Jesus Christ; The Man Who Changed The World And Divided Time.

 

December the 25th symbolizes the birth of Christ i.e. the Messiah. Who was this Man that Christians 2000 years later regard and worship as the Son of God? Was He just a mere man that was born over 2000 years ago in a little town named Bethlehem, or was He more than just a historical figure? What does set Jesus apart from so many that came before Him that claimed to be the Messiah? Maybe He was just another one of those delusional people with a Messiah complex, or could it be that He was the Savior of the world as God had promised long ago and prophesied through His prophets? Jesus did not just come on to the scene out of nowhere, He came to the exact appointed time that God had determined before the foundation of the world. Jesus was the only One that ever qualified to be the true Messiah. There are over 300 prophesies in the Old Testament concerning the first coming of the Messiah, and they were all fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Here are just some of OT prophesies and the NT fulfillment of them:

The Son of God,  Ps 2:7 Luk 1:32, 35. The seed of the woman,  Gen 3:15 Gal 4:4.  Seed of Abraham,   Gen 17:7,  22:18 Gal 3:16. Seed of Isaac,  Gen 21:12 Heb 11:17-19. Seed of David,  Ps 132:11 Jer 23:5 Acts 13:23 Rom 1:3. Coming at the appointed time,  Gen 49:10 Dan 9:24, 25 Lk 2:1. Born of a virgin,  Is 7:14 Mat 1:22, 23 Lk 2:7.  Called Immanuel,  Is 7:14 Mat 1:22, 23. Born in Bethlehem of Judea,  Mic 5:2 Mat 2:1 Lk 2:4-6.  Great persons coming to adore Him,  Ps 72:10 Mat 2:1-11. The slaying of the children of Bethlehem,  Jer 31:15 Mat 2:16-18. Called out of Egypt,  Hos 11:1 Mat 2:15. Preceded by John the Baptist,  Is 40:3 Mal 3:1 Mat 3:1, 3 Lk 1:17. Anointed with the Spirit,  Ps 45:7 Is 11:2,  61:1 Mat 3:16 Jh 3:34 Acts 10:38. Prophet like to Moses,  Deut 18:15-18 Acts 3:20-22. Priest after the order of Melchizedek,  Ps110:4 Heb 5:5, 6. Entering public ministry,  Is 61:1, 2 Lk 4:16-21, 43. Ministry in Galilee,  Is 9:1, 2 Mat 4:12-16, 23. Entering publicly into Jerusalem,  Zec 9:9 Mat 21:1-5. His coming into the temple, Hag 2:7, 9 Mal 3:1 Mt 21:12 Lu 2:27-32 Joh 2:13-16. His poverty, Is 53:2 Mk 6:3 Lk 9:58. His meekness,  Is 42:2 Mat 12:15, 16, 19. Tenderness and compassion Is 40:11 42:3 Mat 12:15, 20  Heb 4:15. Without guile,  Is 53:9 1Pe 2:22.  His zeal,  Ps 69:9 Jh 2:17. Preaching in parables, Ps 78:2 Mat 13:34, 35. Working miracles, Is 35:5, 6 Mat 11:4-6 Jh 11:47
His bearing reproach,  Ps 22:6 69:7,9, 20 Rom 15:3. Rejected by his brethren,  Ps 69:8 Is 63:3 Jh 1:11 7:3. Stone of stumbling to the Jews,  Is 8:14 Rom 9:32 1Pe 2:8. Hated by the Jews, Ps 69:4 Is 49:7 Jh 15:24, 25. Rejected by the Jewish rulers,  Ps 118:22 Mat 21:42 Jhn 7:48. Jews and Gentiles combine against Him,  Ps 2:1, 2 Lk 23:12 Acts 4:27. Betrayed by a friend,  Ps 41:9 55:12-14 Jhn 13:18, 21
Disciples forsake Him Zec 13:7 Mat 26:31, 56. Sold for thirty pieces silver,  Zec 11:12 Mat 26:15. His price being given for the potter's field,  Zec 11:13 Mat 27:7. Agony of his sufferings,  Ps 22:14, 15 Lk 22:42, 44. Sufferings for others Is 53:4-6, 12 Dan 9:26 Mat 20:28. Patience and silence under suffering,  Is 53:7 Mat 26:63 27:12-14. Smitten on the cheek Mic 5:1 Mat 27:30. Visage being marred,  Is 52:14 53:3 Jhn 19:5. Spit on and scourged,  Is 50:6 Mk 14:65 Jhn 19:1. Hands and feet being nailed to the cross,  Ps 22:16 Jhn 19:18 20:25. forsaken by God, Ps 22:1 Mat 27:46. Being mocked,  Ps 22:7, 8 Mat 27:39-44. Gall and vinegar being given him to drink,  Ps 69:21 Mat 27:34. Garments being parted, and lots cast for his clothing,  Ps 22:18 Mat 27:35. Numbered with the transgressors Is 53:12 Mk 15:28. intercession for His murderers Is 53:12 Lk 23:34.  