Editorial

JOY TO THE WORLD

When I attempted to read the bible seriously for the first time as a university student, the element that most struck me was the scriptures that accurately foretold the future. There are approximately 2500 prophecies and the Bible and about eighty percent of those are fulfilled.  This for me sets the scriptures totally apart from any other writing.  As we approach Christmas, I will focus today on the passages that foretell Christ’s birth.

Our journey begins in the garden of Eden, where humanity's first sin led to separation from God. In the midst of judgment, a glimmer of hope emerged as God spoke to the serpent, saying, "And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel" (Genesis 3:15). This cryptic promise foreshadowed the birth of a Savior who would redeem mankind from the power of sin and evil.

Centuries later, the prophet Isaiah would provide further insight into the miraculous birth of the Messiah. In Isaiah 7:14, he proclaimed, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son and will call him Immanuel". The fulfillment of this prophecy in the birth of Jesus is a testament to God's sovereignty and His ability to orchestrate events in perfect harmony with His divine plan.

As we delve deeper, we encounter the genealogy of Jesus, tracing His lineage back to King David and beyond. The prophet Micah prophesied, "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). It is in Bethlehem, the city of David, that the long-anticipated birth of Jesus took place.

The journey of the Magi, guided by the stars, adds a celestial dimension to the Christmas story. The Gospel of Matthew tells us that "after Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, 'Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him'" (Matthew 2:1-2). This star, likely a conjunction of planets, served as a cosmic signpost, aligning with the prophecies and drawing seekers from afar to worship the newborn King.

Matthew's Gospel also records the perilous escape of the Holy Family to Egypt to avoid King Herod's massacre of infants. This event fulfills another prophecy found in Hosea 11:1: "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son". The flight to Egypt and the subsequent return of Jesus to Israel reinforced the divine orchestration of His life and mission, aligning with ancient prophecies.

The prophecies of Christ's birth do not stand alone; they are interconnected with the prophecies of His suffering and redemption. In Isaiah 53, the prophet describes a "suffering servant" who would bear the sins of many and make intercession for transgressors. This profound prophecy foreshadowed not only the birth of Christ but also His mission to redeem humanity through His sacrificial death on the cross.

The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem, heralded by angels and celebrated by shepherds, was a pivotal moment in human history. As the Apostle Paul later proclaimed, "But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship" (Galatians 4:4-5, NIV). This event was not merely the fulfillment of prophecy but the culmination of God's plan to offer salvation and hope to all nations.

Today, as we celebrate Christmas, we are reminded that the prophecies of Christ's birth are not just historical accounts but living testimonies of God's faithfulness and love.  These powerful fulfilled promises also foreshadow remaining unfulfilled prophecies about Christ’s future return, this time as King.  In the birth of Jesus, we find the fulfillment of promises made long ago, promises that continue to inspire hope and transformation in the hearts of believers around the world.

Peter Bain

Business Manager