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 we look at moments of time objectively, we can imagine ourselves in a particular story to consider how we might respond. This type of projection might help us relate to the people who lived long ago and to understand their responses.
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 a natural response to the Holy Spirit.
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 who will usher in the coming of the Messiah. Where the jewish tradition errs is in the idea that Elijah will eventually arrive to usher in the Messiah. 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 has 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 events that proved He was truly the Messiah, the Son of God.
Prophecies of the Christ
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
Jesus fulfilled them All
The Spirit of God through Christ dwelt in Mary. The Son of God came in human form so that He might assume the sinners place in judgement. He was God and is God, it was this presence within Mary that John experienced in the womb.
John the Baptist was called before his birth to be one who prepared the way for the soon and coming Messiah, a prophesy given through his father.
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 a spiritual connection that God set in place for a purpose.
Today, we have the same opportunity to partake of God’s calling.
Matthew 28:18-20 “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
The preparation today is for the return of Christ to rule over the world. Believers are called to be salt and light in a world that is kept blinded in darkness. They are not meant to wait it out until Jesus returns but to go and share the gospel with the world.
There is a spiritual connection of believers with Christ. The same Spirit who raised Christ from the dead lives in His people today. There is no greater honor than to bear the name of Jesus. There is no greater responsibility than to carry His message of reconciliation to the world.
Believers are not called to live for themselves but for the Lord.
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.”
Jesus has confirmed His deity by the prophecies He fulfilled, the ministry He accomplished, and the legacy of faith demonstrated by His people.
When the pre-born baby responded to the joy of the Lord in Elizabeth’s womb, his parents rejoiced as well.
Since we have all the evidence we need that Jesus was truly the Messiah, we can have the greatest confidence to follow in His footsteps.
Jesus proved His divinity, it’s up to us to decide how to respond. If you seek Him as first above every other thing, you too can know His joy today.
U.T. 