God's Plan Foretold

Introduction

Here we are again—it’s Christmas. That wonderful time when we celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus the “Christ” the “Messiah!” We celebrate the redemption of humanity.

If you are like me, sometimes it is easy to think of God’s plan for redemption as an afterthought. Something He came up with after mankind’s stupidity caught Him off guard. But God’s redemptive plan for mankind was never His plan “B.” It in full effect at the time of creation and every moment since then. It was not His plan “B,” but rather has always been His plan “A.”

He knew before He created the world, and He knew before He created mankind. In fact, He knew humanity was going to need a Savior before He ever started.

Not only did He know we would need a Savior, but He also determined to meet that need.

Look at what Paul wrote in Romans 5:6.

Romans 5:6 NIV84

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

—At just the right time. . .

—When we, all of humanity, was still powerless.

—Christ died for the ungodly!

The coming of Jesus was at just the right time in history—when humanity could do nothing for themselves—it was then that Jesus stepped into the world!

But God’s plan was revealed long before that first Christmas day!

God’s Plan Revealed

God began revealing His plan way back at the fall of mankind. Today we are going to be jumping around in Scripture a bit.

We’ll start back in Genesis chapter 3 verse 14-15.

Genesis 3:14–15 NIV84

So the Lord God said to the serpent, “Because you have done this, “Cursed are you above all the livestock and all the wild animals! You will crawl on your belly and you will eat dust all the days of your life. And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

—I will put enmity—hostility—between your offspring and the woman’s offspring.

—Satan, the serpent, will strike his heal.

—The offspring—Jesus, will crush the serpent’s head.

Jesus—the offspring of the woman—was destined to come and disrupt the serpent’s world!

But God coming into this world as a baby doesn’t make sense. Yet way back in Isaiah we learn that God’s plan would begin with a baby!

God’s Plan Begins with a Baby!

Turn with me to Isaiah 9:6-7.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NIV84

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. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

The Baby

—First, we’re told that a child is born.

—This child would be a son.

—This child, or son would free us from the weight of bondage that we are under.

—This child will have several names:

Wonderful Counselor—Miraculous Advisor, or direction giver.

Mighty God—“Mighty” can be translated, Champion, hero, while, “God” can mean God, or deity.

Everlasting Father—without beginning or end, and “Father” exactly what it means.

Prince of Peace—“Prince” can mean guardian, ruler, commander, or prince. and “Peace” is the Hebrew word, shalom which can mean peace, but it an also mean deliverance or salvation.

The greatness of His government and His shalom will have no end—will never end.

This great one will reign on David’s throne with:

Justice

Righteousness

For all time!

And the key is that Yahweh’s intense devotion will accomplish all of this!

Now we are even told where this baby will be born.

Born in Bethlehem

When the wise men came to king Herod wanting to know where the king of the Jews would be born, Herod called the chief priest and teachers of the Law to find out where the Messiah was to be born. They quote Micah 5:2.

Micah 5:2 NIV84

“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.”

This ruler is the same ruler that Isaiah 9 talks about. But this verse also talks about the eternal existence of this coming ruler.

Must Suffer & Die

When we begin to talk about suffering and dying scholars often point to Isaiah 52.

Isaiah 52:13–53:12 NIV84

See, my servant will act wisely; he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted. Just as there were many who were appalled at him— his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any man and his form marred beyond human likeness— so will he sprinkle many nations, and kings will shut their mouths because of him. For what they were not told, they will see, and what they have not heard, they will understand. Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

There is so much here, but let’s quickly unwrap it:

This one will be so incredibly wise. The repetitious adjectives: raised, lifted up, and highly exalted are for emphasis.

Many will be appalled at Him.

At some point He will be disfigured beyond recognition.

Yet, he will “sprinkle” or cleanse many nations,

And he will silence kings.

This one will be relative unimpressive (53:1-2)

He will be despised and rejected.

A man of sorrows.

One familiar with suffering.

People despised him and no one cared!

This one took our infirmities—sicknesses or weaknesses—that he carried.

This one also took our sorrows.

Yet many considered this one to be “against God!” Even punished by God!

Yet he was pierced for our transgressions—wrong doings!

Crushed for our iniquities—misdeeds, sin, depravity, crimes, or wrong doings.

His punishment brought us peace,

And his wounds brought us healing.

Even though we have gone astray and turned to our own way, Yahweh put on him all of our sin!

Oppressed & afflicted.

Never defended Himself.

Unjustly condemned.

No one cared that he died without descendants.

No one cared that is life was cut short.

Killed by rebellious people!

Though he did nothing wrong, or deceived anyone.

He was buried like a criminal.

He was mad a sin offering for many.

He will enjoy eternal life.

Because of his obedience many others will be counted righteous.

He bore their sins.

God will give him the honors of a victorious soldier.

For he bore the sins of many and interceded for rebels.

But the story doesn’t stop there! Jesus didn’t stay in the ground! but rose from the grave.

Jesus Rose from the Dead!

For this we turn to Daniel 12:2-3.

Daniel 12:2–3 NIV84

Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

This verse lays the foundation for the Resurrection from the dead. Now turn to Psalm 16:7-11.

Psalm 16:7–11 NIV84

I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Yahweh did not abandon his Holy One or leave him to decay—to rot away. No instead Jesus the Holy One is at Yahweh’s right hand experiencing the pleasures that come from resurrection!

But even better is the fact that Jesus is coming again!

The King is Coming Again!

Daniel 7:13 NIV84

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.

In Daniel’s vision he saw a man before him.

—One like the Son of man—which the the name that Jesus uses to refer to himself.

—Daniel saw this Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven.

—This Son of Man can approach the Ancient of Days and even enter into His presence!

But it won’t stop there. Look at verse 14:

Daniel 7:14 NIV84

He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

—He was given all authority

—He was given all glory

—He was given sovereign power—or the right to rule!

—EVERYONE worshiped Him

—And His rule will NEVER end

—His kingdom will NEVER be destroyed!

Conclusion

From the very beginning, God was in the process of bringing mankind to Himself. He knew that we would never be able to resist sin and its temptations! So, at just the right time, He sent His Son into the world as a baby, born in Bethlehem, in a stable. This was not God’s plan “B!” No it was His plan all along.

Today we have received the good news that Jesus Christ was born, and today I want to challenge you with the same challenge that Jesus gave His early followers some 2,000 years ago.

Matthew 28:19–20 NIV84

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Let’s tell everyone about the Good News of Great Joy that is for ALL people!