Come Thou Long-expected Jesus

TODAY'S SPECIAL: John 5:19-47

TO CHEW ON: "'You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of Me.'" - John 5:39

Jesus knew who He was, and that He was the fulfillment of prophecy. Let's take up His challenge to the Jews, and search the scriptures to see how they testify of Him.

• The first prophecies begin in the first book of the Bible, the opening scenes of God's dealings with humanity when God cursed the serpent and declared the woman's seed would triumph - Genesis 3:15.

• Genesis 49:10 prophesies that the triumphant ruler will come from the tribe of Judah. More specifically, Psalm 132:11, Isaiah 9:7, Isaiah 11:10 and Jeremiah 23:5 all predict this King will be a descendant of David.

• Isaiah predicts that a virgin will conceive and bear a Son—Emmanuel (God with us) - Isaiah 7:14.

• Micah predicts His birthplace—Bethlehem - Micah 5:2.

• Malachi predicts a messenger preparing the way for Jesus' ministry - Malachi 3:1.

• God's Servant is characterized as having God's Spirit upon Him and being the Saviour of the Gentiles as well as the Jews - Isaiah 42:1; 49:6. He preaches good tidings to all who are bound - Isaiah 61:1.

• Furthermore, this promised Son (Isaiah 9:6) will bring light - Isaiah 9:2.

• Psalm 118:22 speaks of builders rejecting a stone which would become the chief cornerstone. Isaiah 28:16 refers to that stone as well.

• Zechariah predicts His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey - Zechariah 9:9.

• Isaiah predicts His marred body and appearance in Isaiah 52:14 and 53:2-7.

• Psalm 69:21 names details of Jesus' experience on the cross, predicting He would be offered vinegar to drink.

• His atonement and resurrection are predicted in Psalm 68:18.

• We read about His eventual triumph, sitting at the right hand of the King with His enemies His footstool in Psalm 110:1. Isaiah predicts He will conquer death - Isaiah 25:8, and Daniel tells of His indestructible kingdom - Daniel 2:44; 7:13,14.

And there are many others!

As we celebrate His birth, let's do so with an appreciation of the rich story of which it is a part—a story that is threaded through the Old Testament in prophetic predictions, comes to pass in the New,  and of which we are a part if we have been born again into His kingdom


PRAYER: Dear God, I am amazed at the consistency of the writings about Jesus in the Old Testament. Thank You for these prophetic scriptures which bring home the foresight and intricacy of your plan of salvation. Amen.

MORE: "Come Though Long-Expected Jesus" - Chris Tomlin