The Prophecies and Why Jesus Had to Come

But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled (Acts 3:18).

There were many prophecies about Jesus in Scriptures we call the Old Testament, and He was often mentioned in some way. Abraham was promised his descendants would form a nation that would be blessed by God and have a special relationship with Him (see Genesis 12:1-3). Jacob knew that the Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah (see Genesis 49:10). God promised David that his descendants would reign forever (see 2 Samuel 7:12-16). Isaiah told that the Messiah would be born of a virgin (see Isaiah 7:14), and Micah said He would be born in Bethlehem (see Micah 5:2). Jesus was born of a virgin in Bethlehem to fulfill all this and to validate He was indeed the long-awaited Messiah.

The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

Why did he have to come? Only a perfect, sinless Redeemer could be the sacrifice for the sins of all the world. Only God's Son could do that, but He must take on human form (see Hebrews 2:14-15 and Galatians 4:4-5). This is why He came to earth in human form and why His birth is so vitally important. The season of Advent (a word that means coming), is reason to celebrate. Yet, the celebration shouldn't end on Christmas Eve, it should continue, always in our hearts.

My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways (Proverbs 23:26).

Christmas should be a spiritual experience. As Warren W. Wiersbe writes in his book, C Is for Christmas: "Jesus was physically born in Bethlehem so He could be spiritually born in the hearts of those who believe in Him. Jesus is God's gift to the human race. Receiving Jesus means believing that He is God's Son who...lived a sinless life, died for our sins, and rose to live forever. Receiving Jesus means receiving the gift of salvation. That is the experience of Christmas."

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