To the Jew First | 17
trappings of our current Christmas celebrations, but the heart of
it all: the incarnation of our Messiah and Lord, Jesus the Messiah
The festival of Hanukkah and the reality of the incarnation remind
me that God will keep His hand on His chosen people. He will
shelter, rescue, and preserve the Jewish people until the last day
when He comes to reign over His recaptured earth.
THE MESSAGE OF THE SEASON: GOD KEEPS HIS WORD
I am reminded of a verse in Joshua 21:45, immediately after
Joshua settled the tribes on the Western side of the Jordan: “Not
one of all the Lord’s good promises to the house of Israel failed;
everyone was fulfilled.” This comment refers directly to God’s
faithfulness in helping the Israelites conquer the land promised
to them by God. However, this verse can easily be applied to all
the promises of Scripture—some already fulfilled and some to be
fulfilled in the future.
The real message of this holiday season is that God keeps His promises!
Christmas is all about God’s fulfilling the prophecy made through
Isaiah to the Jewish people: “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). He fulfilled His
promises and sent His Son to be the Savior for both Jews and
Gentiles. But, He is not finished yet! There is more to come, more
to be fulfilled. Both Christmas and Hanukkah point us forward to
what God will do in the future.
ChosCenh oPseeonp Plee oMpinleis Mtriensis t. rciehso s. ecnhpoeseonpplee.coopmle .c |o m17
The Promise of a King
One of my favorite hymns at this time or any time of the year is
“Joy to the World” by Isaac Watts. What is so amazing is that
even though his father was twice imprisoned for his religious
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