Alrighty, well, welcome. Glad you're here. Let me say a prayer. Gracious God, we thank you for this day, this time, thank you for this season, thank you for your many blessings. We pray that you would help us to hear your word afresh, even if it's familiar messages, themes, passages, but may it impact us that we might know you more profoundly and love you more deeply, serve you more fully. This we ask in Jesus, our Savior's name, amen. All right, just a little review from the previous two get-togethers. The first get-together, first session, was about the promise and the person of the coming Christ. So the promise was simply the idea that God worked faithfully and intentionally throughout history to prepare for the coming of Jesus the Christ, to save a people and to undo the effects of the fall in all creation." So that was an ongoing promise. Let me trace it right from Genesis 3.15 about the seed of the woman crushing the head of the serpent. Jesus said in recorded in Luke 24 verses 25 to 27, just referencing this whole consistent story as it relates to him. Jesus said to them, O foolish ones and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken. Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory? And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself." So Jesus was able to see the whole scope of the Old Testament as pointing to him. Again, that's just the idea that When we think about the birth of Jesus, we think about Christmas, this is the fulfillment of a well-crafted, very intentional plan of God. The second thing we thought of that first session was the person of the Messiah, and that is the eternal Son. The Eternal Son, who was truly God and enjoyed complete satisfaction in the Trinity, took on flesh and came into the world. And Galatians 4, 4 and 5 says, When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. So when we think of Christmas, The birth of Jesus, Jesus didn't become a son at that point, or at any point. He was the eternal son, because God the Father was an eternal father. There ever was a time when the son was not, then there was a time when the father was not. And fatherhood is essential to God, God as father. shows us he is eternally love, he is eternally in relation. And again, if there ever was a time when the son was not, then the fatherhood of God is like a somewhat arbitrary or at least a secondary quality that he can put on and maybe take off. So the idea of Jesus being the eternal son gives us great security of knowing that we are part of the sons of God. Now this isn't just one of those times when the Bible speaks of sons and you could kind of allude daughters. Many times that is the case and the Bible just uses that language. to infer something generic, but we are all, male and female, sons of God, because we are adopted, and so we have that sense of sonship through God. So, sorry ladies, but guess what? We have to, the men have to be considered the bride of Christ, so if we have to be the bride of Christ, you can be the sons of God. So then, last session we talked about these offices of prophet, priest, and king. The announcement of the birth of Jesus from Luke 2, wonderful words, for unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior who is Christ the Lord. And the word Christ means anointed. And in the scriptures, the main categories of people that were anointed were prophets, priests, and kings. So the thought of last week, when you say Merry Christmas, you're saying Merry prophet, priest, and king. Because that would be what people would have understood when they heard the Christ. And Messiah is a similar word as well, or it's the same Old Testament word of anointed. So again, Christmas so wonderfully has that right as the core, this tradition of all the scriptures of prophet, priest, and king. And we thought a little bit of like, how little we would really know of Jesus, how little you would really know of your salvation if you didn't have Mary anointed one. If you didn't have the idea that as Jesus was born to be the Savior, he was the fulfillment of the prophet, priest, and king. So the prophet we talked about is the one that speaks God's word to represent God and Jesus did that and Jesus was that. Jesus actually is the word. and his word is life. So John 1, John 1, 1, and the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. And think of a number of passages where Jesus says or implies that his word is life, to receive him and his word is to have life. So he's also the priest, the mediator between God and man. And when you think of The priests were anointed just like all the prophets were anointed, the priests were anointed, and Jesus is the fulfillment of the priests and really all the priestly functions and all the things related to the priesthood, even the tabernacle and the services. and the worship and the sacrifices, but primarily he is the mediator between God and man. Hebrews is just full of teachings about Jesus as the great high priest. And then he is the king, because the kings were anointed too. And when you said Merry Christmas, you think of Merry Christmas, you're thinking anointed, prophet, priest, king, because that's what Christ is, right? So as king, And the Westminster Shorter Catechism was in our handout last week for that great statement of how Jesus is the king who rules and the first thing he rules and subdues is us. the beneficiary of how he rules our enemies, but also we're, in a sense, the recipient of that first rule, which is he is king over us and he has to subdue us. And so we will follow him. And he does reign and rule over his and our adversaries, as the Catechism says. So 1 Corinthians 15 verses 25 and 26, he must strain, speaking of Christ, until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. So