26 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” 29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” 34 “How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. 36 Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. 37 For no word from God will ever fail.” 38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38)
Last time, we studied “The Prophecy of the Birth of John the Baptist.” Today, we study “The Prophecy of the Birth of Jesus.” Six months after Elizabeth conceived John the Baptist, the angel Gabriel was sent by God to Nazareth in Galilee to appear to the virgin Mary, who was betrothed to Joseph, a descendant of King David. When the angel greeted Mary, she was greatly troubled. The angel told her not to be afraid, saying she would conceive and give birth to a son and would name him Jesus. He would be called the Son of the Most High, i.e. the Son of God. Mary, however, questioned how this could happen since she was a virgin. The angel then told her that the Holy Spirit would come upon her and cause her to conceive. Mary then replied, “I am the Lord’s servant, May your word to me be fulfilled” We see that when the angel delivered the message to Mary and Zechariah, their reactions were different: Zechariah was skeptical and unbelieving, while Mary responded with faith, humility, and obedience. This is an example for us to learn from.
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)
This Old Testament verse prophesies that a virgin will conceive and bear a son, and his name will be called Immanuel, which means, “God with us.”
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” (Micah 5:2)
This Old Testament verse prophesied that the Lord Jesus would be born in Bethlehem. Later, we learn that the Lord Jesus grew up in Nazareth, hence people call him Jesus of Nazareth.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
This Old Testament verse also prophesied the birth of Jesus. It speaks of Him as Almighty God, the Everlasting Father. Being the Everlasting Father does not mean that He is God the Father. Jesus is the Son of God, the Son of the Trinity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus sometimes addressed His disciples as children. Being the Everlasting Father means that He will forever protect and provide for us like a father.
May God bless you and your family!
