What we can learn from Christmas

When you think about what it means by the fullness of time has come, you can learn a lot from the Old Testament prophecies.

In regards to Jesus’ birth, here is what you will discover. You can learn how he would be born. Where he would be born. Even why he would be born.

What isn’t laid out exactly is when he would be born. Consider these verses:

How

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign:

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14).

Where

“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” (Micah 5:2).

Why

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.

We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:4-6).

The beauty of the birth of Jesus is how God orchestrated the events to accomplish his plan in the fullness of time.

At the time of Jesus’ birth I don’t know if the people in Israel were expecting it. It had been 400 years since there was a prophet in Israel and it is possible that their hope of a Messiah was fading.

I can’t say that with certainty, but it was a possibility.

It was in that moment when their hope could have been fading that Jesus was born. God tied together the how and where with the when. All in the fullness of time.

When it comes to the fullness of time and Christ’s birth there are many similarities to when Jesus will come back. As there are many prophecies that predicted Jesus first coming, there are many that predict Jesus second coming. However, in very similar fashion the one element that is missing from Jesus’ second coming is when.

We can see the signs of the times. We can see the situations lining up. We can see the stage being set for the return of Jesus, yet with all of that we still don’t know when.

Jesus himself said in Matthew 24:36 “But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.”

The plan for Jesus’ second coming is already set in motion and when the time is right, he will return.

Though we don’t know when that will be, it looks and feels like that day is approaching.

Soon, and I believe very soon, we will not just believe but know that the fullness of time has come for Christ’s return.

He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees.

When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.

Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near” (Luke 21:29-31).

When you think of the meaning of the verse “the fullness of time has come,” that doesn’t just apply to Jesus. That also applies to you and me. There are “at the right time moments” God has planned in your life.

At the right time there are answers to prayer, provisions made, open doors of opportunity, and much more. Source: Bible Study Tools