by Linda Claassen Mitchell
How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies
about God’s plan – Day 1
The virgin birth:
Isaiah 7:14 (IEB): “Nevertheless, the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Look, the virgin (i) will become pregnant. She will give birth to a son, and she will name him ‘Immanuel’ (j)”
Following the footnotes:
(i) Hebrew: ‘almah, from a verb root meaning “to conceal”, because virgins were kept under close watch in their parents’ custody until their time for marriage (like Rebekah (Gen. 24:16, 43). Compare Isa. 8:3 the soon-to-be, second wife of Isaiah. And, Isaiah may have been pointing to her at that moment! Apparently, Isaiah’s first wife had died after she gave birth to Shear-Jashub.
(j) See the foreshadowing of the Messiah in Matt. 1:23 and Rev. 19:10. Compare Isa. 8:8,10; 9:6-7. This was also a fulfillment of Gen. 3:15; Jer. 31:22; Mic. 5:3. Through Jesus Christ, God is still with us (Luke 1:78; John 1:14; Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 3:16; and will forever be so in the future (Rev. 21:3)
Matthew 1:23 (IEB): “Listen! The virgin will be pregnant and give birth to a son. They will name him Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14) which means, God is with us. (Isaiah 8:8)”
Revelation 19:10 (IEB) “I fell down at the angel’s feet to worship him, but he said to me, ‘Don’t do that! Worship God! I am only a servant, like you and your brothers who have the truth that Jesus gave. The truth that Jesus gave is what inspires prophets’.”
Genesis 3:15 (IEB): “I will put hostility between you and the woman, between your children and her child. (a) Although her child will crush your head, you will bite his heel. (b)”
Following the footnotes:
(a) This perpetual antagonism would be between the tempter and mankind; that is between the children of the world and the children of God (Matt. 23:33; 1 John 3:10). Ultimately, Jesus Christ is the Descendant (or, the seed) of Abraham (Gal. 3:16, 19). His purpose was to come to earth to destroy the deeds of the Devil (1 John 3:8b) by dying on behalf of every person (Heb. 2:9) in order to save us (Luke 19:10).
(b) This promise was literally fulfilled in the triumph of Jesus Christ over Satan, a victory in which all true believers may share. See Romans 16:20 and Rev. 20:2. Although Jesus of Nazareth was executed on that Roman cross by evil men, he overcame death by rising from death on the third day. This was the fatal blow to the head of the snake, where its deadly venom is stored.
I am reminded that God always had a plan for my salvation. His plan is complete. Christ came and overcame Satan just as God had planned. He left me His truth so that if I believe – I can share in his victory over death.
How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies
about God’s plan – Day 2
He was born in Bethlehem:
The Prophet Micah was a contemporary of Isaiah in Judah and Hosea in Israel. His message related to both Israel and Judah. He prophesied about the Messiah coming out of Bethlehem in the last 3rd of the 8th century BC.
Micah 5:2 (IEB): “But you, O Bethlehem – Ephrathah, (k) though you are the least important among the leading towns of Judah, (l) a Leader will come out of you, O Bethlehem! (m) He will become the Ruler over Israel for Me. (n) His comings forth have been from of old (o) – from the days of eternity.”
Following the footnotes:
(k) the place where Rachel died (Gen. 48:7), about 6 miles south of Jerusalem. See also Ruth 1:2; 4:11; 1 Sam. 17:12.
(l) Compare John 1:46; 1 Cor. 1:27-29
John 1:46 (IEB): “Nathanael said to him, ‘Out of Nazareth? Is it possible for anything good to come from Nazareth? Philip said to him, “Come and see for yourself.” ‘ ”
1 Corinthians 1:27-29 (IEB): “But God chose things which seem ‘meaningless’ to people in the world. Why? To make ‘wise’ men humble. God chose things which seem ‘weak’ to the world to make strong people humble. God chose things which the world thinks are ‘not important’, but He destroyed things which they think are ‘important’. So, no person can brag in the presence of God.”
