Reflections on Christ's Birth

I wrote this post last year and meant to post it before Christmas. Although I am no longer studying Matthew, (I am now studying Exodus and the Old Testament books of the Law)the Scriptures and thoughts hold true so I thought I would share it this year instead. What have you been reading or reflecting on during this season of remembering our Saviour's incarnation?
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Lately, I have been reading through several chapters of Old Testament prophecy that pointed to the coming Messiah. I thought this would be a meaningful way to prepare for the time of remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Through studying the book of Matthew in BSF, the idea of biblical prophecy being fulfilled through Christ has struck me in a new way. I have known for a long time that Christ fulfilled these prophecies through his birth, ministry, death and resurrection but I had never reflected on them in depth until studying Matthew.

Since the gospel of Matthew was written primarily to a Jewish readership, it was crucial for Matthew to provide numerous references to the prophecies that Christ had fulfilled. Thus, the Jewish writer, Matthew, showed that Jesus Christ was the promised Messiah whom the Jews eagerly anticipated for hundreds of years.

I found a helpful table in the back of my Bible referencing several Old Testament prophecies along with the New Testament fulfillment that foretold the birth, ministry and purpose of Christ in coming to earth. I have mostly been focusing on the passages that foretold of his birth, however it would be equally worthwhile to read the passages relating to his atoning death and resurrection from the dead.

Here are a few of the chapters I have been reading recently as part of my evening devotions.

Genesis 3:15; 12:3; 17:19; 49:10
Psalm 2:7; 16:10; 35:11; 41:9; 49, 68, 69, 109, 110:4,
Isaiah 7:14; 9:1,2,7
Jeremiah 31:15;
Zechariah 9:9; 11:12; 12:10
Daniel 9:25
Micah 5:2

I hope you find these passages encouraging in realizing how Jesus was the only man who has perfectly fulfilled these prophecies just as His Father had foretold the Messiah would.