There is an interesting parallel between Christmas today and that of yesteryear. Before Christ was born , John the Baptist preceded him, heralding his arrival in a voice that cried in the wilderness. He was preparing the way of the Lord by urging a baptism of repentance in an acknowledgment of mans sinful nature in contrast with God’s righteousness. His cry was that the kingdom of God was at hand, meaning that the Lord had come. A few, like Simeon, expected him–they had been waiting for the consolation of Israel, but the Jews in power were ill disposed to believe; they honored one another, there was no need for repentance. Their Messiah would vindicate.

So today what do we have? As we approach the consummation of the age, the kingdom of heaven ( God) is more than just ‘at hand’. It is a time soon to come–the signs are there–when the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. Today the world celebrates Christ’s birthday, but is unwilling to see his role in the affairs of men. As in Israel’s time the world continues to worship with continued sacrifices, denying the meaning of it. Our celebration of Christmas must be a smoke in God’s nostrils. Mankind continues to commit the same sins: having a form of Godliness, but denying the power thereof–ever learning but never coming to a knowledge of the truth–daily worshiping, but teaching for doctrine the commandments of men. All fitting descriptions of the present day birthday celebration..

The role of Christ is not seen. It is possible today for churchmen to believe that Christ didn’t bring a sword, but peace. Though not so stated, Christ was a pious fraud–he was not the son of God, not really raised from the dead, but only a good man and teacher, standing for good fellowship. All these perceptions have an insidious effect. The world is rife with questions. Are we uneasy when asked to give a reason for our hope ? Was Christ a fraud, or not? Well, we don’t have to prove there was a Jesus. What we do have to prove is, was he truly God’s anointed? Today we want to prove that Jesus fulfilled the prophecies concerning him–that they far exceed mere coincidence.

What did the scriptures say of Jesus? What was he to be like? Over 500 years before his birth Isaiah foretold his birth and role:

For unto us a child is born; unto us a son is given:

and the government shall be upon his shoulder: . . .

And to establish his (government) with judgment and justice

from henceforth and forever.. Isaiah 9. 6, 7

If these words were all we could rely on, we’d be hard put to prove Jesus is not an imposter. But there are other ways. We could prove by dissecting the symbolism in the law of Moses, or plumb the story of Jonah to discern a type of Christ, or examine the surfeit of scripture regarding his role in the world.

My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? Why art Thou so far from helping me? And from the words of my roaring? ( Ps. 22.1)

In this Psalm of David appear the exact words of Jesus as he hung on the cross. Was David speaking of himself? Read on through verses 14 - 18:

I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint;

my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.

My strength is dried up like a potsherd;

and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me

into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me;

the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced

my hands and my feet. . .they part my garments among them,

and cast lots upon my vesture.

Did David come to the dust of death? Yes, in the way of all men, but was he crucified and his garments parted? All this written 1,000 years before Christ, these words cannot apply to any event in history except the crucifixion. See Isaiah 42.1:

Behold, my servant, whom I uphold: mine elect,

in whom My soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him,

he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.

What kind of man is he?

He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice

to be heard in the street. A bruised reed he shall not break,

and the smoking flax shall he not quench; he shall

bring forth judgment unto truth. (Vs 2, 3)

I the Lord have called thee in righteousness . . .

and give thee for a covenant of the people,

for a light unto the Gentiles. (V.6)

In the prophecy of Isaiah Christ’s sufferings are foretold, the 53rd chapter being the primary description of Jesus Christ as the true Messiah. No comeliness–no beauty–despised and rejected–borne our griefs–esteemed him not–wounded for our transgressions–Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all–no violence–no deceit.

Who can doubt the identity of this man?

In Daniel 9. 22 to end, we have his vision of the seventy weeks prophecy. Scholars agree that this prophecy concerns the coming of the ‘anointed one’– remarkably fulfilled in the appearance of Christ in his public ministry, written during the Babylonian captivity some 500 years before Christ’s birth. The prediction that Messiah would come, be cut off (killed), and the oblation caused to cease, and the sanctuary destroyed (70 AD). All these things came to pass. You will recall Christ predicted that the temple would be destroyed:

Jesus said to his disciples, See ye not all these things?

Verily I say unto you, there shall not be left one stone

upon another, that shall not be thrown down. (Matt 24. 2)

After that day in 70 AD, there was no more open vision between God and the nation of Israel.

The true Messiah is further described in the book of Zechariah:

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem:

Behold, thy king cometh unto thee; he is just and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt, the foal of an ass. (9. 9)

* * *

. . .they weighed for my price thirty pieces of silver. (11. 12)

* * *

And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him; as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn. (12. 10)

* * *

And one shall say unto him, what are these wounds in your hands? Then he shall answer, those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends. (13. 6)

In summary, the Messiah is described as:

• meek and lowly
• rejected of men
• enters Jerusalem on ass
• price was 30 pieces of silver
• pierced hands and feet
• garments parted–lots cast
• brings light to Gentiles
• after death, destruction of temple