew provides the Messiah’s Davidic lineage. But another key difference between the lists is that Matthew’s, unlike most such lists in the first century, includes five women. And while many commentators view these women as examples of scandal and grace, Matthew probably intended something different.
With the first four—Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Uriah’s wife—Matthew shows Jesus’ fulfillment of God’s promise to Abraham that through Christ “all nations” would be blessed (Gen. 22:18). All four were Gentiles. The historian Philo (Virt. 220–22), who lived during Matthew’s time, said Tamar was from Syria Palestina, a Canaanite city. And we know Rahab was from Jericho. Ruth was a Moabitess. And the title “Uriah’s wife,” a phrase probably designed to remind readers of the word “Hittite,” indicates Bathsheba’s nationality. Mary, the fifth woman, was fully Jewish. Her inclusion demonstrates that Jesus is the promised son of David’s line. So together these five women show that Jesus is Lord of the nations and King of the Jews, the promised son of Abraham and the promised son of David.
Our Lord had to be both. To be the all-inclusive Messiah, Mary had to be Jewish, but Jesus also had to have Gentiles in his pedigree. And Matthew could not have made the case for Gentile inclusion with any of the men, as these all had to be descendants of Abraham. The only way to include Gentiles in our Lord’s pedigree was to include his Gentile foremothers.
This King is different from all others. Prior pedigrees of royalty in Israel stressed the king’s Jewishness through his male ancestors. But this pedigree, by including five women, establishes Jesus simultaneously as the king who sits on David’s throne and the ruler of all nations—King of kings and Lord of lords.
Jesus from the Line of Isaac
THEME: God’s Faithfulness Through Generations
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 26:1–5
Now there was a famine in the land, besides the former famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Gerar to Abimelech king of the Philistines. And the LORD appeared to him and said, “Do not go down to Egypt; dwell in the land of which I shall tell you. Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because Abraham obeyed my voice and kept my charge, my commandments, my statutes, and my laws.”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Hebrews 11:17–19
"By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac… He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back."
REFLECTION:
Christmas 2012 in Texas is a favorite memory. If you’re thinking of “a first,” then you are correct. It was an unforgettable first for our family. The celebration was spontaneous and sensational.
Our adult children were calling us together so that they could give my bride and me our Christmas gift. They were unusually eager for me to hurry, but I was busy upstairs getting my camera gear ready. Eventually, I succumbed to their entreaties, but puzzled at their relentless insistence.
Once I descended the stairs our children were giddy and our daughter gave us the clear instruction, “Look on the Christmas tree for your present.” Curious and bewildered, Yvonne and I examined our tree. Everything seemed familiar.
Then, my bride exclaimed, “Here it is! What is it?” She held up a pair of reindeer shoes.
“They are baby shoes,” I declared.
“What?” Yvonne uttered.
“What kind of shoes are they, Mom,” our daughter teased.
“Really? Are they baby booties?” Yvonne was hopeful but cautious in her enthusiasm.
Then, she lost it completely. We were going to be grandparents! Sensational joy broke out!
For many years my wife had been preparing for the day when she could cuddle and love on her own grandchildren. We had almost given up hope. Just that morning we saw a baby at the grocery store, and we both sighed, “It could be ours.”
Now, the wait was over. There would be no more moments of gazing and admiring the grandchildren of others. God was blessing us with our own grandchild!
Christmas is all about a baby. He was the Son of God born of a virgin. His birth was announced to Mary, and she received the news that would change the world forever.
When the announcement of the baby’s birth came, angels singing and witnesses rejoicing accompanied the exceptional news. Hope for many generations now would be fulfilled. Joy filled the earth with the announcement of the birth of a baby, a very special baby.
House of Jacob Leads to Messiah
THEME: God’s Chosen Line
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Genesis 49:8-10
“Judah, your brothers shall praise you; your hand shall be on the neck of your enemies;
your father’s sons shall bow down before you.
Judah is a lion’s cub; from the prey, my son, you have gone up.
He stooped down; he crouched as a lion and as a lioness; who dares rouse him?
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet,
until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Luke 1:30–33; Rev. 5:5
"And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus… He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.'"
REFLECTION:
“Then one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals’” (Revelation 5:5, NIV).
By virtue of being of the house and lineage of David, Jesus has the right to be the King of the Jews and the Lord of the world. The first prophecy of the coming of Jesus as the Lion of Judah and His never-ending kingdom appears in Genesis 49:8–12, where we read of Jacob’s blessing his son Judah. He uses the image of a lion three times, with the climactic prediction, “The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.” The word “Shiloh” means “he whose right it is to rule” or “the one to whom it belongs.” The descendant of Judah will be the Messiah who alone has the right to rule.
The connection between Judah and Jesus comes through the tribe of Judah and the family of David. The Davidic Covenant promised David to be the root from whom the Messiah would ultimately be born that first Christmas.