wonderful, helpful truths that God has graciously given us through the record of the Old Testament. Why is the Old Testament so big? Why do we have all these prophets, all these priests, all these kings? Well, so that someday you could say, Merry Christmas, and you would know. Anointed. He is the prophet. He is the priest. He is the king. And our faith would be much shallower if we didn't have this record. Well, there's another type of record of the Old Testament that we're going to think about tonight. And this maybe is the thing we more immediately gravitate to when we think about the Old Testament, and it's preparing us for the coming of Jesus. And that is the prophecies that are more explicitly directed to Jesus and his coming. So some of the familiar ones, Isaiah 7, verse 14, It says, therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. That word virgin in Hebrew can be translated, often is, I guess, as young woman. And so some see, oop, we have a problem. Is it the case that the Bible does not anticipate and prophesy that, humanly speaking, Jesus would be born of a virgin? But if you think about that passage in Isaiah, this is a sign. What is remarkable about a young woman becoming pregnant? Happens a lot, right? Planned or unplanned, it happens a lot. So the sign, I mean, the fact that this is something significant, that's what a sign is, it has significance, you know, gets your attention, the sign is that likely, whatever the word grammatically, technically is, it is indicating that this is a peculiar conception. And so the idea that it's a virgin is a very appropriate interpretation. So in the New Testament, you'll see Matthew chapter 1, verses 19 to 23. And this is, I'll just read it. Joseph, before they came together, she was found as married to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her husband, Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. So in this time, the engagement was very significant. Really has a wonderful imagery of the scriptures when There was this kind of betrothal. Typically, the man would go away for a period. He would go to prepare a place. So when Jesus said, I go to prepare a place for you, he would go to the father's house, usually add on something at the home. The bride-to-be would prepare herself, and usually with her help, with family, or attendance. It wasn't clear exactly when that groom was going to come again, but there would be a shout, with a shout, typically at night. The groom would come, and hopefully that bride and her attendants were ready, so you think of the wise and the foolish virgins in that passage. That's all kind of part of the marriage story. And that's what's happening here, is this is a serious season of their life when Joseph finds that Mary is expecting. So the passage continues, as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. For he will save his people from their sins. All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means God with us. So certainly the New Testament looks at that Isaiah passage and sees the birth of Jesus fulfilling it. Moving on to the place of the birth, Micah 5.2 says, But you, O Bethlehem, Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days. Bethlehem literally means house of bread in the Bible. the background in the book of Ruth. So Naomi and her family lived in Bethlehem. And the wonderful start of the startling start of the book of Ruth in Bethlehem in the house of bread, there was no bread. There was a famine in Bethlehem. And so Naomi and family left. And you may recall the rest of that story. But anyway, this Bethlehem has significance for Joseph and his family because of their lineage, which we'll talk about in a minute. So the Old Testament, anticipating that this special ruler, the anointed king, would come from Bethlehem. So Matthew 2, verses 1 to 6, now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men came from the east came to Jerusalem saying, where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him. When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled and all Jerusalem with him and assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people. He inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him in Bethlehem of Judea for so it is written by the prophet and you Bethlehem the land of Judah are by no means least among the rulers of Judah for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel." So that is the place of the birth of the Messiah. And he was to be from the line of Abraham and then Judah through Jesse and then David and all those are References are found in the Old Testament and Jesus, humanly speaking, his human lineage fulfilled all those. Going back to Micah, the ruler is also a shepherd. So Micah 5 verse 4 says, and he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord and the majesty of the name of the Lord his God. And they shall dwell secure for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And leaders of the Old Testament people were referred to as shepherds and they failed in their calling. And God had promised especially I read passages in Ezekiel that God then would provide a shepherd and even God would be that shepherd. So we turn to the New Testament and we see the fulfillment of this. John 10 verses 11 and following, Jesus speaking says, I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. He was a hired hand and not a shepherd. who does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and flees. The wolf snatches them and scatters them. He flees because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. I am the good sheep. I'm sorry, I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me. Just as the father knows me and I know the father and I lay