(m) See the fulfillment of this whole Messianic prophecy in Matt. 2:1-6
Matthew 2:1-6 (IEB): “Jesus was born in Bethlehem a town in Judea, during the time of King Herod the Great. Look, some wise men from the east traveled to Jerusalem. They asked, ‘Where is the one who was born to be king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east, and we have come to worship him.’ When King Herod heard this, he was disturbed. Everyone else in Jerusalem was too. He gathered all of the most important priests and teachers of the law from the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. They answered him, ‘In the town of Bethlehem in Judea, because this was written by the prophet Micah: ‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judea, you are surely not the least important among the leading towns of Judea, because a Leader will come out from you. He will shepherd my people Israel.’ (Micah 5:2)
As I leave my study today I am reminded of several things about the nature of God; Since He has always existed, the time frame for His plan to play out is not limited like my time here on earth. Micah foretold about the coming Messiah back in the 8th Century BC but said that this had been the plan for an eternity. He said specifically that the Messiah would come from Bethlehem, an insignificant town south of the important city of Jerusalem. Bethlehem was known as David’s city. That was not where Mary and Joseph lived, but that is where Jesus was born – just as God planned it. This was also a fulfillment of God’s promise to David. God’s word can be trusted.
How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies
about God’s plan – Day 3
God will send His Son:
Micah 5:2 (IEB): “But you, O Bethlehem – Ephrathah, though you are the least important among the leading towns of Judah, a Leader will come out of you, O Bethlehem! He will become the Ruler over Israel for Me. (n) His comings forth have been from of old – from the days of eternity.”
Following the footnotes continued:
(n) Compare Ps. 2:7; 40:7-8; Isa. 9:6; 11:1-4; 42:1; Jer. 30:21; Matt. 3:17; 12:18; John 4:34. All of these scriptures tell of the Messiah to come – A special child, God’s son, and His special servant.
Isaiah 9:6 (IEB): The people will see a great light “Why? Because a special Child (Jesus Christ) will be born to us. God will give us a Son. (p) He will be responsible for leading the people. He will be called: ‘Wonderful; Counselor; Powerful God; Father of Eternity; Prince of Peace’.”
Following the footnote (p): See 2 Sam. 7:14; Psa. 2:7; Matt. 1:1; 3:17; Luke 1:32. The Messiah is God’s gift of love (John 3:16). Mankind had no claim on Christ, but God the Father voluntarily gave His Son to be the Supreme Sacrifice for the sins of the world (1 John 2:2.)
Luke 1:30-33 (IEB): “The angel said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Mary, because God has blessed you. Listen! You will become pregnant and give birth to a son. And you will name him Jesus. He will be great. People will call him “the Son of the Highest One”. The Lord God will give him the authority of King David, his ancestor. Jesus will rule over the people of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!”
Psalm 2:7 (IEB): “Now I (the Messiah) will tell you what Yahweh has declared: He said to me; ‘You are My Son. Today I have become your Father. (f)”
Following the footnote (f): pointing to the day that Christ was resurrected, referring to the time that God’s decree was made, when the new covenant went into effect.
Matthew 3:17 (IEB): “Listen, a Voice came from heaven and said, ‘This is my Son, and I love him, I am very pleased with him!”
Matthew 12:17-18 (IEB): “What God said through the prophet Isaiah came true:
‘Look at My special servant! He is the one I have chosen. I love him and I am very pleased with him. I will put My Spirit upon him. He will also announce justice for the nations’.” (Isaiah 42:1)
God gave us His Son and He became the light for the whole world just as the prophet Isaiah said. He is God’s Son and God is His Father just as it says in Psalm 2:7. He is the One I can follow with complete confidence because He rules for God.
During the Christmas season I try to plan something special for my loved ones, but it is nothing compared to the love that went into God’s plan for me. (John 3:16).
How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies
about God’s plan – Day 4
The pre-existence of the Messiah:
Micah 5:2 (IEB): “But you, O Bethlehem – Ephrathah, though you are the least important among the leading towns of Judah, a Leader will come out of you, O Bethlehem! He will become the Ruler over Israel for Me. His comings forth have been from of old (o) – from the days of eternity.”
Following the footnote:
(o) This refers to the pre-existence of the Messiah prior to his earthly ministry. See Ps. 90:2; Isa. 9:6; John 1:1-3; 8:58; Col. 1:16-17; Heb. 1:1-2.