Revelation 5:5 declares Jesus to be the Lion of Judah, to whom the Father delegated all judgment. The title “Lion” depicts Christ as the embodiment of courage, authority, and power. The Old Testament frequently employs the lion as a symbol of power and the strength to defeat one’s enemies (Job 10:16; Psalm 10:9; Ezekiel 1:10; Daniel 7:1–4).
Revelation 5:6 goes on to say that Jesus is not just the triumphant Lion of royal power, but also as the Lamb, who through His death and resurrection became the redeeming provision for sin. The Lion who will judge the world is the Lamb who has already been judged for those He will judge.
Week 2: Identity of the Messiah
Star Out of Jacob
THEME: A Light to the Nations
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Numbers 24:17
"I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 2:1–2
"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'"
REFLECTION:
By Dr. Greg Hatteberg
“A star shall come forth from Jacob, A scepter shall rise from Israel.” (Numbers 24:17, NASB)
Let’s go see the lights!” That was the cry of the kids when shortly after Thanksgiving Christmas lights started popping up in the surrounding neighborhoods. I don’t care how old you are, the sight of those lights just ignites excitement deep down inside. You know something is coming soon—Christmas!
In our house, the official act declaring that it’s “Christmas time” is not just when we get the snow village arranged meticulously on the same table. Nor is it when the stockings are hung over the fireplace. Nor is it when we set out the wooden house with our homemade cave under it where we will put the figurines of Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds, with baby Jesus in the manger. No, Christmas time is “officially” here when we place the star on top of the tree! An angel at the top of the tree might be a good idea for some, but it doesn’t make the cut in our household. It’s the star that signals the start of the Christmas season! That’s when Christmas has officially begun! The tree star has been a tradition handed down from generation to generation in the Hatteberg family.
The star was also the official sign that it’s “Christ’s time.” The wise men (magi) had seen “His star” (Matt. 2:2) and knew it was the symbol of a king. Daniel’s high position in the Babylonian kingdom to the east may have given him an opportunity to describe the “star of Jacob,” the coming Messiah. And that information might also have been handed down from generation to generation as a special sign of a special event.
Whether it’s the actual star on your tree or something else, make sure to keep your focus this year on “the Star.” May you and your family join our family in making this “Christmas time” truly a “Christ time!”
King on David’s Throne
THEME: God’s Covenant with David
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: 2 Samuel 7:12–13
When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Luke 1:32
"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David."
REFLECTION:
The Father of the Eternal King by Dr. Glenn Kreider
When the angel Gabriel delivered the news to the virgin Mary that she would bear a child, he said that her son would be the Son of the Most High. Then he promised that this child, to be named Jesus, would be the fulfillment of the promise God had made to David. Rather than an eternal succession of Davidic descendants, Mary’s son would be the eternal fulfillment of that promise (see 2 Samuel 7:11–16).
Mary expressed wonder and surprise as she reminded the angel that she was a virgin (Luke 1:34). The angel reassured her that her child would be conceived miraculously by the Holy Spirit (1:35). Mary, though, did not question the angel about Jesus’s ability to fulfill the promise to David. This might have been because, as some argue, Mary herself was in the line of David. This view interprets the genealogy in Luke 3:23–38 as being Mary’s. On the other hand, she surely knew that Joseph, to whom she was pledged to be married, was a descendant of David (2:5). Luke emphasizes that relationship many times, beginning with the account of the angel’s appearance: “God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David” (1:26–27). Luke mentions Joseph’s descent from David again when he explains why the couple traveled to Bethlehem (2:4). Matthew similarly records the angel’s greeting of Joseph: “Joseph son of David” (Matthew 1:20).
Because Jesus is the final and ultimate Son of David, not simply one of many descended from the son of Jesse, Jesus fulfills the promises made to David. Jesus “will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:33).
In His ascension, Jesus has returned to the Father, where He sits on the throne of God as the Son of God and the Son of David (Acts 2:29–36). He will one day return to the earth to establish an earthly kingdom that never ends. Those of us who live between His ascension and His return wait patiently for that day when all will be made new (Revelation 21:5). While this is the season when we celebrate His birth, we should also celebrate the hope of His return: “Come, Lord Jesus” (22:20).
Son of God
THEME: Divine Identity
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Psalm 2:7
"I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, 'You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'"
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 3:17; Mark 15:39
"And behold, a voice from heaven said, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.'”
REFLECTION:
Son of God by Howard G. Hendricks
“When the centurion, who was standing right in front of Him, saw the way He breathed His last, he said, ‘Truly this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39, NASB).
Darkness at midday, a shattering earthquake, uncanny words from the Man on the middle cross audibly committing His life to His Father—“They had it all wrong!” It dawned on that hardened Roman centurion overseeing the death scene: Pontius Pilate, the Pharisees, the crowds screaming “Crucify Him!”—they had it all wrong. Gripped by morbid fear, the centurion exclaimed, “Truly this man was the Son of God!” (Mark 15:39).
