Can you keep a secret? I’m not very good at keeping secrets. If I know somebody has one, I’m overcome with curiosity until the secret is revealed. I think I inherited this tendency from my mom (the mother always gets blamed). She was so excited about the presents she had bought me for Christmas that she couldn’t wait until the actual day. She’d actually let me see some of my presents before Christmas! (So opening presents at Christmas was kind of anti-climatic for me.) God isn’t like us. He can keep a secret. If fact, He did keep one. There is a secret talked about in the bible. Romans 16:25-26 speaks of this mystery that was hidden in ages past, but now has been revealed through the prophetic writings in the Old Testament and the fulfillment of them in Jesus Christ. So the secret is the gospel itself – the good news!
Jesus became fully human (John 1:14) so we can fully identify with Him. He ate food, slept, went to the bathroom, etc. just like us (except He was without sin!) He was baptized, just like we get baptized. He walked in faith, just like we walk in faith. All the miracles done through Jesus on earth were done through Jesus as a man – a human man. Jesus prayed to the Father, just like we pray to the Father. So we see Jesus is our earthly example, representing God to us and representing how we can flow in our relationship with God. So if Jesus used the bible to minister truth to people, don’t you think we should also? (Kind of a loaded question, I know.)
That is exactly what Jesus did. Luke 24:13-35 gives an interesting account about two of Jesus’ followers on the road to Emmaus. The resurrection of Jesus has already taken place and He Himself draws near to these two fellows and starts walking with them. They did not recognize Jesus at this point. Jesus engages them in conversation, and the whole story spills out about the crucifixion and a supposed resurrection and their doubt confusion about the whole mess! Jesus then calls them foolish and proceeds to explain to them beginning at Moses the Scriptures concerning Himself. (Note: Jesus used the Word to reveal the truth.) Voila, they now understand. Jesus used the Old Testament prophecies and explained how He fulfilled them. As followers of Christ, it seems to me that we should be able to do the same for people we know are seeking the truth.
There are over 60 specific prophecies in the bible concerning Jesus and the events during the time of His birth that were fulfilled to the letter. I’m going to summarize just a few of these and list their biblical references. Keep in mind these prophesies were recorded 500 to 1000 years before they ever happened! And, most have been fulfilled and recorded in the New Testament (some have yet to be fulfilled, such as His second coming). I hope this proves helpful to you personally and to others you might share it with.
Born in Bethlehem Micah 5:2
Messenger to prepare the way (John the Baptist) Malachi 3:1
First born children two years old and younger killed Jeremiah 31:15
Joseph flees to Egypt, then is called out of Egypt Hosea 11:1
Lived in Nazareth Judges 13:5
Light to the regions of Zebulon and Napthalie (land of Galilee) Isaiah 9:1-2
Riding on a donkey Zechariah 9:9
Betrayal Psalm 41:9
Betrayed for 30 pieces of silver Zechariah 11:12
30 pieces of silver for a potter’s field Zechariah 11:13
Details of the crucifixion Isaiah 50:6
Details of the crucifixion Psalm 22 & Isaiah 53
The resurrection Psalm 16:10
Seated at God’s right hand Psalm 110:1
Second coming-in power, dominion and authority Daniel 7:13,14
Israel will finally recognize Jesus as the Messiah Zechariah 12:10
The millennial reign of Christ Zechariah 14:6-9
Can’t you just picture Jesus reciting verse after verse of Old Testament prophecy on the road to Emmaus and saying, “Jesus did that, Jesus did that too”!
I for one think it is of utmost importance that we establish ourselves in these foundational truths. Contrary to popular/cultural opinion, there is such a thing as absolute truth. Jesus is absolutely true, and all He accomplished for us through his death, burial and resurrection is absolutely true. I’m glad I have this foundation to build my life on, instead of having to question things when hard times come.
Jesus is at the center of everything – He’s The Man (I Timothy 2:5). I’d like to end with Colossians 1:13-17, “He [God] has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him [Jesus] all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”
image: photostock/freedigitalphotos.net
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