Virgin Birth

Isaiah 9:6-7; 7:14; Micah 5:2

How many of you remember Nostradamus? I remember in the late 80s and early 90s how many people were talking about his prophecies and how they were unfolding. Listen to these prophecies:

Nostradamus's predictions for the 1980s and 1990s were first published in 1981, with some changes made for the 1991 release. The predictions included:

A "King of Terror" would rise to power in Greater Arabia in the late 1990s

The "King of Terror" would form an alliance with Russia and wage World War III against the West

The war would start with a nuclear strike on New York City and last about 27 years

The "King of Terror" would be defeated by the US and Russia

Another well-known supposed prophecy is that "a great and terrifying leader would come out of the sky" in 1999. However, the original printing of the prophecy does not include the phrase "d'effraieur" (of terror).

Nostradamus's preface to the Prophecies states that his prophecies extend "from now to the year 3797."

These prophecies are vague considering the prophecies made about our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Regarding reliability, the Bible is the most reliable truth on which anybody can rest their hope. We are entering a season of rejoicing because we are celebrating the birth of our Lord, Jesus. I know, and hopefully, most of you know this is not the Lord's birthdate. We know that He was born in the late fall or early spring. How do we know this? Because the shepherds would not have had their animals in the field at night during the winter. “It would also seem to indicate a birth between March and November since the sheep were usually kept in folds rather than in open fields during the winter months, making our December date of the observance suspect.” The earliest Christians do not seem to have celebrated Jesus’ birth. The earliest celebration of anything even approximating His birth was that of “Epiphany” on January 6 in the eastern churches. Epiphany was primarily a celebration of the incarnation, of the coming of Christ to earth rather than of His birth.

We know the prophecies in the Old Testament that speak about His birth and life. We are going to look at three places in detail about His birth. First, we will examine the Promise of a Savior, Isaiah 9:6-7 . Second, He will be born unto a virgin, Isaiah 7:14 . Lastly, He would be born in Bethlehem, Micah 5:2 .

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name 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, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

Micah 5:2 NKJV

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting.”

Savior:

The only Savior this world has is Jesus Christ. Israel sought a king like other nations, forgetting they already had the True King as their ruler. Consequently, God allowed them to follow their misguided desires, and they received Saul as their king. Saul was a tyrant who acted wrongly in the eyes of the Lord. Therefore, the Lord took the kingdom away from Saul and gave it to someone of His choosing. David, a man after God's heart, was still just a man and could not ultimately save the people of Israel. This is evident after David's death when the people began to worship other gods. God allowed them to go their own way, leading to their captivity and dispersion throughout the world. The prophet Isaiah received a message from God proclaiming that a faithful Savior, King, and Ruler would be born. This Savior would bear the government upon His shoulder; His authority would grow, bringing peace without end, and His throne would be everlasting. Daniel 2:44 1 John 4:9

Daniel 2:44 NKJV

And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever.

1 John 4:9 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

Virgin Birth:

Isaiah 7:14

The Virgin's birth is significant for several reasons. Jesus could not be born as both God and sinless if He had a human father. Sin entered the world through Adam, but salvation comes through Jesus Christ. If Joseph had been His father, Jesus would not be fully God or a man without sin.

When Isaiah prophesied that Jesus would be called Immanuel, he understood this meant that Jesus would be born of God. Therefore, His birth from a virgin ensured that no sin would enter Him. Since God cannot be in the presence of sin, it was essential for Him to be born of a virgin.

God is with us, and nobody understands better than He does what we go through. This is important because we do not serve a God of misunderstanding but One who compassionately sympathizes with our struggles.

Bethlehem

O' Bethlehem, the little town in Judah, comes the Mighty King and Ruler of the World. God Himself came from you. The world may have mocked you, but God says you are not tiny but mighty, for I have chosen you from all the land to bear My Son on this very night. So stand proud, for what the world sees as meek, I see as mighty. No longer shall you be called little, O' Bethlehem, but you shall be known as the birthplace of the Lord, who is GOD!

God never uses what the world might consider grand; instead, He often chooses misfits and the humble to carry out His purpose. I reflect on how our Lord and Savior was not born in a palace but rather in a manger in a barn. The Creator of the universe, the One True God, was seen as a misfit from the beginning. He did not conform to humanity's expectations but was an outcast like me. He called the least of the least to be His disciples. Born of a lowly virgin and raised as the son of a carpenter, He was regarded as no more than a peasant during His time on Earth. Yet, just like in Bethlehem, the true essence within Him was glorious and grand.

Application:

First, we must understand what we believe to be the absolute truth. We can affirm that the Scriptures are the inerrant Word of God and that all things within it are truthful. Jesus’ prophecies regarding His birth, life, and death/resurrection are accurate and factual. He did not come to condemn the world but to save it. People must recognize the power of confessing Him as Lord and Savior to attain salvation. There is no other way to heaven except through Him, as His Word tells us. If we do not believe in His birth and the prophecy of His coming, how can we trust that He is the only way? (John 14:6

John 14:6 NKJV

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

Second, He was born of a virgin. We must accept this truth; otherwise, we cannot regard His words as reliable. Why was the Virgin Birth necessary? It was the only way for Him to be sinless and fully divine, which is essential for Him to be the Savior.

Finally, God often chooses the most unlikely individuals to serve Him, Such as David, who was just a young shepherd boy when God anointed him king of Israel. Think about the disciples, many of whom were ordinary people or even tax collectors, yet were called to follow Him. Now, consider ourselves: who are we? Yet, we have been made His children. He uses the foolish to confound the wise.