What is your conclusion? Who is He, this Jesus of Nazareth? Prophets of old had proclaimed Him; the angel Gabriel announced to Joseph and Mary that the baby to be born in Bethlehem is the Son of God. John the Baptist declared Him; the Father spoke from heaven to confirm his identity. His disciple, Peter, answered the question, “‘Who do people say that the Son of Man is?’” by saying, “‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God’” (Matthew 16:13, 16). Jesus Christ Himself repeatedly claimed His deity. Heaven and earth and even Satan himself during Jesus’ wilderness temptation acknowledged His deity. Untold millions of truth-seeking hearts throughout the centuries have found Him to be the One He claimed to be. He said, “‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me’” (John 14:6).
Many, however, turn aside, refusing to face life’s ultimate question: “Where will I spend eternity?” Scripture says, “the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it” (Matthew 7:13). Yet, because God is not willing that any should perish, Jesus’ death at Golgotha and His resurrection from the dead prove beyond all doubt that He truly is the Son of God. What of those who refuse to examine the evidence, who stubbornly insist that Jesus was just another man? The writer to the Hebrews poses the consummate burning question: “How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God …?” (Hebrews 10:29).
Gifts of the Magi
THEME: Recognition of His Kingship
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Psalm 72:10–11
"May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts! May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 2:9–11
"And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh."
REFLECTION:
Under his rise to power in 27 BC, Caesar Augustus inaugurated the historic Pax Romana—a Roman order of world peace. Rome’s political influence and military might spanned from the Roman peninsula to southern Europe, the Middle East, and northern Africa for years.
During this time, the Empire—with Koine Greek as the common language and religious tolerance as a virtue—provided a secure and accessible network of roads for safe passage, commerce, and communication among its culturally diverse peoples.
However, Joseph and Mary’s lives were everything but peaceful. Betrothed to be married, Mary became unexpectedly pregnant. Joseph, feeling betrayed, planned to divorce her quietly. But an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and informed him that the conceived child was from the Holy Spirit. This baby, the promised Messiah, would become the Savior-King of the world.
The Book of Luke tells us that while Quirinius was governor of Syria, the deified Caesar Augustus summoned a census. Joseph brought Mary to register in Bethlehem, for his ancestral roots traced back to King David.
Picture this: As they arrive, Mary goes into labor. With no room in the inn, the simple stable will serve best for their newborn’s birth. Mary’s water breaks while Joseph frantically prepares a DIY crib. He cleans out the leftover wheat from the animal feeding trough, adds fresh straw, and then lines it with a cloth. Mary delivers a healthy baby boy as she cries out His name, “Jesus!” “And He will save His people from their sins,” Joseph whispers. “Immanuel—Our Prince of Peace!”
Jesus, this promised Messiah, would establish the Lord’s rule and reign, bringing true and lasting peace—not by force, like Caesar Augustus, but by being a humble servant.
This Christmas, let us renew our trust in the Lord, for God’s timing is perfect, He rules over even the most powerful, and His power is made perfect in weakness.
Righteous Branch from David
THEME: God’s Faithfulness
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Jeremiah 33:14–16
“Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The LORD is our righteousness.’
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Romans 5:17–19
"For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ."
REFLECTION:
Christmas, South Texas, 1957. I wanted a Christmas tree—a real one! But we were in year six of the drought. The cold, hard earth—its surface crazed like a piece of old pottery with cracks on cracks, held together by a crumbling allegiance of granular borders—gray and lifeless.
Not a blade of grass from the toes of your boots to the horizon. Certainly not a place to find a Christmas tree. Everything had died years ago.
Well, almost everything.
Mesquite trees survived the great drought. We have a word for these oversized thorn-bushes: “pesky.” Chop one down, and in the spring you will find a sprig, a slender shoot popping up from the stump you cut down, poisoned, then burned just to make sure it was dead.
Israel’s enemies had conspired for hundreds of years to cut her down to size. By the time of Jesus’ birth, the nation was in a spiritual drought. Promises of a coming righteous Branch (see Jeremiah 23:5), a Messiah, were seven hundred years old, and felt as empty as the desert wind. But the house of David is like a mesquite tree. Thorny, resilient. Pesky. And God’s promises have deep roots.
The Lord Jesus, the promised Branch of David, grew up in the backwater village of Nazareth (from the Hebrew word for “branch”). He was inconspicuous. Socially, He didn’t amount to a hill of (mesquite) beans. But He was tough. He was resilient. And His roots stretched back to eternity.
Folks who are unfamiliar with wood tend to disregard mesquite due to its lack of stately form, its absence of majesty. It simply doesn’t catch your attention. But if you’re a woodworker, you know that in the heartwood of this most inconspicuous of trees is a gift waiting to be discovered. Wrapped in thorns. Hard as nails. A gift that will rise again, even after it’s been cut down.
Now that’s a real Christmas Tree!
Shoot from the Stump of Jesse
THEME: Messianic Hope
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 11:1–2
"There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Acts 13:22–23
"I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will… of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus."
