The Prophecy of Light
Are you amazed at the birth of Jesus? Have you considered all that had to be accomplished for reconciliation with God to take place?
In 1958, Dr. Peter Stoner (chairman of the mathematics and astronomy departments at Pasadena City College and professor emeritus of science at Westmont College in Santa Barbara) wrote a book called “Science Speaks”.
In the forward, Dr. Harold Hartzler, an officer of the American Scientific Affiliation, wrote that the manuscript had been carefully reviewed by a committee of his organization and that “the mathematical analysis included is based upon principles of probability which are thoroughly sound.”
Stoner selected eight of the best known prophecies concerning the Messiah from the Old Testament and conservatively calculated the odds of their fulfillment in Jesus as being 1 in 1017.
Here is how Dr. Stoner tried to explain it…
Step 1. Fill the State of Texas knee deep in silver dollars (that is 268,581 square miles 2 feet deep).
Step 2. Mark one of those silver dollars with a black check mark.
Step 3. Blindfold one person and let them wander for as long as they wish within the boundaries of TX.
Step 4. At the time of their choosing, have them pick up one silver dollar.
The odds that the coin chosen is the one with the black check-mark are the same odds as those 8 prophecies being fulfilled in Jesus.
While that is staggering, Dr. Stoner further calculated the chances of Jesus fulfilling 48 prophecies. The odds are 1 in 10157, which is an incomprehensible number for you and me.
If we counted four electrons every second, it would take us 19 million years just to count a line of electrons one inch long.
We would need to make a ball of electrons reaching 6 billion light years in all directions, then multiply that ball by multiple trillions to begin to scratch the surface of the number required. And then select one electron out of those.
That is for 48 prophecies.
But There are at least 456 prophecies fulfilled in Jesus! Scientifically speaking, using acceptable sound statistical analysis, it is a mathematical certainty that Jesus is the Messiah.
Orrr, we can place our faith in the King of kings and Lord of Lords who told us who Jesus is!
Today, we will look at 3 prophecies that pointed to the birth of Jesus.
1. The Prophecy of Place
Micah 5:2 "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."
It is estimated that the city of Bethlehem, just 6 miles south of Jerusalem, was only around 1,000 people at the time of Jesus birth.
This prophecy, in and of itself, is not THAT astonishing, except for the fact that it narrows the birth place of the Messiah to just one town in the whole world.
However, we cannot miss the distinguishing characteristic in Micah 5:2.
This future Ruler's birth is described as "whose coming forth is from old, from ancient of days".
The phrase, "Ancient of Days" is used four times in Scripture – 3 times in Daniel, describing God as existing before days existed. And here in Micah, claiming the future ruler in Israel existed before days existed.
We learned last week in John 1 that
“Jesus was in the beginning, was with God and was God. All things were made through Him and without Him was not anything made that was made.”
Jesus is the eternal, divine and all powerful Creator who is the only one born in all of mankind that fits this description and was born in Bethlehem. But that is just one prophecy.
2. The Prophecy of Lineage
As the prophecies proclaim more detail, their fulfillment shows greater certainty.
In an article by Don Stewart, the lineage of the coming Messiah is astonishingly narrow.
Genesis 9:26 says He will come from the line of Shem (one of Noah's 3 sons). So, immediately, 66% of the following generations are eliminated as candidates.
Genesis 12:1-3 says He will come from the family of Abram. Abram was the 9th generation after Shem. Therefore, all the families within 9 generations – BUT ONE – are eliminated as candidates.
Genesis 26:3 says He will come from the line of Isaac. In this, the Messiah is narrowed to the lineage of just one of Abraham’s many sons.
Genesis 49:10 says the Messiah would come from Judah. This eliminates 91% of Isaac's descendents.
Within the line of Judah, Isaiah 11:1 says He will come from Jesse. There were 9 generations between Judah and Jesse, but only one family is specified.
Jesse had at least 8 sons. Of His sons, 2 Samuel 7:12-17 says He will be from the House of David.
Now, reading Matthew 1:1. "The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham."
Jesus the Messiah fits the Prophecy. He is Jewish from the line of Shem, Abraham, Isaac and of the tribe of Judah, through Jesse, through David – born in the small town of Bethlehem.
This was also confirmed by an angel before Mary conceived – Luke 1:31-33
But even then, we could argue the lineage of little boys born in Bethlehem.
3. The Prophecy of birth
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.”
Not only is this MORE specific, it is IMPOSSIBLE! The Messiah will be born in Bethlehem in the line of David to a virgin!
Genesis 3:15 is described as the first prophecy concerning Jesus and may also be considered as the first hint of the virgin birth.
In the book "The Popular Encyclopedia of Apologetics", Ed Hindson states the following,
"This reference to the seed of the woman seems to deliberately preclude the male counterpart." So, while this passage does not openly state there will be a virgin birth – it is implied.
The Hebrew language clearly indicates there will be a specific man, born of a specific woman, in a specific way, at a specific time, who will crush Satan.
Since we have the benefit of all Scripture for our reference, we can search out who is doing the stomping. Romans 16:20 "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
Skeptics ask, "Does scripture REALLY say the baby would be born of a virgin?"
Maybe we misinterpreted the Hebrew text…
Going back to Isaiah 7, The Hebrew word that is translated virgin is Al-mah and can mean young maiden or virgin.
The debate surrounding this word is critical.
On one hand, it describes an impossibility that would confirm the Messiah. On the other hand, it could be any young woman having a baby out of wedlock.
We should ask this, why would it be considered a sign from God Himself that a woman had a baby out of wedlock?
That is not much of a prophecy when viewed from that perspective.
As we look more closely, this passage could be read as "the virgin shall conceive and the virgin shall bear a son."
This is an impossibility unless it is supernaturally accomplished –a virgin bore a son.
Now, that is a sign from God!
It is through the virgin birth, and the lineage of Shem through David, in the little town of Bethlehem - the Ancient of Days was born to die in fulfillment of prophecy.
This is Immanuel – God with us, the Word as flesh, our Redeemer, our hope, our salvation and the light of life.
We have reason to Rejoice!
We have reason to worship Jesus the Messiah!
Today, we stand in awe of the One who brought salvation to a dark world!
For the Messiah has pierced the darkness!
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