down my life for the sheep. almost get some of that kind of priestly image there, too, of Jesus being a mediator and being from the Father, but also compassionate, connected to the sheep. In Isaiah 40, we hear the promise and the prophecy that before the promised Messiah comes, there's going to be one who will prepare the way. Kind of familiar Christmas season passages to read, Isaiah 40 verses 3 and 5. A voice cries, in the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up and every mountain and hill be made low. The uneven ground shall become level and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed. and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken. Well, that is kind of a highlight, points us to John the Baptist, and John the Baptist saw himself fulfilling that role, being the one preparing the way for the coming Messiah. So in John chapter one, verses 22 to 23, people said to John the Baptist, who are you? We need to give an answer to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? What do you say? Probably could say a lot. And this is striking. He's going to quote that same passage of Isaiah. He said, I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness. Make straight the way of the Lord, as the prophet Isaiah said. That really is remarkable if you just pause and think about that. John could have said a lot of things. He could have said, I'm a prophet. I'm leading this renewal movement. But he not only understands that the Messiah is coming soon, but he quotes that passage from Isaiah. And you could look at that and say, well, that is God preparing and then fulfilling. And we'll get into thinking a little bit. What's the point of all this? Is this just kind of clever? Oh, isn't that neat? Like a jigsaw puzzle. It fits together. Aha! Well, it does fit together, but it's meant to have an impact. and to be an encouragement, even an evidence and witness to God, to the unity of the scriptures and the prophecies fulfilled. So anyway, that was John the Baptist preparing the way of the Lord and that was anticipated from the Old Testament, also being led out of Egypt. Interesting passage in Hosea 11 verse 1, it says, when Israel was a child I loved him and out of Egypt I called my son. And certainly when the nation Israel was a child they were led out of Egypt. But this is also anticipated as something that will happen to Jesus, to the Messiah. And in many ways that helps us understand Jesus really as Israel. He is the fulfillment of what Israel was and was meant to be. Think of Jesus as the second Adam. He was the fulfillment of what Adam, the man, was supposed to be. But in another way, he was also the fulfillment of Israel. So anyway, the wise men, they had come to see that new king. We read about that. And to worship him, they asked Herod about where to find him. And then that started a very dangerous situation. the death of the young children in the region around Bethlehem. And so Joseph has to flee with his family, Mary and Jesus, to preserve their lives, and he goes to Egypt. And so in Matthew 2, verses 14 and 15, we hear this described. It says, he rose, says Joseph, and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, out of Egypt I called my son." In the Psalms, well, we're going to read a psalm, but the promised Messiah and his ministry was to make sacrifice and provision for sin. And so in Psalm 40, verses 6 to 8, We read, in sacrifice and offerings you have not delighted, but you have given me an open ear. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required, and I said, behold, I have come. In the scroll of the book it is written of me, I delight to do your will. Oh my God, your law is within my heart. So that passage is quoted in Hebrews, speaking of Jesus and how he obeys and submits to the will of the Father. Hebrews 10, verses four and seven. It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins. Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, sacrifices and offerings you have not desired, but a body you have prepared for me. burnt offerings and sin offerings you have taken no pleasure then I said behold I have come to do your will O God as it is written of me in the scroll of the book. So some of the you know these ideas of prophecies fulfilled some of them are like the neon lights and low-hanging fruit whatever you want to say and it's like just so out there and and some of them are a little more They're subtle, they are more broad, but the Bible itself then will look at them. So the author of Hebrews looks at Jesus and his obedience and sees that as fulfilling what Psalm 40 said. You can think of the same way of that passage of the out of Egypt passage. As you think about it and look at it, you realize, yeah, that was said and that's what Jesus did. So some of these are just as rich, but maybe not quite as direct. I think just because they may not be as obvious and direct doesn't mean that they have They have less significance because the Bible itself gives them significance and how the New Testament interprets these prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus. So the next one is Isaiah 9 verse 1 and it says, there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish In the former time, he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali. But in the latter time, he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations." So this idea of a forsaken land will become a place of blessing and glory. This is a region where Jesus ministered. So in Matthew 4, verses 12 to 14, When Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. Well, who cares, right? Well, notice what comes next. So that what was spoken by the prophet might be fulfilled. And I reference that passage in Isaiah. The ministry of Jesus. Think of what he did and this was anticipated of the Messiah and prophesied. So Isaiah 35 verses 5 to 6. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap like a deer, the tongue of the mute sing for joy. for waters break forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert. So Jesus, we know, did many miraculous healings and included those things that were just cited there. But what's interesting is Jesus himself was able to point to them to say this validated who he was as the Messiah. And specifically, when John the Baptist was arrested, and he has this moment of wondering, maybe worrying, was Jesus truly who he was supposed to be? And so we send a message to Jesus, and in Matthew 11, verses two to five, we see the response. Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? And again, that's kind of interesting, because you think John, at the start of his ministry, is saying, he's the one. He's coming, and I'm the one preparing the way. And then when he sees Jesus, he acknowledges he's the one. But you know, when you're in prison and you're hoping for this prophet, priest, and king, the anointed, and maybe you're wondering, Why am I still in prison? Why is everything not going maybe so well for me if he is that Messiah? We don't know exactly why John had to raise this question, but he does. But notice how Jesus answered. Jesus answered them, go and tell John what you hear and see. The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up and the poor have good news preached to them. Think of Isaiah 61 has similar things about the coming of the Messiah and the ministry, but Isaiah 35 certainly echoed a lot of that pretty close. Not word for word, but pretty close. You get a lot of those same types of healings. So what's happening? Jesus is saying, tell John, I'm fulfilling the prophecies that were associated with what will happen when the Messiah comes. And again, Jesus had that awareness. And Jesus used it. He uses it to assure John. He doesn't chide him, he doesn't point in another direction, but he uses the scriptures and the prophecies. That's what can help us, that these prophecies affirm Jesus is who the Bible claims he is. So we get, and this is far from exhaustive, but just a couple other categories or events to look at towards the end of the life of Jesus, his entry into the city of Jerusalem. Zechariah 9.9 says, Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold your king is coming to you righteous and having salvation is he humble and mounted on a donkey on a colt the foal of a donkey. So if you picture that triumphal entry of Jesus into the city at the start of Passover week he is the king entering his city and yet he is on a donkey as that passage described. His death is for atonement and to provide forgiveness. So Leviticus 17 verse 11 says, For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls, for it is the blood that makes atonement by the life. So the entire sacrificial system was a form of demonstrating a substitutionary sacrifice. That is a sacrifice that's going to be made on behalf of another. That's what all those animals were in place of the individual who presented them. And the death of the animal was in place of as a substitute. Now at the Last Supper, we have this word recorded by Jesus in Matthew 26, 28, when he takes the cup. He said, for this is my blood of the covenant which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. So Jesus understood what he was about to do and what was he being represented in that cup, which we share in communion, was for the atonement. It was what Leviticus 17 described and many other passages of the scriptures. And Jesus did that at the Passover, which the Passover has a wonderful, rich imagery itself of the sacrifice, but the Passover meal had multiple times a cup of wine was drunk. And so this probably, people think this was what was in the Passover Seder meal, the cup of redemption, because it happened after the meal and at least the bread was shared so the different cups structured that meal and even the cup of redemption was away and the prayers associated with it were to show the forgiveness that came by God's grace. So the betrayal Psalm 41 9 says even my close friend in whom I trusted who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me. And on the night of Jesus' arrest in the upper room, again the Last Supper, Judas ate the meal with Jesus. Jesus said one of them would betray him. John 13 verse 18 says, I'm not speaking of all of you. I know whom I have chosen. But the scriptures will be fulfilled. He who ate my bread lifted his heel against me. It's interesting, this idea of the scripture being fulfilled. It does anticipate, it does prove, it does give assurance, but it's also, it must be fulfilled. In fact, a number of times you hear that in the scriptures, where it'll say, so that, or in order that. You know, this idea that these promises anticipating what Jesus would be, where he'd be born, what his life would be like, what he would do, how he would die, all that, they must be fulfilled. Because if they weren't, then God hadn't been true to all of his word. So then the death of Jesus himself, you may have had opportunity in the past to think about Psalm 22 in just a very detailed way. that describes, anticipates even as a prophecy of what happens at Jesus' death. So it begins, my God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me from the words of my groaning? And I think, and I really believe this is a true cry, something Jesus is in anguish, but it also is a way to help And the wonderful providence and grace of God, this kind of would point people to, hmm, where is that? Psalm 22. Well, then you read more of Psalm 22, and you have this amazing description