Psalms 90:2 IEB: “You were already God (e) before the mountains were born and before You gave birth to the earth and the universe! You have always been, and You will always be.”
Following the footnote: (e) The universe is not without a Sovereign Being. It is not the product of chance. It is not merely subject to blind laws of physics. It is not under the control of evil. Anarchy cannot prevail. No, the entire universe is under the government of God who is a wise, holy, intelligent, just, benevolent, Supreme Being. And, He rules it well; He is presiding over His eternal plan.
John 1:1-3 (IEB): “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was deity. He was with God in the beginning. Through him, everything was made. Without him, nothing which has happened would have happened.”
John 1:14 (IEB): “The Word became human and lived among us for a while. We saw his glory, the kind of glory like that of the Father’s one and only Son – full of gracious love and truth.”
John 8:58 (IEB): “Jesus said to them, ‘I am telling you the truth: I was alive before Abraham was born’!”
Colossians 1:15-17 (IEB): “Christ is the image of God, who cannot be seen. Christ is superior to all creation. Because, in Christ, everything was created; everything in the heavenly world and everything on earth, things that can be seen and things which cannot be seen – thrones, lords, rulers, or powers. Everything was created through Christ and for Christ. Christ is before everything and everything holds together in Christ.”
Hebrews 1:1-2 (IEB): “Long ago, God used the prophets to speak to our ancestors many times and in many ways. But, during these last times, God used His Son to speak to us. God appointed him to inherit everything. Through him, God also made the universe.”
Clearly Christ has been with us from the beginning. He came to us later as the Messiah to speak directly too us and to be the only possible perfect sacrifice for our sins. He came to us as a child with no earthly status so it would be clear that His power came from God.
How Christ fulfilled the Old Testament Prophesies
about God’s plan – Day 5
He came out of Egypt:
Hosea 11:1 (IEB): “When Israel was a child, I loved him. And I called My son out of Egypt. (b)”
Following the footnotes: (b) See the fulfillment of this in the time of Jesus (Matt. 2:15); the representative Messiah was even called “Israel” in Isa. 49:3. Both the nation of Israel and the infant Jesus were in danger of extinction. That is why they sojourned in Egypt for a while. Compare Exo. 4:22-23; Hos. 12:9; 13:4; Isa. 1:2-4
Exodus 4:22 (IEB): “Then you must say to Pharaoh, ‘This is what Yahweh says: Israel is My firstborn son.’
Matthew 2:8-15 (IEB): “He (Herod) said, ‘Go, search very carefully for information about the little child. When you find him, report to me, so that I, too, may come to worship him.’ After they (the wise men) had listened to the king, they left. Herod sent them to Bethlehem. Look, the star which they had seen in the east was leading them. When they saw the star, they were very, very happy. It finally stopped above the place where the child was. They went into the house and saw the little child with Mary, his mother. They bowed down to worship him. They opened their treasures and brought him gifts – gold, perfume, and precious spices.
But God used a dream to warn them that they should not return to Herod. So, they returned to their country by a different road.
After they had gone, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said, ‘Get up! Take along the little child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I speak to you again. Herod is about to begin searching for the little child to kill him.’ So, Joseph got ready. He took along the little child and his mother at night and left for Egypt. He stayed there until Herod died, to make what the Lord God had said through the prophet come true:
‘I called My Son out of Egypt’. (Hosea 11:1)
Matthew 2:19-23 (IEB) “After Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared to Joseph in a dream in Egypt. The angel said, ‘Get ready! Take along the little child and his mother and go to the land of Israel. The people who were trying to kill the little child have died.’ So, Joseph got ready. He took along the little child and his mother and entered the land of Israel. Joseph heard that Herod Archelaus was ruling over Judea, instead of his father, Herod the Great. Joseph was afraid to go back there. But, in a dream, God told him to leave for the area of Galilee. So, he went and lived in a town called Nazareth, so that what God had said through the prophets would come true: ‘He will be called a Nazarene.’
Jesus inspired the prophets to write about what would come, and He came and fulfilled each line written about Him. Jesus as an infant had no power over his circumstances but God sent His angel to warn Joseph, and Joseph trusted God and obeyed God’s direction.
I am reminded that my part in God’s plan is also to trust God and to obey His word.