CHRISTMAS THROUGH JEWISH EYES: THE PROMISE OF A KING
Christmas reminds us that God
is faithful to His promises. The
prophecy that the Messiah will be
born of a virgin was spoken by the great
prophet Isaiah in these words: “Therefore
the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold,
a virgin will be with child and bear a
son, and she will call His name Immanuel”
(Isaiah 7:14). God fulfilled this promise
by sending His only Son to be the Savior
for both Jews and Gentiles. Yet, the Bible
teaches us that He is not finished yet!
There is more to come and more to be
fulfilled.
Although everyone loves cute babies, we
must never forget that the little baby Yeshua
in the manger is the King of Kings and
Lord of Lords. One of the great prophecies
linking His first and second comings is
found in Isaiah 9:6–7. The prophet tells
us that the character of the divine baby
born of the virgin will be revealed through
a number of different names. He will
be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty
God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” and
sit on the throne of King David forever!
When Messiah comes, He will establish
His throne, fulfill His covenant with King
David, and deliver and rule over all those
who embrace Him as their Savior and
Sovereign Lord.
The Great Hallelujah
George Frederic Handel, the beloved
German composer, understood these
promises of God as well. The reason The
Messiah concludes with the “Hallelujah
Chorus” is because the first coming of the
Messiah cannot be separated from His
second coming. He was born to die and
will return to rule. His atoning work is
finished, but His plan and purposes for
the Jewish people will continue until He
fulfills every last promise He made by
covenant to His chosen people.
The Jewish people were central to His first
coming and will also be critical to His
second coming as the Bible teaches that
the end-time remnant of Jewish people
will repent and turn to Jesus the Messiah.
This turning will coincide with His return
as “they look on Him whom they have
pierced” (Zechariah 12:10). God cannot
allow His Jewish people to be destroyed
because He cannot break His promises to
His chosen people whom He loves.
Christmas gives us hope because He will
be faithful in fulfilling the promises tied
to His second coming. His return will be
the ultimate moment of deliverance for
the Jewish people when they cry out and
receive Jesus as their Messiah and King.
The babe from Bethlehem will one day
stand on the Mount of Olives, which will
be split in two, and His full glory and
majesty will be revealed. At that time,
the enemies of God and of Israel will be
destroyed. Jesus the Messiah will rule
(Zechariah 12:10) and fulfill His promise
to Abraham that, through him, the nations
of the world will be blessed (Genesis 12:3).
4 The Chosen People | DECEMBER 2019 Saint Joseph Seeks a Lodging in Bethlehem, by James Tissot / Brooklyn
Museum © duncan1890 | ISTOCKPHOTO.COM