We’ve examined the prophecies leading up to the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem and then confirmed those events through history.
Several Old Testament prophecies told that this offspring of King David would be the Prince of Peace and be the head of a kingdom that would never end. But what happened to the child born in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago who was to be the King of the Jews?
“…Pilate…brought Jesus out…and he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him…Crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’ Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified…And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place…where they crucified him…Now Pilate wrote a title and put in on the cross…JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.” John 19:13-19
The promised King was crucified! What happened to God’s magnificent plan where the “seed of the woman” would defeat Satan? Did the death of Jesus nullify these promises? Absolutely not!
Remember back in the Garden of Eden that Adam and Eve’s sin of disobedience caused God to pronounce a curse on Satan, all mankind, and the earth itself. Because God is absolutely just, He required a payment for that original sin plus the sins of all people since that time.
“For the wages of sin is death…” Romans 6:23
“But now the righteousness of God is revealed…for all who believe…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely…through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation (required payment) by His blood…” Romans 3:21-24
The above passage reveals that God Himself provided a remedy for sin and the descendants of Adam and Eve could be restored to a right standing before their Creator. The key word in this passage is “redemption.” Remember Boaz, the great grandfather of King David? He married the widow Ruth and redeemed (bought back) her inheritance that she and her widowed mother-in-law Naomi had lost when their husbands died. By marrying Ruth Boaz also restored the family name. Similarly Adam and Eve and all of their descendants lost everything due to disobedience, but they also have a kinsman redeemer, the seed of the woman who like Boaz was legally qualified to redeem everything they lost by paying the required price of His own blood. Jesus was born to die to pay the required redemptive price for all mankind!
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ…as He chose us…before the foundation of the world…having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself…by which He made us accepted…In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace…” Ephesians 1:3-7
“In Him…having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession…” Ephesians 1:13-14
The above passage states that those who believe in the person and mission of Jesus Christ were “sealed” which confirmed the down payment of their inheritance of eternal life. The word sealed in scripture means that the purpose cannot be changed. Sealed also stands for ownership and lastly signifies a finished transaction.
“So I bought the field from…the son of my uncle…and I signed the deed and sealed it, took witnesses, and weighed the money on the scales.” Jeremiah 32:9-10
Therefore, Jesus paid the redemptive price for the lost inheritance for all of Adam and Eve’s descendants on the cross. Jesus was then raised from the grave to prove that His death was accepted to appease a Holy and just God. That transaction was signed and sealed.
The Apostle John witnessed the completion of the redemption process in Heaven as he was penning the Revelation.
“And I saw in the right hand of Him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. Then I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, ‘Who is worthy to open the scroll and to loose its seals?’…So I wept much, because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll…but one of the elders said to me, ‘Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has prevailed to open the scroll and to loose its seven seals.’…and behold in the midst stood a Lamb as though it had been slain…He came and took the scroll… Revelation 5:1-7
Then voices rang out…
“And they sang a new song, saying: ‘You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; for you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by Your blood…’” Revelation 5:9
What remains to fulfill prerecorded history is for Jesus to reclaim, or take back all which He paid for on the cross and then present it to His bride.
“Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright… ‘Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’” Revelation 19:7-9
“And there shall be no more curse…” Revelation 22:3
“And the Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’…Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely.” Revelation 22:17
The major doctrine of the Bible is redemption. Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of the Redeemer who was born to pay the price of sin with His blood and then be raised from the grave to prepare a place for His bride. His bride is all the people that believe in and commit their lives to their “Kinsman Redeemer.” Then Christ and His bride will reside in New Jerusalem forever and ever and ever!
The free gift of redemption is available to all who will receive it.
Merry Christmas!