Say friend do you know that this week marks the remembrance of the world's greatest event that changed human history? Yes, almost 2000 years ago, a man was born that literally changed the world!

Yes, if the world were to place side by side, every human being whoever lived or will live and compared their lives - asking who most positively affected us and human history - we would have to say, hands down, Jesus of Nazareth! Indeed, Jesus' coming forever changed our world for our good and eternity. Why even the learned biblical teachers of his day when they heard him speak had to declare His awesome power of influence. We read in,

Matthew 13:54 (NIV) "Coming to his hometown, he [Jesus] began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked."

Whatever good has occurred in our world, we can trace its benefits back to that first Christmas where God in His mercy and grace, fulfilled His long ago promises to the human race. You see, it was in the primeval beginning of our humanity, that God made a startling promise to our fore-parents Adam and Eve. As they were about to be driven out of God's presence and place of protection and blessing, God gave them this promise.

Genesis 3:15 (NIV) "And I will put enmity between you [Satan] and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he [Savior] will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.""

That was the beginning of God's plan and work to bring mankind a Savior, His Messiah, or "Anointed One," who would come and save the world from its sins and penalty of eternal destruction. And, as one reads through the whole of the Old Testament, they find that God continued to promise humanity He would make good on His foremost promise to "save us from our sins." You see, even Jesus Christ Himself repeatedly told the people of His day,

Luke 24:25-27 (NIV) "He [Jesus] said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself."

Yes, all the prophets of old were, by divine inspiration, informed of God's promise for a Messiah to come. So the faithful waited. For thousands of years God delayed, but God still reminded us He is faithful to His Word. Then, 700 years before the blessed event of His Coming, God spoke these miraculous and mysterious words,

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV) "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this."

In this prophecy God clearly offered the world hope for the future. Through His elect people, Israel, God would bring the world a unique man, a God/Man who would save His people from their sins and the world from its fate. Now, Isaiah the prophet records some amazing predictions that were fulfilled in the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. Let's look at this text, for as we do we find the following:

1. God promised that the MESSIAH WOULD BE A LITERAL CHILD, A BONAFIDE HUMAN BEING who would come from, and be born to the Jewish people.
   
2. God said that this Messiah child would ONE DAY BECOME THEIR FINAL RULING KING.
   
3. God revealed who THIS CHILD TO BE BORN REALLY WAS GOD HIMSELF! He is identified as the, "Wonderful Counselor," "Mighty God," "Everlasting Father" and "Prince of Peace." Yes, here in Isaiah 9:6 these titles can refer "only" to the Creator God Himself. For the term "Mighty God," alone, the Hebrew word is (El Gibbor), a name used exclusively and reserved for God Himself in Isaiah 10:21 and other passages.
   
4. Isaiah records that this mysterious child, the infinite GOD-MAN, WOULD ESTABLISH HIS GOVERNING RULE OF WHICH THERE WOULD BE NO END. It therefore was to be eternal, forever and ever. Here we can see it speaks of no mere human being or human government, but something divine.
   
5. THIS GOD-MAN WE ARE PROMISED, WOULD REIGN ON KING DAVID'S THRONE AND OVER HIS KINGDOM FOR ETERNITY. Therefore who ever was to be this Messiah, would have to genealogically be able to prove his heritage and descent from the lineage of David.
   

6. This passage of Scripture, in its context, tells us that THE MESSIAH, THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD, WOULD ONE DAY FULFILL THIS PROPHECY IN THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND NAPHTALI. Isaiah 9:1-2 (NIV) "Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he[God] humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan-- 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned."

7. THIS AMAZING PREDICTION 700 YEARS BEFORE HAPPENING LITERALLY CAME TRUE, for the land of Zebulun and Naphtali history shows, were located in Galilee. Yes, Jesus Christ perfectly fulfilled this by dwelling in Capernaum and ministering in this very region. (Matt. 4:13)

Indeed, Jesus Christ can only be this promised Messiah, that is described as God Himself, come in the flesh. In fact, that is what the whole New Testament cries out. We read in John's Gospel,

John 1:1-2 (NIV) "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning."

John 1:14 (NIV) "The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth."

