To Remember: Many men
over many years prophesied Christ’s coming
Vocabulary
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Messiah: the king that would come to deliver Israel
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Prophecy: message from God
Lesson
Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the
young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name
him Emmanuel."
Christ’s birth and life were announced long before Mary was
even born. In fact, prophets told many details about His birth
hundreds of years before. (From 6,000 to 450 years BC) Over 300
prophecies were made, so the Israelites would expect and
recognize Jesus when He came. If someone told you 300 facts
about someone you never met, do you think you would recognize
him?
The prophecies said that the Messiah would:
- Be born of a woman (Gen 3:15)
- Be born of a virgin (Isaiah 7:14)
- Be the son of God (Psalm 2:7)
- Be descended from Abraham (Gen. 22:18), Isaac (Gen. 21:12), Jacob (Num.
24:17), tribe of Judah (Gen. 49:10), family of Jesse (Isaiah 11:1), house of
David (Jer. 23:5)
- Be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)
- Be Presented with gifts (Psalm 72:10)
- Be threatened by Herod (Jer. 31:15)
- Be God and man (Isaiah 7:14)
- Be a Prophet (Deut. 18:18) a Priest (Psalm 110:4) a Judge (Isaiah
33:22), and a King (Psalm 2:6)
- Be preceded by a messenger (Malachi 3:1)
- Teach first in Galilee (Isaiah 9:1)
- Perform miracles (Isaiah 35:5,6)
And that's just the beginning of His life! Could any two men meet all those
descriptions perfectly? No - only Jesus.
Some people recognized Him when He came. The wise men that
brought presents knew He was the Messiah: the shepherds that
visited, Simeon and Anna at the temple in Jerusalem, His mother and
father, and John’s parents. Even Herod knew He had been born and
tried to kill Him.
God told us He was coming because he had a plan. He was going
to save man from his sins. Why? Because He loves us. John 3:16 tells
us: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have
everlasting life.” So God sent His son for you and me as well as for
people who were alive then.
True or False
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The Israelites were told that Jesus would be God and man at the same time.
T
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Mankind first heard that a Messiah was coming around 250 B.C. F
(Adam and Eve were told)
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The Jews knew where the Messiah would be born. T
(Bethlehem)
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The Jews knew what family Jesus would be born into. T (up through
Jesse’s line)
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The prophecies said no one would recognize Jesus? F
(even Herod was mentioned)
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The prophecies said the Messiah would only be a King? F
(a prophet, priest, and King)
SING: Jesus loves me
Activities
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