Question: Why did Jesus come to earth on that first Christmas Day?
Answer: In order to fulfil both the Law and the Prophets – Part Two.
I said yesterday that Jesus fulfilling the law and the prophets meant, at least in part, that he came to keep God’s law. But it means more than just that because ‘The Law and the Prophets’ is a phrase that the Bible uses to refer to the whole of the Old Testament.
As such Jesus came to fulfil all that had been written about him before he was born. Which is why it must have been quite an eye opening Bible study for the disciples on the road to Emmaus when, beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, Jesus interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. [Luke 24:27].
Things like Abraham being asked to sacrifice his son Isaac, only for Isaac to be subsequently reprieved three days later when a lamb was provided as a substitute. Which is surely a picture of God sacrificing his own son Jesus – the Lamb of God who died in our place, as our substitute, before being raised to life three days later.[Genesis 22]
Things like the Ark, which provided a place for Noah and his family to be carried safely through the flood of God’s judgment. Which is surely a picture of how those ‘in Christ’ are similarly carried safely through death, thereby being spared the consequences of God’s righteous anger at their sin. [Genesis 6-9]
And things like David who, representing Israel, defeated the giant Goliath who in turn represented the Philistines, the enemies of God’s people. This he did with a stone that crushed Goliath’s head. Which is surely a picture of how Jesus, representing God’s people, fulfils the prophecy of Genesis 3:15 and defeats Satan, the one who represents all that is evil. [1 Samuel 17]
More than that Jesus is revealed through the pages of the New Testament as the second Adam [1 Corinthians 15:45], a better Moses [Hebrews 3:3-4], and the true Israel of God. [Hosea 11:1, Matthew 2:13-15]
And he is also the fulfilment of the Old Treatment temple. For the place where people met with God has now become a person – Jesus – something that is abundantly apparent when he, in a clear reference to his own death and subsequent resurrection said, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ [John 2:19]
I could go on, and say how many other individuals and incidents in the Old Testament point us to Jesus and what he has done – but what I’ve said above does I think give at least a glimpse of how he came to earth on that first Christmas Day to fulfil both the law and the prophets.
To reveal the secrets concealed behind door 17 of last year’s Christmas Countdown, click here
Some musings 