Ironically, rejecters of God's Word refuse to accept this fantastic prophecy, saying it was not written so long ago, and was rather injected into the Bible by zealous 1^st or 2^nd century followers, therefore written after Christ had come. But friends, know this - such an idea is literally impossible!! You see, the entire Hebrew Scriptures, which includes the entire book of Isaiah was completed 400 years before Christ was born. So no matter what the view is of the Hebrew Scriptures, no one can assail its prophetical historicity! Today, amazingly we have preserved copies of the Old Testament Scriptures called the "Septuagint," a Greek translation of the Old Testament. Scholars and historians unrefutedly have evidence that this Greek translation of the entire Hebrew Scriptures, was actually completed no later than 247 BC. So regardless, these words of promise from God through Isaiah, were indeed miraculous predictions that came true in the Person of Jesus Christ. For no one could predict with such accuracy such an event or happening at least 250 years before it occurred.

Therefore, every critic, scoffer, and assailant of Christianity and the Word of God,must confess that this and every other Old Testament prophecy existed well in advance of any happening predicted and that they all must be divinely placed there. By the way, did you know that God Himself has told us that the one unmistakable proof of authenticity of His Word is the mark or signature of prophecy that absolutely comes true as predicted. Listen to God's own words when He said,

Isaiah 44:7-8 (NIV) "Who then is like me? Let him proclaim it. Let him declare and lay out before me what has happened since I established my ancient people, and what is yet to come-- yes, let him foretell what will come. 8 Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one.""

Isaiah 45:21 (NIV) "Declare what is to be, present it-- let them take counsel together. Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no God apart from me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none but me."

So, the conclusion is that first Christmas, when Jesus of Nazareth was born, God did a miraculous thing by becoming a human being Himself and giving to the world, a means of saving us all from our sins. You see, Jesus Christ was unique in that He was the bearer of the following.

1. HE TOOK UPON HIMSELF A REAL HUMAN NATURE - God tells us Christ's birth was divine for He was born of a virgin. Yes, Mary His mother had not conceived her child by human intervention. Joseph her espoused husband did not conceive Christ nor did any other man. God tell us this in Mat 1:18,22-23. Instead, God generated life in her seed by His creative power and fused within her His very own life. The "Pre-existent One," called the Son of God came forth from this union and brought the world its first and forever sinless human being.
   
2. THE MESSIAH CAME FOR THE EXCLUSIVE PURPOSE OF BEING OUR SIN BEARER. You see, our Lord's virgin birth was absolutely necessary for His saving work It preserved His sinlessness and gave Him the ability to die, to experience the penalty of man's sin.
   
3. THE VIRGIN BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST, PROVIDED THE HUMANLY IMPOSSIBLE RIGHT TO RECEIVE THE TITLE TO DAVID'S THRONE, WITHOUT THE DIVINE CURSE. Now many people do not know, but Satan attempted a great "chess move" in human history. Satan put in-check the ability for Solomon's lineage to ever bring forth a king. Way back in Jewish history, King Jehoiakim of Judah, Solomon's legal descendent followed Satan, and sinned against God. Because of his sin, God decreed that not one son of His would ever again sit or prosper on the throne of David! We read in,
   

Jeremiah 36:29-30 (NIV) "Also tell Jehoiakim king of Judah, 'This is what the LORD says: You burned that scroll and said, "Why did you write on it that the king of Babylon would certainly come and destroy this land and cut off both men and animals from it?" 30 Therefore, this is what the LORD says about Jehoiakim king of Judah: He will have no one to sit on the throne of David; his body will be thrown out and exposed to the heat by day and the frost by night."

As a result of this, think about it! No human being now, could ever quality for becoming the Messiah apart from divine intervention. Solomon's line is wiped out! Yet God promised the Messiah would come through David's lineage by Solomon! So, by being virgin born, Jesus Christ avoided this curse and "check-mated," Satan's move to prevent the coming of the Messiah. Satan never anticipated it would be God Himself who would come. So we see Jesus was not actually born of Joseph's lineage, so the curse of God did not apply to Him. Yet, as Joseph's eldest and legal son, He inherited the legal title to David's throne. Also, by being born of Mary, we find that her lineage goes back to David's ancestor Nathan (1 Chron. 3:5; Luke 3:21-23). So, being the blood descendent of Mary, Jesus qualified as the lineal descendent of David. How amazing was His birth! No one before, nor anyone after could ever qualify to be the Messiah, but Jesus of Nazareth He fulfilled all this and more.

