Imagine celebrating a Thanksgiving without turkey or a Passover without lamb. Much worse than that, however, is a Christmas without Christ. Arguably, Christmas is the most decorated and celebrated holiday across the world. Nevertheless, the joy of this season won’t be complete if Christ is unknown and remains uninvited. Who, then, is the Christ in Christmas?
The prophet Isaiah details the ministry of Christ in greater depth than that of any of the other Old Testament writers. Remarkably both Isaiah and Jesus means salvation which is exactly the purpose for which the Messiah (Hebrew for “Christ”) came. Christ is seen in the Bible from the very first verse of Genesis although references to Him become clearer as time progresses. The revelation which God gave to Isaiah about 2700 years ago is among the most precise and vivid prophesies of the life of Christ to be found in the Bible. His book pre-records that Immanuel, literally meaning “God with us,” would be conceived and born by a virgin (7:14). The child to be born would be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (9:6). Interspersed throughout the writings of Isaiah is the portrayal of the Messiah who would bear the sins of others and later establish His eternal government of peace and justice. The acclaimed Christmas classic Messiah by Handel is mostly based on the revelation of Isaiah along with the Psalms, two melodic books.
About 3000 years ago, a young boy tending a flock in the fields received an urgent message to return home. To everyone’s surprise that very day he was anointed the king of Israel. No one could have anticipated that the Messiah would come from his lineage and occupy his throne forever. Music had always been an integral part of this boy’s life and his writings and songs would contribute a substantial portion to the largest book in the Bible, the Psalms. In the Psalms, David, the boy who had become king of Israel, refers to his much-anticipated descendant as Lord (110:1). How could He be David’s son and Lord at the same time? David’s declaration constitutes one of the clearest statements of the divinity of Christ in the Old Testament. In addition to asserting His deity, the aforementioned Psalms affirm that the Lord is the eternal priest of the order of Melchizedek. As an interceding priest, Christ is an unmatched friend. Is it worth it to be His enemy? There could be no worse path in life, yet it is one that is chosen by many who, sadly, will eventually realize its dreadfulness.
Melchizedek, whom we mentioned earlier, is mysterious and enigmatic and yet in many respects he is a prototype of Christ (if not Christ Himself). When Abraham had his encounter with Melchizedek, about 4000 years ago, the Jewish priestly class did not even exist. Interestingly, the account of the meeting of Melchizedek and Abraham marks the first occurrence of the word priest in the Bible. The whole world needed a blessing to free it from the curse and death brought forth by sin. In Genesis, Abraham received the promise from God that through your offspring all the nations on earth will be blessed (22:18). Who else could it be if that blessing is not Christ!
As we continue our journey through the Bible back through time we come to a point prior to Genesis 1:1 where time did not exist. Hard to imagine, right? Far beyond our dispensation there existed Christ, God the Son, in perfect harmony with God, the Father and God, the Holy Spirit. This is the same Christ of Christmas who brought the Universe into existence with His word and in His wisdom. And there began time.
Dijo John-Renew In Knowledge
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