Advent: The Announcement

This is a prophecy concerning Christ. This prophecy was fulfilled in the person of Jesus. When He came to the earth He fulfilled all of the prophecies and promises that were written concerning Christ. Today we’re beginning a series of messages concerning His coming.

Since the fourth century, the Church has celebrated what has come to be called ADVENT. The term “advent” means to appear or to come near to a place. Who is coming and to where are they coming?

Advent refers to the season leading up to the coming of Christ to the earth. I say ‘season’ because Advent actually begins 4 weeks (specifically 4 Sundays) prior to Christmas. This means that Advent can begin anytime between November 27 and December 3.

Was Jesus actually born on December 25th? Probably not. The reason Christians celebrate Christ’s birth on December 25 is because they celebrate His baptism on January 6.

Advent refers to the coming of Christ to the earth. It announces Christ’s parousia or coming to the earth.

Again, Advent refers to the season when the Son of God first came to the earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Historically the Church has celebrated this initial “coming” of Christ on December 25th. Why December 25th?

One of the oldest festival days of the Christian Church is Epiphany, which is a celebration of Christ’s baptism (). The word epiphany means a revelation or appearing. The baptism of Jesus was the first ‘appearing’ of Christ recognized by the Church, and it was recognized (celebrated) around January 6.

The early Christians divided the Gospels into a year’s worth of readings. If you start with the Gospel of Mark you get to the baptism of Jesus around January 6. January 6 was the date that they would typically read the baptism story!

Later they incorporated other ‘appearings’ of Christ like His incarnation or birth. Eventually they concluded that Jesus’ birth needed its own celebration or festival. Since they were already observing 12 days leading up to the Epiphany festival, Jesus’ official birthday got place at the beginning of this season, which would have been December 25. The 12 days between December 25 and January 6 came to be known as the Christmas season or 12 days of Christmas.

Well, before the Historically, Advent represents the Christmas season (lit. four Sundays immediately before Christmas day). It is during this season that the Church has historically prepared for the celebration of Christ first coming or birth.

According to Church history, Advent is that season immediately before Christmas. Four Sundays of Advent always precede Christmas.

Incidentally, Advent is not the same as 12 days of Christmas. 12 days of Christmas is after Christmas, while Advent is before Christmas. Historically, the Church celebrated both the birth (nativity) of Jesus and His baptism (epiphany), when they believed was around January 6. There are roughly 12 days between December 25 and January 6. The early Church celebrated Christmas during these 12 days. Whatever they did on December 25 they did every day after that until January 6!

But again, Advent represents that season (4 weeks) leading up to December 25th. Moreover, Advent is a season of reminder. We know that the stores do a great job reminding us that Christmas is on the way, but they’re not reminding us of Jesus. Advent, on the other hand, is intended to give us a reminder each week that CHRIST is coming!

Before the creation of Advent, prophecies in the Old Testament fulfilled a similar purpose. OT prophecies did for the Hebrew people what the Advent season is designed to do for us—help create anticipation for the coming of Christ. OT prophecies also have an added benefit— they provide credentials to recognize Christ when He comes.

Christ’s Identification

Credentials are documents that help to prove a person’s identity. The prophesies in the OT concerning the birth of Christ helps to identify who is the Messiah.

Now, you typically need to produce more than one credential to prove your identity. For example, you may be required to show a birth certificate, driver’s licence, and a passport to prove your identity. Similarly, there are several different prophesies or pieces of identification to prove the identity of Christ.

Now, to prove a person’s identity you typically need more than one credential. For example, you may be required to show a birth certificate, driver’s licence, and a passport to prove your identity. Similarly, there are several prophesies in the OT that are given to us to help prove the identity of Christ.

Here we are told that Christ would be born in Bethlehem. The prophecy was fulfilled by Jesus ().

Now, if this were the only credential for being Christ, then a person would only have to show they were born in Bethlehem to be in the running for Christ. Thankfully, being born in Bethlehem is not the only prophecy (credential) for being Christ! Usually to prove a person’s identity you need more than one credential (birth certificate, driver’s licence, passport). Similarly, there are several other prophesies in the OT that are given to us to prove the identity of Christ.

God promised to give Isreal a “sign” that she would be saved. The sign was that a son shall be born of a virgin and given the name Immanuel. This prophecy actually looks back to Eden when God promised that the “seed of the woman shall bruise Satan’s head” ( ). God has used this same picture throughout Israel’s history (a woman bringing forth a manchild) to describe how the Messiah would save His people from their enemies.

This prophecy received its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ (, , ).

