In the 1800's there was established a tradition that in the British navy a scarlet thread was woven through the center of every size and every foot of every line and every rope that belonged to them. No one else made a rope that way. Though a rope was cut into pieces, every inch could be recognized as belonging to the British government.
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Today, I want to continue that long tradition of reference: "Like the scarlet thread running through the lines and ropes of the British navy," there is a scarlet thread running all through the Bible—the blood of the promised Messiah who was to come and did come to save the world from its sin. The whole Bible points to Christ. He is the Bible's scarlet thread!
At Christmas time, we read in Christian magazines and Christmas cards of the prophecies of Jesus birth. Let's look at some of them.
●Jesus was to be born of a virgin. "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." (Isaiah 7:14)
This prophecy reaches forward to the virgin birth of the Messiah. Some Bible versions have omitted the word "virgin" and reduced it to "young girl." But this is not good scholarship. Not only is it not good scholarship, it is also poor Bible doctrine. When you take away the virgin birth, you take away the miracle of Jesus birth. A virgin conception would require a mighty act of creation by God Himself . Mary is called a virgin by both Luke and Matthew. Luke 1:27 and Matthew 1:20.
●To be Born as a Human. "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
The words in these verses elaborate further on Immanuel, the child to be born to the virgin. The virgin's child will also be the royal Son of David, with the legal right to the Davidic Throne. See Matthew 1:21 and Luke 1:31-33, 2: 7-11)
"The Lord hath called me from the womb; from the bowels of my mother hath he made mention of my name" (Isaiah 49:1) "And now saith the Lord that formed me from the womb to be His servant, (Isa 49:5)
The Messiah/Servant will be a human being, born as others are of a woman, yet virgin born as we read in Isaiah 7:14 and Luke 1:20-33.
●To be born in Bethlehem Ephratah. "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
Let's look at Ephrathah. J. Vernon McGee gives us this interesting summary. "But thou, Beth-lehem Ephratah"—since there were two Bethlehems, the word ephratah, meaning "fruitful", is added to distinguish between them. Micah named the place where Christ was to be born seven hundred years before He was born there. After seven hundred years, with so many intervening events, there was little likelihood that one in the line of David could be born in Bethlehem. It was almost entirely out of the question. The odds were against it.
No members of the family of David were living in Bethlehem any longer. They were scattered. The Dispersion had driven them from the land. There was one family in the line of David living in Nazareth; yet Bethlehem must be the place where the Son of God was to be born, according to Micah. This prophecy was the sole basis on which the scribes directed the wise men to Bethlehem. The scribes quoted from the prophecy of Micah because they believed that it was the place where He would be born, although they didn't believe it would be fulfilled at that time." (McGee)
Inspired by God, Micah prophesied of the birthplace of the coming Messiah. Bethlehem was a small village, hardly the place for a king to be born. Yet the prophet foresaw, over 500 years in advance, the unlikely village of Bethlehem as Jesus birthplace. "From of old, from everlasting," speaks of eternal God's incarnation in the person of Jesus Christ. It points to His reign as King of Kings.
●To be born at a predetermined time. "But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons." (Galatians 4:4-5)
The time agreed and fixed between God and his Son from all eternity, when the Son of God should assume human nature. It was diligently searched out by the prophets, and was revealed unto them. This would be before the civil government ceased from Judah, and before the destruction of the second temple. This was prophesied by Daniel in his prophecy of the "seventy weeks." For and in-depth study go to Daniel 9:24-27.
The fact of God's sending His Son to redeem us who were under the law (Galatians 4:4), and sending the Spirit of His Son into our hearts (Galatians 4:6), confirms the conclusion (Galatians 3:29) that we are "heirs according to the promise."
Does that make you want to sing the Hallelujah chorus? After reading all these prophesies, We as "heirs" should be filled with joy to read again of the plan our Creator had for us before the foundation of the world. Ω
