Christmas for the Skeptic: 8 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus' Birth

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It's that time of year again when the baby Jesus takes center stage - well, maybe it's more accurate to say He's on the stage but in the wings waiting to be seen. We're celebrating His birth...but why? Why does He matter so much that celebrating His birth is the biggest holiday of the year? If you've become increasingly disenchanted by all the hullabaloo of Christmas shopping, wrapping, eating, and general busyness of the season, this article will help you consider the real star of the show and hear Jesus' calling to all humanity, "come as you are and enjoy my personal presence in your life."

But wait a minute. First things first. Are you unsure what you believe about Jesus? Does it seem doubtful to you that it's even possible for Jesus to be God? Do you wonder if the Bible narrative is really just man-made? I get it. As a former atheist, I didn't give Jesus any serious thought. Truth be told, part of my disbelief dealt with the facts while part of it came down to the fact that I didn't want to believe...because belief changes everything.

If you have any degree of curiosity, might I suggest that you take a look at Old Testament prophecies of Jesus' birth and compare them to the historical record of their fulfillment found in the New Testament? Okay, you may want to stop me right there. Because, after all, if the Bible is a man-made story to support a belief system, then what it says can't be trusted, right?

It may help to know that some of the same events we see in the New Testament were recorded in non-biblical first century sources, like "The Antiquities of the Jews," written by Jewish historian, Josephus, "The Annals of Imperial Rome," by, Tacitus, and others. Another important detail is that at the time the gospel accounts were written, eyewitnesses of the events were still alive and had ample opportunity to refute the record.

The most significant factor in determining the accuracy of prophecies is whether they were fulfilled. So, this quick-read article contains a smattering of the Old Testament passages foretelling the events recorded in the New Testament. [All passages are from the English Standard Version.]

1. The Messiah would be born in Bethlehem

"But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah,
    who are too little to be among the clans of Judah,
from you shall come forth for me
    one who is to be ruler in Israel,
whose coming forth is from of old,
    from ancient days." - Micah 5:2

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem," - Matthew 2:1

2. The Messiah would be from the ancestral line of David

"'Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In those days Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will dwell securely. And this is the name by which it will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’" - Jeremiah 33:14-16

"He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David," - Luke 1:32

3. The Messiah would come of Egypt

"When Israel was a child, I loved him,
and out of Egypt I called my son." - Hosea 11:1

"Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, 'Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.' And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, 'Out of Egypt I called my son.'” - Matthew 2:13-15

4. Male Jewish children would be slaughtered

"Thus says the Lord:
'A voice is heard in Ramah,
    lamentation and bitter weeping.
Rachel is weeping for her children;
    she refuses to be comforted for her children,
    because they are no more.'” - Jeremiah 31:15

"Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, became furious, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had ascertained from the wise men." - Matthew 2:16

5. A star would mark the coming of the Messiah

"I see him, but not now;
    I behold him, but not near:
a star shall come out of Jacob,
    and a scepter shall rise out of Israel;
it shall crush the forehead of Moab
    and break down all the sons of Sheth." - Numbers 24:17

"Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.'” -Matthew 2:1-2

6. Multiple kings would bring gifts to the Messiah after His birth

"May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands
    render him tribute;
may the kings of Sheba and Seba
    bring gifts!
May all kings fall down before him,
    all nations serve him!" - Psalm 72:10-11

"And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh." - Matthew 2:11

7. Nomadic tribes (shepherds) would honor the Messiah

"May desert tribes bow down before him,
and his enemies lick the dust!" - Psalm 72:9

"'And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!' When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child." - Luke 2:12-17

8. The Messiah would come before the Jewish temple was destroyed

"Know therefore and understand that from the going out of the word to restore and build Jerusalem to the coming of an anointed one, a prince, there shall be seven weeks. And for sixty-two weeks it shall be built again with squares and moat, but in a troubled time. And after the sixty-two weeks, an anointed one shall be cut off and shall have nothing. And the people of the prince who is to come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary. Its end shall come with a flood, and to the end there shall be war. Desolations are decreed." - Daniel 9:25-26

"But he answered them, “You see all these, do you not? Truly, I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down.” - Matthew 24:2

"Jesus said to her, 'Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him.'" - John 4:21-23

Where to go from here

Despite what many people focus their energy on at Christmastime, like finding the perfect gifts and making favorite treats, the holiday's core message is one that brings real meaning to those who will turn their eyes to Jesus. Before you look away and discount this baby as personally significant, carve out some time - even if it is after Christmas - to mindfully consider Jesus' identity, claims, and calling on your life. He is a gift like none you will ever receive. Because Jesus came to us in human form to conquer sin and death on our behalf, we can be reconciled to our Creator and fellowship with Him all the days of our lives, both here on earth and eternally in Heaven.

Wherever you are spiritually, I hope you read, evaluate, and discover truths in these and hundreds of other prophecies contained in Scripture. And if you get the courage, ask God to reveal Himself to you.

I'd love to hear from you!