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3 prophecies about the birth of Jesus that will help you prepare your heart for Christmas Escrito por: P. Kenneth Pierce |
When the Kings of the East arrive in Jerusalem and ask where the king of the Jews was born, their presence causes a great commotion. Herod did not know, but he quickly consulted the priests and scribes, who answered that in Bethlehem of Judah. This is what an ancient prophecy of Micah said. It was not the only prophecy regarding the birth of the Messiah. In fact, prophets for many centuries before the birth of Jesus had announced the coming of the Savior, giving quite precise details .
The understanding they may have had of the prophecies was probably not complete, since God always surprises us and goes beyond what we can imagine. Let’s look at some of these prophecies and what they teach us!
1. The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem – Micah 5:1-4
Bethlehem was a small village, a short distance from Jerusalem. That it is such a humble and simple place where Jesus is born tells us a lot about what things God considers important . He is not interested in the great metropolis, nor in honors, nor in rank. It is best shown in the simplicity that allows us to see what is important. Another subtlety of God: Bethlehem means House of Bread. What a prophetic name to remind us that He will be our food!
2. He will be born of a Virgin and will be called Emmanuel – Isaiah 7,14
It is the sign given to King Ahaz when he prefers to trust in men than in God. How incredible is the power of God and how it surpasses human imagination! Isaiah did not know it, but that child will not only be born of a Virgin, but he will be God himself. He knew that his name would be Emmanuel, which means: God-with-us, but he surely did not suspect to what extent God was willing to join the destiny of humanity. God is not an impersonal cosmic entity, but a named person who loves us and gives himself entirely for us .
3. He will be a descendant of David and will bring reconciliation – Isaiah 11,1-9
The Messiah will be born from the trunk of Jesse, and will be filled with the Spirit of God. The lamb will feed with the lion, and the child will not be afraid of wild animals. It will be a time of peace, where all hatred and resentment, all ruptures, will be healed, and everything will have the harmony that springs from the knowledge and presence of God.
What do the prophecies teach us? 4 lessons
What learning can we obtain from these prophecies? These are four teachings that can illuminate our lives not only at Christmas time, but at any other time in our lives when we have to remember that God remains faithful to his Word.
1. God is not carried away by haste
Their times are usually long… but perfect. In a world that wants everything instantaneous, the prophecies about Jesus teach us that God prepared the birth of the Savior over centuries. God took his time to educate and prepare humanity. What does this say to us who want everything immediately?
2. They teach us to prepare
The good thing, what is really worth it, takes time. Preparing the heart means being able to value the gift that is given to us, as well as being ready to welcome it. If I do not value it, I will not be able to accept it, and it will be sadly like those pearls that are thrown to swine (Mt 7,6). God offers us the time to prepare and to welcome his gift.
3. God always keeps his promises
This is how he has always done it… and we still sometimes distrust his words. The problem is not that we do not believe in God, but that we do not believe that he will fulfill what he promises us. If doubt overcomes you or you simply do not fully understand the figure of Jesus, I recommend the online course “Knowing Jesus to live in Jesus.” A perfect course for this time when we prepare our hearts to receive the King of Kings.
4. Since God always delivers, we can trust Him
That is precisely the reason for our hope. Our patience is not simply holding on, thinking “positively” that one day everything will get better. Our patience is full of hope, because we know without a doubt that God never fails us, and that he fulfills everything he promises. And what he promises is wonderful, surpassing anything we can imagine.
Look at this promise from God, a prophecy for our future: «Look at what love the Father has had for us to call us children of God, because we are! … Dear ones, we are now children of God and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is” (1Jn 3:1-2).
Let us prepare our hearts with joy and hope because God fulfills what he promises! The birth of Jesus confirms them for us: God loves us infinitely .
