Question: Why did Jesus come to earth on that first Christmas Day?
Answer: In order to fulfil both the Law and the Prophets – Part Four.
Having already said something about the vast number of Old Testament prophecies that were so reliably fulfilled by Jesus in his lifetime, it is important to say that Jesus also came to guarantee that those prophecies that haven’t yet been fulfilled will one day surely come about. Or, to put it another way, all the many promises of God will find their ‘Yes and Amen’ in Jesus. For that is how the Bible puts it in 2 Corinthians 1:20.
That God keeps his promises is the rock solid foundation for our sure and certain hope that all the ongoing difficulties in the world will one day come to an end.
Furthermore, that his word is guaranteed is something that can, and does, change how we feel in the here and now, as suffering continues to be reported daily on the news and remains an ever present reality in both our own lives and the lives of those we love. Let me explain with an illustration.
Suppose, back when I worked as a GP,
a patient comes to see me with a really nasty chest infection. They feel horribly unwell and are seriously worried that they will never recover.
And then I give them a prescription for some antibiotics, and promise them that, if they take them, they will soon be restored to health.
Immediately they feel better – even though they aren’t. How could they be, they’ve not even picked up the prescription yet.
But they nonetheless begin to feel better because they have believed my promise that better is what they will one day be.
Well God has made promises too, one’s that can be depended upon far more reliably than any promise made by any doctor ever. And each one, by assuring us of a brighter tomorrow, brightens our today.
Here are just a few:
Though the grief remains, there is a day coming when the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise. [1 Thessalonians 4:16]
There is a day coming when what is sown perishable, will be raised imperishable, what is sown in dishonour, will be raised in glory, and what is sown in weakness will be raised in power [1 Corinthians 15:42-43].
And there is a day coming when God will wipe away every tear from our eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore
for the former things will have passed away [Revelation 21:4].
Add to these promises those that assure us that all wars will eventually come to an end [Isaiah 2:4], all injustice will cease [Isaiah 11:2-5] and the poor and the hungry will no longer want for anything [Psalm 72:6, 12-13] and you can see why it’s such good news that Jesus came to earth that first Christmas Day to fulfil both the Law and the Prophets.
To reveal the secrets concealed behind door 19 of last year’s Christmas Countdown, click here.
Some musings 