His Death,  Is 53:12 Mat 27:50. No bones would be broken,  Ex12:46  Ps 34:20 Jhn 19:33, 36. Pierced Zec 12:10 Jhn 19:34, 37. Buried with the rich,  Is 53:9 Mat 27:57-60. Flesh not seeing corruption, Ps 16:10 Acts 2:31. His resurrection,  Ps 16:10 Is 26:19 Lk 24:6, 31, 34. His ascension, Ps 68:18 Lk 24:51 Acts 1:9. Sitting on the right hand of God,  Ps 110:1 Heb 1:3. Exercising the priestly office in heaven,  Zec 6:13 Rom 8:34. The chief cornerstone,  Is 28:16 1Pe 2:6, 7. King in Zion Ps 2:6 Lk 1:32 Jhn 18:33-37. Conversion of the Gentiles to Him Is11:10 42:1 Mat 1:17, 21 Jhn 10:16 Acts 10:45, 47. His righteous government,  Ps 45:6, 7 Jhn 5:30 Rev 19:11.  Universal dominion Ps72:8 Dan 7:14 Phl 2:9, 11. Perpetuity of His kingdom Is 9:7 Dan 7:14 Lk 1:32, 33.
Jesus was more than just a mere man, He is truly the Son of God who took away the sin of the world and nailed them to the cross. He rose from the dead, thus He overcame death and defeated Satan. He is the light of the world and He gives eternal life to those who by faith believe and trust in Him as Lord and Savior. He did not just live and died, He divided time, because of His birth the calender changed from BC to AD. The world was never the same again after Christ came and He has transformed many lives throughout the centuries. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, maybe you have heard about Him, maybe somebody told you about the His birth, His ministry, His crucifixion and that He rose from the dead on the third day.  He offers salvation and eternal life to those who repent and believe in Him. This Christmas season, take some time and think, what Christmas is really all about and why Christians celebrate this season. It is not about Santa Claus, gifts, parties etc. it is all about Jesus and the gift of God to mankind. Jesus came at the appointed time, he died at the appointed time and He rose at the appointed time. His birth has changed the world and it will change you, He offers salvation to those who will believe, and that they shall not perish but have everlasting life. Salvation is a free gift of God. All of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God, no one can earn salvation or a right standing before God through their good behaviors or good deeds. Various religions are trying to reach God on their own merit, trying to live a good enough life, and maybe God will let them into heaven. In biblical Christianity, God reaches down to man offering salvation through Jesus Christ and through Him alone. God provided as promised a sacrifice for us, all we need to do is receive Him and open our hearts to him. This Christmas I pray wherever you may be that you would take some time and reflect on the message that Christians have proclaimed for the last 2000 years, that Jesus is truly the Son of God who died and shed His blood for our sins on the cross, offering forgiveness and eternal life to those who by faith call upon Him. God loves you and He does not want you to perish, but you must come to Him by the way that God provided, through His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only way to salvation.  "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me." John 14:6  "Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life." John 8:12

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16