REFLECTION:
A perpetual college football powerhouse, the University of Michigan Wolverines have built a culture of champions on the gridiron. One season, the coaching staff all took note of a unique athlete on the team who carried himself in every area of his life with an indescribable charisma.
One of the assistant coaches couldn’t shake his curiosity and talked to this athlete. With an infectious cheer, this collegiate invited the assistant coach to a meeting, where a speaker gave a testimony of his faith. That assistant coach, Bill McCartney, eventually accepted Christ as his personal savior and went on to be the head coach of the University of Colorado Buffaloes, ultimately winning a national championship. More important, he founded the astounding ministry of Promise Keepers. Promise Keepers has impacted millions of men around the world. With God’s help, this throng of men have vowed to become Promise Keepers—to keep their promises as husbands and fathers.
The phrase “promise keeper” is powerful because it evokes character traits of trustworthiness, truthfulness, and faithfulness. These traits are revealed in the perfect promise keeper, our Father in heaven. Our Heavenly Father promised to give the world a Savior, His own unique Son, Jesus Christ.
Luke recorded this truth in Acts 13:23. This verse is from Paul’s first recorded sermon, which took place in Pisidian Antioch. After selections from the Old Testament were read in the synagogue, leaders invited Paul to share a word of encouragement. Paul took the opportunity to survey the history of Israel. He traced this history from Egypt to the Resurrection of Jesus. Couched in the middle of the story, Paul gave central recognition to David. This illustrated David’s connection to the Savior, Jesus, who was born from David’s lineage. Paul’s sermon clearly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the fulfillment of God’s promise to provide a Messiah. The Father and the Son are promise keepers. Their Word can always be trusted.
Christmas is a blessing of the promise-keeping God and His Son, our Savior, whose birth we celebrate during this special season. Merry Christmas!
Virgin Birth
THEME: God With Us
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 7:13–14
"Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 1:18–23
"Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way… she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit… Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel."
REFLECTION:
“‘…AND THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,’ which translated means, “‘GOD WITH US’” (Matthew 1:23, NASB).
Immanuel—God with us! This thought is incomprehensible. Yet it has always been God’s desire to dwell with humans. After Adam and Eve sinned, the first words of God to Adam were, “Where are you?”
Instance after instance, too many to be noted in an article this brief, can be cited to show how God sought to dwell with people in human history. In the Old Testament, perhaps no greater demonstration can be seen than the spectacular Tabernacle and its Holy of Holies (cf. Exodus 25:8; 29:45–46; 40:34–38), confirmed in the magnificent Temple constructed by Solomon (1 Kings 8:10–13). It was a tragic day when God’s glory so reluctantly departed from the temple, sorrowfully reported by Ezekiel (Ezekiel 9:3; 10:2–4, 18–19; 11:23).
Centuries after the vision given by Ezekiel, an angel of the Lord announced that a child was conceived in the Virgin Mary by the Holy Spirit, and His name would be called Immanuel. Of course, that was exactly who Jesus was (John 14:9). He was here a short time, and after His crucifixion and resurrection, He was taken from this earth.
Today, He is with us by means of three temples or sanctuaries—the human bodies of believers (1 Corinthians 6:19), local churches (1 Corinthians 3:16), and the universal church (Ephesians 2:19–22). This age will be culminated by Christ’s coming for us and taking us to Himself at the resurrection and rapture of the Church (John 14:2–3; 1 Thessalonians 4:16–18; 1 Corinthians 15:50–52; 2 Corinthians 5:2–4).
Then in the Millennium Christ Himself will dwell with us in a gloriously magnificent temple predicted in Ezekiel 40:1–44:3. And in eternity, there will be no temple for Christ Himself will be in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:22). “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them” (Revelation 21:3). Then it will be Immanuel—GOD WITH US—forever and ever.
Week 3: Mission of the Messiah
A Child is Born
THEME: Prince of Peace
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 9:6
"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."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Luke 2:11
"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
REFLECTION:
Have you been singing “peace on earth, good will to men” but your life is anything but? Christmas can feel like a race, making you wonder which will give out first—your wallet or your feet. It’s supposed to be the season of brotherly love, but it feels more like the season of “brotherly shove.”
For many of us, December days are jam packed with rushing to find a place to park or locating that last-minute gift in a busy store full of irritable sales folk. Are you experiencing a season of peace or a season of push? Here’s the test: is the day you really look forward to the day after Christmas?
Don’t miss Christmas this year. Don’t rush around decorating, buying, wrapping, cooking, and wishing for more hours in the day. You can choose a simpler Christmas. How? Make a to-do list and mark off anything that sidetracks you from the real meaning of Christmas. If it makes you cranky, it’s got to go. Stop worrying about impressing people, and give yourself time to pray, sing, sit, breathe, rest, laugh, ponder, and enjoy whatever makes Christmas about Christ.