of what is about to happen. This death, which seems to describe a crucifixion in pretty good detail, was written, people say, many, many years, probably hundreds of years before crucifixion was a common form of execution. The Romans, they may not have invented crucifixion, but they definitely used it a lot and became more common. Anyway, Psalm 22 6 says, I am a worm and not a man scorned by mankind. and despised by his people. So Jesus was rejected not just on the cross but all of the events that led up to the cross was him being despised and rejected. Psalm 22, 7 and 8 continues, all who see me mock me, they make mouths at me, they wag their heads. Saying, he trusts in the Lord, let him deliver him. Let him rescue him, for he delights in him. It certainly echoes the mocking and the taunts that were made by people at the time of Jesus' crucifixion. Verses 14 and 15 says, I am poured out like water. All my bones are out of joint. My heart is like wax. It is melted within my breast. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws. You lay me in the dust of death." Again, this is where just that physical experience of crucifixion, its impact on the body, people say that really, this describes. pretty specific detail, the kinds of things of both losing strength, but being put out of your body, having bones out of joint, being able, not able to breathe, and just that crushing on the breast. Verses 16 and 18 continue that bit. Dogs encompass me, a company of evildoers encircle me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones, they stare and gloat over me." Again, that physical description of what's happening to Jesus. And then continues, they divide my garments among them and for my clothing they cast lots, which also was a way of, or was an event that was described as happening at the foot of the cross. Far from exhaustive, again, there are many, many other prophecies, some count 300, 400 type prophecies that pointed to Jesus, either his birth, his life, his death, his resurrection. Some are more explicit than others. But as a whole, they are given to us in the Bible. And as I said, there's a gift here. They are a type of miracle, a sign that Jesus is who the Bible claims he is. So it can be a form of apologetics, defending the faith and sharing the faith. And you may have heard that before in different ways, books, different ministries even that are very much devoted to trying to explain this pattern of promise and fulfillment prophecies and then their fulfillment in Christ. But the Bible itself, interestingly, uses this same pattern. So, you know, we're reading through the book of Acts, and there are multiple examples, at least, well, maybe some we haven't gotten to yet, of sermons, communications, doing this very thing of showing how The ministry, the life of Jesus and what he did was prophesied, promised, and the fulfillment in Jesus has an impact on people. So for instance, Acts 8 verses 34 and 35, Philip sharing the gospel with the Ethiopian eunuch. The eunuch said to Philip, about whom I ask you does this prophet say this? He's reading from Isaiah. About himself or about someone else? Then Philip opened his mouth and beginning with this scripture, he told him the good news about Jesus. So that prophet's message recorded in Isaiah was about Jesus and Philip could say, look, Listen to what you're hearing. This was fulfilled. Promise, prophecy even, fulfilled in Jesus. And God used that to help convince the Ethiopian eunuch to believe in Jesus. Acts 28, 23. We'll get there someday, right? End of Acts. When they had appointed a day for him, They came to him, speaking of Paul, at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus, both from the law of Moses and from the prophets. And this is one of those messages that, boy, I just wish we could have heard what Paul said, how he used the teachings, the writings of the first five books of the Bible, the books of Moses and the prophets. But what was he doing? He was testifying to the kingdom of God because the kingdom of God is about the Messiah. that Christ, the anointed one coming and he was trying to convince them about Jesus, that is to convince them that the coming of the kingdom had to do with Jesus. And so you see what he's doing, the kingdom of God has come, Jesus is here, he's come, he's ministered. But this is how you know it's all true, because it was anticipated, it was talked about. So all these promises, these prophecies, even if you get into the kind of the prophet, priest, and king, which probably isn't exactly prophecies, but all these patterns and principles, they were lived out in Jesus. And that becomes the part of, maybe not all of it obviously, but the authentication and gives more credence to the truth of God so that people would believe. So it has that evangelistic, apologetic type impact, it also just shows the Bible is a Unified book, this promise and fulfillment, the prophecies and their being fulfilled in Jesus. The Bible is a unified document and God is a God of power and purpose. The God who spoke and gave these promises and prophecies can be trusted. You think, maybe like John the Baptist. Was Jesus really the one? Is this Christianity thing really true? Not your only assurance, but it is a great record of God being true to his word, making promises, and fulfilling them. We can know his power, we can know his faithfulness, and he accomplishes all of his purposes. Well, we'll do it one more time and the kids have one more week of singing and we can reflect a little more on the Christ before Christmas and other ways that the teachings of the scriptures, the Old Testament, prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. And hopefully that will help us love him and celebrate his birth.