This states that Jesus was born of a virgin. The birth of a child, one that would be old enough to discriminate, would mark Judah’s deliverance from Israel and Syria. This prophecy looks back at the one given in where it is said that the “seed of the woman” shall bruise Satan’s head and deliver sinful man. Throughout Israel’s history God has used this picture to describe Israel’s deliverance from their enemies, namely a woman giving birth to a manchild. As we said, this prophecy receives its fullest fulfillment in the birth of Christ, who was the only man who was born of a virgin. In Isaiah’s case the woman he was directly referring to may have been a virgin at the time of the prophecy, but she was not a virgin at the birth of her son.

We will save the implications of Jesus being born of a virgin until next time when we discuss His INCARNATION.

Born in Bethlehem () Fulfilled (; ) The message of Micah is a message of hope. Israel had been plagued with wicked leadership. But, there was coming a ruler that would be just and honorable and he would come to Bethlehem. The ruler would have the character of shepherd (gentle, tender, pastoral)

In this prophecy we are told that the Messiah would be born in the town of Bethlehem. Bethlehem was not considered a city of great importance. However, she would gain great spiritual significance for being the birthplace of Christ (). At the time of the prophet Micah Israel had been plagued with wicked rulers. However, the Messiah would be a just and honorable ruler. In fact, he will have the character of shepherd (; , ).

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This prophecy is a reference to how the ‘wise men’ (magi) came and presented gifts to Christ at his birth (, , ).

These men were from the East, more specifically Medo Persia. We know this because the words “wise men” are translated from the word magos, which is a term for Babylonian or Persian priests or wise men. The ‘magi’ were actually men of great religious and political authority. They were kingmakers, men would use their political/monetary means to influence who the next king would be.

How did they know what the star meant? First, this word ‘star’ is only used in the NT to refer to angelic beings, and NOT to celestial bodies or planets. It was an angel that appeared over the house where Jesus was born, not a literal star. Second, it’s not surprising that these men were familiar with prophecies concerning Christ. Wise men in that region would have been influenced by OT prophets like Daniel and Ezekiel who spent time there during their captivity.

Jeremiah is here predicting that the captivity of Israel would come with great weeping in Rama, a small village near Bethlehem. It was here that Isreal was deported out of their country to Babylon. Although the people were experiencing a great sorrow at the time, there was great hope being promised to them (, ).

Jeremiah prophesied before the nation of Israel was carried away into captivity. Jeremiah predicted that their captivity would come with great weeping in Rama.

Rama is a small village located near Bethlehem. It was here that the people would be taken into captivity.

Rama is a small village about 5 miles north of Jerusalem. It’s located on an elevation. In fact, Rama means raised or high place. It was right on the boarder between the northern and southern kingdom of Israel. It was here that the people were taken into captivity. At this point in Israel’s history they are no longer a nation and they’re being taken away from their Promised Land. There’s a parallel here between what Israel experienced in her captivity and what men experience when we are taken captive by our sins. Why is Rachel mentioned? Rachel is, in a sense, the mother of both kingdoms. Her eldest son, Joseph, brought forth two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim has historically been connected with the northern kingdom. In fact, many times in the OT the nothern kingdom of Israel is called Ephraim by God. Rachel also had a second son, Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin was part of the southern kingdom along with the tribe of Judah. The nation of Israel split after the reign of Solomon 10 tribes split to form the southern kingdom of Israel and 2 tribes united to form the southern kingdom of Judah. Those 2 tribes were Benjamin and Judah. So, Rachel is a type (personification) of ALL of Israel weeping has she loses both lines. She’s sort of watching this whole thing unfold and she weeps at the sight of it. However, while an element of this prophecy was fulfilled during the time of Jeremiah, another element of this prophecy would not be fulfilled until the time of Jesus. There is a Rama about 1 mile north of Bethlehem. We said to you that Rama means ‘high place.’ Well, there’s a high place just 1 mile north of Bethlehem and it is called Rama too. It happens to be the place where Rachel is buried.

This prophecy was fulfilled in the time of Jesus ().

Once Herod realized that the Magi would not inform him of the child’s location, he became enraged and sent an army to kill all the male children in Bethlehem 2 years old and younger.

Some time had passed since Jesus was born. Herod knew that it had been almost 2 years since the star/angel first appeared to the Magi. Therefore, in an effort to eliminate any threat of a rival king, Herod had all the children 2 years and younger killed. Moreover, the grief that would have been caused by this event is similar to the sorrow experienced by Israel 500 years prior.

