Luke 1:44 “For indeed, as soon as the voice of your greeting sounded in my ears, the babe leaped in my womb for joy.”
When I look at moments in time objectively, I try to place myself in the moment, just to consider how I might respond. This type of projection helps me relate to the people who lived long ago and to understand their response.
If I was standing next to Elizabeth who was pregnant with the future John the Baptist, and heard her delightful response when John leaped in her womb for joy, I would think to myself….”why did this happen?”. The baby couldn’t have heard Mary’s voice nor would it have understood the moment, the baby was reacting to something else out of natural instinct.
What was it that made Mary so special?
If I had lived then, I would have drawn different conclusions. Today, I have a perspective that gives me insight into the circumstances that occurred that day.
The prophecy of Malachi 4 was a prophecy that has been observed until this day. The jewish tradition is to expectantly wait for the return of Elijah, the hope of a prophet that will usher in the coming of the Messiah. Where the jewish tradition errs is in the idea that Elijah will actually come and that the Messiah has yet to arrive the first time. The mistake made by a people that once knew God and yet have rejected Christ is an error that has left them under judgement.
The Messiah has come, Jesus fulfilled all of the necessary prophecies and the position of Elijah was already filled by John the Baptist.
Out of the hundreds of prophecies Jesus fulfilled, 44 of them were major completions of what has proven He was truly the Messiah, the Son of God.
Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20
Galatians 4:4
2. Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1
Luke 2:4-6
3. Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22-23
Luke 1:26-31
4. Messiah would come from the line of Abraham.
Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5
5. Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac.
Genesis 17:19 Genesis 21:12 Luke 3:3
6. Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2
7. Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:33
Hebrews 7:14
8. Messiah would be heir to King David’s throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13
Isaiah 9:7 Luke 1:32-33 Romans 1:3
9. Messiah’s throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7
Daniel 2:44 Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12
10. Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
11. Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14-15
12. A massacre of children would happen at Messiah’s birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18
13. A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah Isaiah 40:3-5 Luke 3:3-6
14. Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalm 69:8
Isaiah 53:3 John 1:11 John 7:5
15. Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:20-22
16. Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:13-14
17. Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:16-17
18. Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 Matthew 2:23
19. Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:13-16
20. Messiah would speak in parables. Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10 Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35
21. Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-19
22. Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:5-6
23. Messiah would be called King. Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11
24. Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:16
25. Messiah would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12-13
Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16
26. Messiah’s price money would be used to buy a potter’s field. Zechariah 11:12-13, Matthew 27:9-10
27. Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalm 35:11 Mark 14:57-58
28. Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 Mark 15:4-5
29. Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67
30. Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalm 35:19
Psalm 69:4 John 15:24-25
31. Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38
Mark 15:27-28
32. Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34
John 19:28-30
33. Messiah’s hands and feet would be pierced. Psalm 22:16
Zechariah 12:10 John 20:25-27
34. Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7-8 Luke 23:35
35. Soldiers would gamble for Messiah’s garments. Psalm 22:18
Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36
36. Messiah’s bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46
Psalm 34:20 John 19:33-36
37. Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46
38. Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalm 109:4 Luke 23:34
39. Soldiers would pierce Messiah’s side. Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34
40. Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
41. Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalm 16:10
Psalm 49:15 Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32
42. Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51
43. Messiah would be seated at God’s right hand. Psalm 68:18
Psalm 110:1 Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44
44. Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin. Isaiah 53:5-12 Romans 5:6-8
When the Messiah Appears
The Spirit of God through Christ dwelt in Mary. The Son of God came in human form so that He might assume our place in judgement. He was God and is God, it was this presence within Mary that John experienced in the womb.
John was called before birth to be a prophet before the soon and coming Messiah, his father prophesied of this before his birth.
Luke 1:76-79 “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest;
For you will go before the face of the Lord to prepare His ways,
To give knowledge of salvation to His people
By the remission of their sins,
Through the tender mercy of our God,
With which the Dayspring from on high has visited us;
To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
To guide our feet into the way of peace”
The connection that John felt to Jesus was an inherent connection that was set in place for a purpose.
Today, we have the same opportunity to partake of the Spirit of God
Galatians 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
Recognizing Jesus as Lord of your life is the first step to joy. Walking in His Spirit leads you in that joy towards peace.
John recognized this joy, so did his parents. If you can see the evidence that Jesus fulfilled, you can see that He is the only way to be saved.
Seek Him first and everything else will be added unto you.
U.T. 