The Prophecies of the Birth of Christ

I. THE MYSTERY OF GODLINESS (1 Timothy 3:16)

A. A Mystery Defined (1 Corinthians 2:7)

1. Consider the mystery of the gospel (Romans 16:25-27).
a. The mystery had been kept secret since the world began (Romans 16:25).
b. The mystery was now revealed (Romans 16:25) or made manifest and known to all nations (Romans 16:26).
2. Consider the mystery of the translation of the saints (1 Corinthians 15:51-58).
a. The mystery had previously been known, at best, in part.
b. The mystery was now shown in detail (1 Corinthians 15:51).
3. Consider the mystery of the heirship of the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:1-13).
a. The mystery had not been known in other ages (Ephesians 3:5) from the beginning of the world (Ephesians 3:9).
b. The mystery was now made available for all men to see (Ephesians 3:9), especially the church (Ephesians 3:10).
4. Consider the mystery of Christ in us (Colossians 1:25-27).
a. The mystery had been hid from ages and from generations (Colossians 1:26).
b. The mystery was now made manifest (Colossians 1:26) or made known (Colossians 1:27).
5. Consider the mystery of the candlesticks and seven stars (Revelation 1:11-20).
a. The identity of the candlesticks and stars were, at first, unknown (Revelation 1:11-19).
b. Christ had to give John understanding of the mystery (Revelation 1:20).

B. The Mystery Explained

1. Though men spoke or wrote of the coming birth of the Saviour, they lacked understanding.
2. Even to this day, aspects of the incarnation remain a mystery.
a. How can a virgin conceive?
b. How can one born into this world be both God and man?

II. THE PROPHECY OF MEANS

A. From the Seed of a Woman (Genesis 3:15)

1. The first prophecy given in time.
2. The reality is that the woman has no seed (Genesis 1:11-12).

B. From Dual Beginnings

1. From a virgin’s womb
a. A virgin shall conceive and bear a son (Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23).
b. Unto us a child is born (Isaiah 9:6).
2. From the Father and one with the Father
a. His name shall be called Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), meaning God with us (Matthew 1:23).
b. A son is given—Jesus would be born, though already a son (Isaiah 9:6; Luke 1:35).
c. Jesus, preexisting as the Word (John 1:1-2, 14), became a servant for ever when He was born into a body (Psalm 40:6-8; Isaiah 50:5; Hebrews 10:5-9; see also 1 Timothy 2:5).

III. THE PROPHECY OF LINEAGE

A. From the Seed of the Woman (Genesis 3:15)

B. From Abraham’s Seed (Genesis 22:18; Genesis 26:4; Hebrews 2:16)

C. From Judah’s Line (Genesis 49:10; Matthew 2:6; Luke 1:39; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5)

D. From Jesse’s Stem (Isaiah 11:1; Matthew 1:1-2, 5-6, 16; Luke 2:1-7; Luke 3:23, 31-32, 33-34); Note: David’s Branch indicates reign (Jeremiah 23:5; Jeremiah 33:15)

IV. THE PROPHECY OF PLACE

A. The Promise of His Coming (Micah 5:2)

1. Though His goings forth have been from everlasting
2. He would step into the world in Bethlehem Ephratah (Matthew 2:6; John 7:42); the place of Rachel’s burial (Genesis 35:19; Genesis 48:7; Jeremiah 31:15; Matthew 2:16-18).

B. The Fulfillment in His Coming

1. Joseph and Mary lived in Nazareth and would have had the child there (Luke 2:4).
2. Because of a taxing, Joseph and Mary had to journey to Bethlehem (Luke 2:3).
3. While there, Jesus was born (Luke 2:5-7).

V. THE PROPHECY OF TIME

A. The Location of the Prophecies’ Origin

1. Balaam’s prophecy (Numbers 24:17)
a. The content
1.) A Star out of Jacob
2.) A Sceptre out of Israel
b. The origin
1.) Balaam was from Pethor (Numbers 22:5).
2.) According to Deuteronomy 23:4, this was Pethor of Mesopotamia, east of the Jordan.
2. Daniel’s prophecy (Daniel 9:25)
a. The content
1.) 69 weeks from the commandment to restore Jerusalem
2.) Messiah, the Prince would come and die
b. The origin
1.) At the time of Daniel’s prophecy, he was in the land of the Medes (Daniel 9:1).
2.) This was certainly the land of the east.

B. The Arrival of Those Expecting Fulfillment (Matthew 2:1-2)

1. They had seen “his star in the east” (Matthew 2:1-2).
2. They were come to worship “he that is born King of the Jews” (Matthew 2:2).

VI. THE PROPHECY OF PURPOSE

A. His Name Prophesied (Luke 1:31)

1. Foreshadowed
a. Moses – the Law
b. Joshua – the Old Testament equivalent of Jesus
2. Specified
a. To Mary (Luke 1:31)
b. To Joseph (Matthew 1:21)

B. His Purpose Stated (Matthew 1:21)

1. He shall save His people
2. From their sins