Well friends, Christmas, as it comes to us again this week, we must ask ourselves. Who is the Messiah? The Bible answers,

1. HE IS ONE WHO IS BORN OF A VIRGIN (Isa. 7:14).
   
   
2. HE IS ONE WHO WOULD BE BORN IN BETHLEHEM AND LIVE IN GALILEE (Isa. 9:1-2; Micah 5:2)
   
   
3. HE IS ONE WHO WOULD LIVE A SINLESS LIFE AND DIE AN IGNOBLE DEATH ON A CROSS (1 Pet. 2:2; 1 John 3:5; Isa. 53; Dan. 9:24-27)
   
   
4. HE IS ONE WHO WOULD NOT ONLY DIE, BUT BE BURIED AND BE RAISED AGAIN FROM THE DEAD ON THE THIRD DAY. (Acts 2:29-36)
   
   
5. HE IS ONE WHO WOULD UPON HIS RESURRECTION, WOULD PROCLAIM HIS COMING AGAIN TO FULFILL ALL THAT WAS SPOKEN BY THE PROPHETS, TO SIT ON THE THRONE OF DAVID AND TO RULE THE KINGDOMS OF MEN FOR ALL ETERNITY (Micah 5:2; Isa. 9:1-7)

Jesus Christ alone answers the requirements of all these conditions! Yes, Christmas is of all times, the most blessed of events our world can ever embrace. For it is a remembrance of God's love, His mercy and grace, to send us a redeemer to save us from our sins. History records this has been done, and the Bible promises the benefits of it all to everyone who comes to embrace these truths personally. Say friend, when Christmas arrives will you be one to truly celebrate? I don't mean celebrating a day off from work, or partying with friends, nor just giving gifts to our families. But remembering God's wonderful promise and fulfillment of sending us a Savior from our sins. O glory to God! Jesus Christ has come and has given us the greatest gift of all - His life in exchange for our fallen and condemned one God offers His sinless perfection and grace for our sinful lives. Yes, Christmas is remembrance of God's greatest love for a lost world, and our greatest and best response can only be for us to give Him our hearts. Say my precious friend, have you fully given the Lord your heart? Why not right now to be fully ready for the wonders of Christmas, would you pray this prayer with me?

" O LORD, MY GREAT AND PRECIOUS GOD, THANK YOU FOR SENDING JESUS. THANK YOU FOR REMEMBERING YOUR PROMISE TO US AS SINNERS AND GIVING US THE GIFT OF YOUR SON, JESUS CHRIST.

LORD GOD, AS I REMEMBER THIS HOLY AND SACRED EVENT OF HIS BIRTH AMONG US, MAY I REDEDICATE MY LIFE AND HEART TO YOUR SERVICE AND WORK. MAY I EVER REMEMBER THE GREAT SACRIFICE AND PAIN, YOU SUFFERED THROUGH CHRIST'S DEATH AND HUMILIATION, TO PAY FOR MY SINS AND MY EVIL REJECTION OF YOUR RIGHT TO RULE MY LIFE.

LORD GOD OF ETERNITY, GRANT ME A PLACE IN HEAVEN BY THE SIDE OF YOUR DEAR SON, MY LORD AND SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST, NOT BECAUSE OF MY MERITS OR GOOD, BUT BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S RIGHTEOUSNESS ALONE. I REAFFIRM RIGHT NOW, ALL MY FAITH AND TRUST IN YOUR PERFECT WORD, AND COMMIT NOW AND FOREVERMORE TO LIVE FULLY FOR CHRIST MY MESSIAH, MY SAVIOR AND LORD. AMEN. "

Well, friends it's Christmas week. Let's make it a holy and respectful time and truly honor our great God and King Jesus. Dedicate your all to His greatness and glory, and make Christmas time a holy event that will be pleasing in God's sight. Then be sure to tune us in again next week for a final look for the year's end into the Word of God. Now may the blessings of the Lord be your portion and grace, and may God's goodness and mercy ever follow abundantly in your life and heart. May Jesus Christ be glorified in us all, and may we ever be expectant of His imminent return. Have a most blessed and joyous Christmas. God bless and Good by for now.

• Radio talk # 5196
• Broadcast date: December 22, 1996
• Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator
• Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast
• Address: P.O. Box 575 St. Charles, MN 55972-0575

The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures.A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request.These weekly radio commentaries can be heard in selected areas around the nation. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for 16 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of all messages is available upon request also.

For further information, reprints, or a listing of all topics, please write to our speaker, Dennis L. Finnan(dennis@wwy.org), or visit our webpage at http://www.wwy.org/