Remember the first Christmas. The Prince of Peace was born in a place of utter poverty—probably a dirty cave far from home. There were no lights or fancy candles. There were no colorfully wrapped boxes of new baby clothes or the latest gadgets to make life easier. You see, the most precious gift you can receive can’t be ordered from an online website or found in your local mall. It’s an inner peace from the Prince of Peace—peace with God, peace with others, and peace with oneself. Therefore, I urge you this December: replace the push with peace to make this the best Christmas ever.
Kingdom of Justice and Righteousness
THEME: God’s Reign
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 9:7
"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."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 1:1
"The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
REFLECTION:
“What’s in a Title?”
The opening line of Matthew’s description of the claims of a Galilean from Nazareth, an obscure village in the north of Israel (a blended Gentile-Jewish area), would have been met with shock and amazement, skepticism and ridicule by a Jewish reader of the first century. Even a later follower of this man shared this opinion saying, “Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” (John 1:46).
Matthew begins with three claims about Jesus. First, Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, the promised one of the Hebrew Scriptures. He is the consummation of the promises of God (Isaiah 7:14; 9:6). The era of anticipation has ended, and the era of completion has begun! A light, the true light, has dawned in the birth of a child—a savior—who will bring peace to troubled hearts, reversing the tragedy of the devolution of creation. Second, this promised one is also royalty; He is of the Davidic line, the fulfillment of the promises to David (2 Samuel 7:12–16). The deliverer—the Christ, the Messiah—is a king! Third, He is the fulfillment of the promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:3) that through His seed, meaning the Messiah, redemption will come (Galatians 3:13–14, 16).
Wow! Think of this. Jesus is the Messiah and His first title became part of His name, Jesus Christ. Further, Jesus is the king; he rules with majesty and glory over His church, and He has brought untold blessings to us. He is the Christ, the true son of David, and the true son of Abraham!
This is what the advent season is about for those of us who have experienced the significance of these titles in our lives. He is the promised one, the deliverer incarnate; He is the king, the sovereign who rules over us; and He has blessed us with innumerable blessings!
The Servant Who Brings Forth Justice
THEME: God’s Servant
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 42:1–4
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his law.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Luke 4:17–21
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
REFLECTION:
It’s hard to imagine what our world would be like if it were ruled in complete righteousness. Is such a thing even possible? Could a world now ruled by Satan (Ephesians 2:2) ever again see the righteous rule of God?
In Creation, the will of God was unchallenged. As He spoke the world into existence, each part of the cosmos came into being perfectly and immediately (Genesis 1:3–25). Although the world was directly created by the Word of God, He chose to have the earth governed by a humanity made in His image and empowered to rule on His behalf.
When creating man and woman, God bestowed on them a creation blessing through which He imparted the fullness of life enabling them to manifest His righteous rule on the earth (1:28). This act was not a mandate containing commands they could pursue—or should attempt to pursue—apart from the gift blessing given to them. Instead, they were to operate out of this gracious gift as they mediated God’s earthly rule.
Unfortunately, the man and woman fell from blessing when they chose to obey the serpent (Satan) rather than God (Genesis 3). Without the fullness of God’s life, His gracious gift of blessing, humanity could no longer represent God’s righteous rule. If God’s reign were to be reestablished on the earth, it would need to be done by One who shared the fullness of God’s life.
Eight hundred years before Christ, Isaiah spoke of an individual, a Servant chosen by God, upheld by God, and empowered by the Spirit of God to bring justice to the nations. This Servant would mediate God’s righteous rule over Israel and the nations of the earth.
As you reflect on the manger this Christmas, remember that Jesus, the incarnate Son of God, is God’s chosen Servant. He is the One who is upheld by God the Father and empowered by God the Spirit to rule in complete righteousness over God’s kingdom. As we celebrate His first Advent, let us long for His second!
Suffering Servant
THEME: Redemption Through Wounds
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 53:3–7
He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
and as one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: 1 Peter 2:22–24
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly.
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
REFLECTION:
One unusual name for Jesus Christ is Suffering Servant. We don’t often associate leadership with serving, much less, service that results in suffering. And yet, Jesus said the purpose of His coming was not to be served—but to serve. Thankfully, many of our churches are filled with servants. Our Christmas “services” can become much more than stale traditions. We can inspire others in our congregation by meeting their true needs. One fellowship can enjoy a Christmas Eve service at a homeless shelter while another can celebrate a Christmas Morning time of worship at a local prison. Some churches annually highlight filling shoeboxes with gifts to the poor, while others carol at convalescent centers. These differences should be celebrated as a witness to the richness of the Christmas tradition. Often members assist other brothers and sisters in the body of Christ who are suffering during the holiday season. In this service they are adopting the model of the Suffering Servant! The apostle Paul wrote, “For I say that Christ has become a servant” (Romans 15:8). Jesus Christ led by example. He suffered while he served—but kept on serving anyway. “He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain” (Isaiah 53:3).
