“…you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” Matthew 1:21 (NIV)
Nothing could diminish the significance of the coming of the Messiah, the birth of Jesus. No person, no event, no circumstance, was prophesied so accurately so long ahead of the time, and no prophecy was so misunderstood. Jesus (Immanuel) came into the world as was prophesied and was given a name by God that He should be called (Luke 1:31).
This is what the Old Testament prophet Micah wrote over seven centuries before Jesus was born:
“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2 – NIV).
The book of Micah recorded this future event, naming the exact place of Jesus’ birth and the fact that He will be ruler over Israel/Judea. Centuries later, the Gospel of Matthew records, “Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king…” (Matthew 2:1 – NKJV) and “… wise men from the east came to Jerusalem saying, ‘Where is He that is born King of the Jews?” (Matthew 2:2 – NKJV). In the Gospel of Luke, it is recorded, “…He shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of His kingdom, there shall be no end” (Luke 1:33). God’s Word is ever true!
Moreover, about the time of the prophet Micah, another well-known Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, wrote, “Therefore, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14). The New Testament Gospels record that Jesus’ mother, Mary, was found to be ‘with child’ although she was not yet married and was still a virgin (Matthew 1:18; Luke 1:31-35).
Now, at Jesus’ dedication, Simeon, a devout man filled with the Spirit of God, came into the temple, took Jesus into his arms, and gave thanks to God, knowing he had seen Christ the Messiah as promised (Luke 2:27-29). Annah, a prophetess of great age, on seeing Jesus, also gave thanks to God and spoke of Him to all who were eagerly anticipating Jerusalem’s deliverance. The Redeemer had arrived!
What child is this?
Read: Psalm 71:6; Luke 2:7
Bible Reading Guide: Psalm 138; 1 John 4:7-21; Daniel 11:2-35