Why is Rachel mentioned? When Israel split after the reign of Solomon 10 tribes separated to form the southern kingdom and 2 tribes united to form the southern kingdom. Rachael’s eldest son, Joseph, is the father of Ephraim and Manasseh. Ephraim historically has been connected to the northern kingdom. In fact, in the OT the nothern kingdom is called Ephraim by God. Rachel had a second son, Benjamin. The tribe of Benjamin was part of the southern kingdom. Therefore, Rachel, in a sense, is the mother of ALL Israel. She’s sort of watching this whole thing unfold and she weeps at the sight of it.

Why would God connect such a tragic event with the birth of Christ? We must remember that the prophet Simeon prophesied concerning the baby Jesus that he would be for the falling and rising of many in Israel (). In other words, He would be both a blessing and a curse. A curse upon those who reject Him and a blessing upon those who accept Him.

The grief that would have been caused by this event is similar to the sorrow experienced by Israel almost 500 years prior. Why would God connect such a tragic event with the birth of Christ?

While an element of this prophecy was fulfilled during the time of Jeremiah, in another sense this prophecy wasn’t fulfilled until the time of Jesus . There was a Rama near Bethlehem. Moreover, It happens to be the place where Rachel is buried.

We know that 2 years prior to this massacre by Herod upon the children in Bethlehem, the shepherds reported to the people that the Christ was born (). So, Bethlehem heard the good news, but no one responded. This neglect may explain the judgment that befell them by Herod! This illustrates what happens when we ignore God’s announcement of Christ.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream warning him of Herod intentions to kill the child. Joseph was instructed to take the child and his mother to Egypt. Now, why wasn’t Joseph instructed to take the child north into Galilee? Or east into Edom? Or even further east into the wilderness? Why instruct Joseph to travel more than 100 miles south into Egypt? To fulfill prophecy.

Joseph’s return from Egypt to Galilee (Nazareth) was a fulfillment of prophecy ().

Really the only reason Joseph was instructed to go to Egypt was so they could be called out of Egypt and fulfill Scripture.

Hosea is a book of heartbreak. God commanded Hosea to take a bride who was a prostitute that went after other lovers. She even bore illegitimate children as a result of these affairs. Eventually she was sold by one of her lovers into slavery.

The reason he went to Egypt so they could be called out of Egypt and fulfill Scripture. Hosea is a book of heartbreak. God commanded Hosea to take a bride that was a prostitute and love her. Eventually she went after other lovers. She even bore illegitimate children. This broke Hosea’s heart. But, instead of rejecting her, Hosea loved her in spite of the fact that she kept breaking his heart.

Still, Hosea loved her even though she kept breaking his heart. Hosea found her, buys her back and takes her again to be his wife. This was an illustration of God’s relationship with Israel. Therefore, when God says, “When Israel was a child I loved him and I called my son out of Egypt” He was referring to how He called a disobedient nation that refused to do His will out of slavery.

Jesus, on the other hand, represents a second Son. He was ALSO called out of Egypt, but unlike Israel Jesus was an obedient Son, one who always did His Father’s will. The point of this prophecy is show us that just like the first represented a nation, another nation is bound up in the loins of the second Son, Jesus! Moreover, the second Son that came out of Egypt is the firstfruits of a new nation that will fully submit to the Father’s will!

Hosea finds her, buys her back and takes her again to be his wife. This was an illustration of God’s relationship with Israel. Therefore, when God says, “When Israel was a child I loved him and I called my son out of Egypt” He was, in a sense, speaking of Israel. But, He was ALSO speaking about what would happen with Jesus. Therefore, God brought 2 sons out of Egypt—a disobedient son and a compliant Son, one that refused to do His will and another Who always did the will of His Father.

The idea is that bound up in the loins of Jesus is another nation. The second Son that came out of Egypt was the firstfruits of a new (redeemed) nation that would fully submit to the Father’s will!

Why are we taking the time to go through all of this? This speaks to Jesus’ credentials. There have been (and probably will be in the future) those who claim to be the promised Messiah. They might say, “I’m the Messiah because I was born in Bethlehem.” Well, that’s not enough!

This prophecy received its fulfillment in the birth of Jesus Christ (, , ).

The last prophecy concerning Christ doesn’t actually appear in the Old Testament. Wait a minute. If it’s not in the OT, how can it be a prophecy? Not all prophecies were written in the Scriptures. This prophecy does not have to do with Jesus being born in Bethlehem, or taken out of Egypt or even the weeping in Rama. Instead, this prophecy has to do with his being raised in Nazareth and being called a Nazarene ().

In Matthew Jesus goes from being a toddler to ministry. There is silence between these two great events. This is why the Church has historically just recognized Jesus’ birth (December 25) and His baptism (January 6).

This states that Jesus was born of a virgin.

The lineage of Jesus is given in Matthew to prove that Jesus is in fact a descendant of the royal line of David.