The little baby born in Bethlehem came to serve. He willingly left heaven and entered into true suffering service. He led in the temple by sparking debate among the learned. He served at the carpenter’s shop learning the tools of the trade. He led His ragged band of disciples by patiently teaching them truth. He served His listening public by teaching in simple stories they could grasp. And, He suffered for all of humanity by laying down His life so that anyone could enter into eternal rest and protection. Now that’s suffering-servant leadership! Remember, during this Lenten season, the words of the Lord Christ, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Christmas is a time of gifts. Open up that gift and serve—even if it involves some suffering!
The Pierced Messiah
THEME: Fulfillment of Prophecy
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Zechariah 12:10
“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and pleas for mercy, so that, when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced, they shall mourn for him, as one mourns for an only child, and weep bitterly over him, as one weeps over a firstborn."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: John 19:34–37
"But one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear… These things took place that the Scripture might be fulfilled: 'Not one of his bones will be broken.'"
REFLECTION:
As someone who has spent years teaching and attending women’s Bible studies, I’ve scribbled my way through multiple workbooks featuring women in the Scriptures. Ironically, though, only one such study has included the fourth most described person in the New Testament: Jesus’s mother, Mary.
Considering that Mary is the only primary witness of the Incarnation, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection—three events on which Christianity’s core doctrines are built—such an omission is a major oversight. To neglect Mary is to miss an important figure with much to teach us.
In an early scene from Jesus’s life, we find Mary with Joseph taking Baby Jesus to the temple to dedicate Him. And there an elderly man, Simeon, took the child in his arms, offered praise, and predicted Jesus would be the light of the Gentiles and the glory of Israel. But then Simeon offered Mary a grim prophecy: “This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:34–35).
Three decades later, when a Roman sword pierced her son’s body, Mary stood watching as a sword pierced her soul. And that was not the first time following Jesus exacted a price from her. Yet from the beginning Mary had determined to do the will of God, as seen in her words to Gabriel, “I am the Lord’s servant. . . . May your word to me be fulfilled” (1:38).
The One who “abhorred not the virgin’s womb” told His disciples that in the world they would experience trouble (John 16:33). Doing His will may bring soul-piercing pain. Yet Mary’s choices remind us that it is worth any cost to follow Jesus. We can even be merry—because He has overcome the world.
The Lamb Led to the Slaughter
THEME: Sacrificial Love
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Exodus 12:1–14
The blood shall be a sign for you, on the houses where you are. And when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.
“This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the LORD; throughout your generations, as a statute forever, you shall keep it as a feast.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: John 1:29; 1 Corinthians 5:7
"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world."
REFLECTION:
By Dr. Scott Horrell
Christmas begins within the triune God—the Father’s planning, the Son’s choosing, the Spirit’s moving—before creation began. The Incarnation and sacrifice of the Savior is the final narrative that defines the purpose of earthly and heavenly history.
In biblical history, Abel cared for sheep. With Abel’s death begins a remarkable analogy that unfolds throughout the pages of the Old Testament, continuing with the Passover lamb (Exodus 12:3–27) and the Mosaic Law’s sacrifices that included “a male [lamb] without defect” upon whose head one is to lay his hand “to make atonement” (Leviticus 1:3–4). Finally, at the baptism of Jesus Christ, John the Baptist cries out, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
Of the thirty-two times the term “lamb” occurs in the New Testament, twenty-seven appear in the Book of Revelation as the primary name of the Son of God. When the glorified Christ first encounters the elder John on Patmos, “his face was like the sun shining in all its brilliance” (Revelation 1:16)—like nuclear light blazing forth from a human shell. We see the blindingly radiant Son whose presence dwarfs the earthly power of persecuting emperors.
As John is transported into heaven, we expect an even more glorified Son of God. Yet here the Savior appears as a Lamb slain (5:6). What a strange, jolting image. Then Jesus is worshiped “because you were slain and with your blood you purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (5:9). The Son’s glory in heaven centers in His becoming the sinner’s substitute. He paid it all. This is the soteriology of heaven.
Throughout the rest of Revelation, Jesus is “the Lamb.” The Son does create, judge, and rule, but the Son’s most astonishing work is His sacrifice as the Lamb of God. The Incarnation and the Cross reveal the deep heart of the triune God. Christmas begins before the creation of the world.
Timing of Messiah’s Coming
THEME: God’s Perfect Timing
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Daniel 9:25–26
Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. Then for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time.
And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 26:63–64; Galatians 4:4
"When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law."
REFLECTION:
Outfitted with secondhand furnishings, giveaways, and wedding gifts, our first apartment wasn’t much. What little money we had went to pay the rent on a place that overlooked its share of knife-fights, marital spats, and thefts—none of which we were involved in, thankfully. Laura and I planned for a lean but joyful first Christmas together.
But Laura took those plans and added one of her own. Many months in advance of December, Laura started skimming Lincolns and Hamiltons off the top of her tips, secretly saving a small portion of her earnings in order to surprise me with a nice watch. When the time came for us to exchange gifts, lights twinkling on our Charlie Brown tree, I stood rooted to the spot in shock while she beamed with excitement.
That moment of glittering stillness on our first Christmas as a married couple brings to mind the first Christmas. Just like Laura planned for our Christmas celebration, the Father planned for the Son’s coming into the world. Moments after the Fall, the Lord promised deliverance (Genesis 3:15). People from then on looked for this son of Eve. But only at just the right moment did the Father send the beautiful gift of His Son to humanity. Galatians 4:4 uses the phrase “when the fullness of time had come,” showing us that God chose a particular moment in history to advance His redemptive work in the world.
When we celebrate Christmas, we should do so with the knowledge that we have a Father who shows His love to us in His attentiveness to our need for salvation and renewal. When we recall the glittering stillness of that first Christmas night—stunned shepherds surrounded by God’s shining glory—we see in it the culmination of God’s care for His creation. But the Savior’s birth also should point our eyes forward, helping us to trust in the Lord’s deliberate “devisings” to finally make all things new.
Week 4: Reign of the Messiah
Prepare the Way of the Lord
THEME: God’s Messenger
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 40:3
"A voice cries: 'In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.'"
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Mark 1:1–4
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet,
“Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way,
the voice of one crying in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,’ ”
John appeared, baptizing in the wilderness and proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.
REFLECTION:
Over six hundred years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah predicted that John the Baptist would announce the arrival of Jesus as the promised Messiah. All four Gospels record Isaiah’s prophecy (Matt. 3:3, Mark 1:3, Luke 3:4–6, John 1:23). John the Baptist’s witness of the coming Messiah culminates when he proclaims, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). With these words, Jesus begins His public ministry and offers salvation to all those who believe in Him as Savior of the world.
Now, over two thousand years later, people everywhere are reminded each year at Christmastime of Jesus’ entrance into the world as a tiny baby. But John the Baptist reminds us of the reason for Jesus’ birth and life—to bring salvation to all humankind.
Just as God chose John the Baptist to prepare people for Jesus’ coming, God asks all believers to live lives and speak words that touch the hearts of those around them and draw attention to our Savior.
As you celebrate the birth of Jesus and plan towards a new year ahead, are you living a life that reflects your Savior and inspires others to want to either know Christ personally or grow in their relationship with Jesus? Does your life glorify God in the way you spend your time, in the way you speak to those inside and outside your circle of relationships, in the way you share your resources, and in the choices you make both publicly and privately?
John the Baptist “advertised” the coming of God into the world. What kind of advertisement does your life communicate about Jesus? Will others be drawn to Him or away from Him as they observe you? May this Christmas be a time of recommitment to faithfully reflect Jesus so that “all flesh will see the glory of the Lord.”
Enemy’s Attempt to Kill the Messiah
THEME: God’s Protection and Sovereignty
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Jeremiah 31:15
"Thus says the Lord:
“A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children,
because they are no more.”
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 2:16–18
"Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem… Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah."
REFLECTION:
Jesus was born in the Roman Empire in a time of peace and prosperity, a time of literary giants such as Virgil and Ovid. But the most prominent headline was in Bethlehem rather than Rome. A baby—of all things—stirred political leaders, wise thinkers, the angelic hosts, and cosmic alignments!
Wise men from the east interpreted an extraordinary star as sign of the advent of the “king of the Jews.” They made the difficult journey to worship the creator of the universe, seeking salvation in a baby in Bethlehem. Most improbable but true!
The word spread like wildfire and reached no less than “Herod the Great,” king of Judea. Herod’s reign was characterized by ruthlessness: he murdered his wife, his three sons, and anyone who threatened his insatiable thirst for power. Herod assembled chief priests and teachers of the law for information about the “baby who would be king.” In a rare stroke of wisdom, they noted the prophecy: “Out of you [Bethlehem] will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel” (Matt. 2:6, Mic. 5:2, 4). Most improbable but true! Not Rome, or at least Jerusalem, but Bethlehem!
Insanely jealous, Herod deceitfully searched for the child, so that he could “worship him.” But God summoned His heavenly intelligence service to care for the wise worshippers and the young family. The wise men were warned in a dream and returned to their country. An angel of the Lord instructed the family to flee to Egypt, because the haunted king would try to eliminate the child (Matt. 2:16). No one understands the insanity of sin better than God!
Hallelujah! The saving child brought us salvation by faith (Col. 1:19-20). A baby stirred the empire, its leaders, wise thinkers, angels, and the universe! Most improbable…but absolutely certain!
The Ancient of Days
THEME: Preexistence and Eternality
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Micah 5:2 (Ancient of Days) Dan. 7:13–14
“I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven
there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days
and was presented before him.
And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom,
that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him;
his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away,
and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed."
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Colossians 1:15–19
"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created… and in him all things hold together."
REFLECTION:
Jesus’s favorite way to refer to Himself during His ministry was to use the title “Son of Man.” Many think this is a title that points to Jesus’s humanity. That is only half right. “Son of Man” does mean son of a person, like son of James or son of Janet, which connects someone to someone else. But Jesus’s connection to “Son of Man” is not like other such phrases. Part of this is hinted at in the peculiar ways the Gospel of Luke refers to this phrase as the Son of Man in the original Greek. It points to a unique figure. When Jesus tied the title to Scripture, He cited Daniel 7:13–14. In Daniel, the Son of Man rides the clouds to see the Ancient of Days (a picture of God). He goes there to receive judgment authority.
In Scripture, the only other figure to ride the clouds is God. Deuteronomy 33:26 reads, “There is no one like God, O Jeshurun, who rides through the sky to help you, on the clouds in majesty” (NET). Psalm 68:4 says, “Sing to God! Sing praises to his name! Exalt the one who rides on the clouds! For the LORD is his name! Rejoice before him!” Psalm 104:3 says God “makes the clouds his chariot.” Isaiah 19:1 speaks of God riding “on a swift-moving cloud” to deal with Egypt. The picture of the Shekinah cloud of presence may be related to this idea (Exodus 14:20; 34:5; Numbers 10:34). The image is of one present over the creation, an image of deity, even active deity.
So when Jesus uses the title Son of Man, He points to His humanity and especially to His divinity, all in one package. He affirms His uniqueness. There is no one else who combines humanity and divinity as He does. At Christmas, when we focus on the baby Jesus, it is good to recall that God took on flesh. That baby is the unique Son of Man.
The Coming King
THEME: God’s Eternal Reign
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Zechariah 9:9–10
Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem!
Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he,
humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the war horse from Jerusalem;
and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations;
his rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: Matthew 21:4–5; Revelation 19:11–16
"Say to the daughter of Zion, ‘Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey.’… On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords."
REFLECTION:
By Dr. Victor Anderson
“…He has a name written that no one knows except himself” (Revelation 19:12, NET).
We pondered, thought, scratched our heads, and pondered some more. My wife and I deliberated long and hard about what we would name our newly adopted children. As Ethiopian children adopted into an American family, these kids needed names that would work in both cultures—names that would be not just acceptable, but communicate something positive. For our daughter, we selected Yerusalem, a name dear to many Ethiopians because of their reverence for the Holy City. And our son would be named Philipos, a name honored by Ethiopians because of Philip’s role in the Bible and also esteemed by our family because Grandpa’s name is Philip. Names were chosen with intention.
So we are not surprised that Jesus is intentionally given so many names in the Bible. Yet, how odd it is that He also has a secret name—“a name written that no one knows except himself” (Revelation 19:12). Why would Jesus possess a name that is not yet known?
The secret name carried by Jesus may be to demonstrate that no one is superior to Him and that no one can control Him. Elsewhere in the Bible, naming someone or something was paramount to demonstrating superiority or control over it. Adam named animals, Jesus refused to be named by demons, and parents named children. A secret name would imply that no other being has control over King Jesus, an appropriate thought for the picture of Jesus as warrior in Revelation 19.
The secret name of Jesus also reminds us that He is beyond full description. No single name can define Him. There is something mysterious—still hidden—about this One who was born in a manger.
Think of it—Jesus, Immanuel, Son of God—great names! But there is yet another name. The babe of Christmas remains mysterious and will stretch our imagination for all time.
The Word Became Flesh
THEME: God With Us
OLD TESTAMENT PROPHECY: Isaiah 60:1–3
Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.
For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples;
but the LORD will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you.
And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.
NEW TESTAMENT FULFILLMENT: John 1:1–14; Luke 2:1–20
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God… And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us… And the shepherds went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger."
REFLECTION:
The message of Christmas is the message of the incarnation of Christ—fully God and fully man, two complete natures in one unique Person. C. S. Lewis called it “the Grand Miracle” of Christianity. If you think that sounds a little heavy for a holiday of ribbons and wreaths, you’re right. But the problem isn’t with the doctrine … it’s with the decorations.
How do we incarnate this heavenly truth into our earthly lives?
First, we can “put on” the humility of Christ demonstrated by the incarnation as we put others first. The eternal Son of glory gave up His heavenly rights for us. We earthly humans can surrender our temporal rights for one another (Philippians 2:3–7). Are you stubbornly holding on to your own ways? Like Christ, we must release our rights for the sake of others.
Second, because the divine Son stepped out of the comfort of heaven for us sinners, we should step out of our earthly comfort for the lost. We can’t wait for them to come to us. Like Christ, we must pursue them. Don’t be afraid to endure the darkness of the world to shine the light of Christ for others.
Third, because God the Son gave up the benefits of infinite riches for us, we should give our earthly wealth for Him. When I do a quick inventory of the “stuff” I’ve accumulated in just the past year, I’m ashamed. How about you? Are you building yourself a little kingdom here on earth or investing in the Kingdom of Heaven? Don’t forget—the God of glory began His human life lying in a feeding trough and ended it nailed to a tree. Like Christ, we must surrender our riches for His kingdom.
“The Word became flesh” is the true heart of Christmas.
Is it yours?
Discover hope, joy, and lasting peace through the birth of Jesus our Savior this Christmas season!
JOY & PURPOSE
IN JESUS
