“But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” (Matthew 2:6)

Back when I was in college, I fell in love with the Scriptures. I was still young in my faith when I read the book of Isaiah for the first time. At the time, I didn’t even know it was a prophetic book, so every prophecy I read was eye-opening and deepened my faith. I was especially amazed when I read all of the prophecies of Jesus that came true. Isaiah forevermore became my favorite book of the Bible.

Isaiah wasn’t the only one who foretold a coming Messiah. The prophet Micah foretold the coming of Jesus hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth that He would be born in Bethlehem.  Matthew 2:6 quotes an Old Testament prophecy from Micah 5:2, written around 700-686 BC, long before Jesus was born; it is part of numerous Messianic prophecies that have already been fulfilled in Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection.

Matthew shares the story of the magi following the star to find Jesus, another event prophesied in Isaiah 60:3,6. Matthew 2 doesn’t call them wise men; however, they must have been wise to study the Old Testament prophecies. It doesn’t say they were astrologers; however, we know they followed a star to Bethlehem. The passage doesn’t say how many Magi there were or that they were wealthy, but we know they brought three expensive and meaningful gifts to lay at the feet of Jesus.

One of my favorite parts of the Christmas story is the response of the wise men when they saw Jesus for the first time. The Scripture says, “ When they saw the star, they were overjoyed.  On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him” (Matthew 2:10-11a).

At the time, Jesus was just a child. They worshiped him before he preached sermons or did miracles. How could a child, whom they had never met, cause such a reaction? What would be so important to the magi that they would travel from so far away seeking Him out? I considered this myself until I remembered all those Old Testament prophecies that spoke about who Jesus was and what He would later do.  When the magi saw the prophecy that Jesus was born in Bethlehem was fulfilled, it probably caused them to have faith that the many other prophecies about Jesus would come true as well.

We have the advantage of living on the other side of Jesus-fulfilled prophecies. Here are a few:

• The Magi’s adoration of Jesus (Isaiah 60: 3, 6; Matthew chapter 2)
• Jesus was conceived by the virgin Mary (Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:26-35)
• Jesus entering Jerusalem on a donkey (Zechariah 9:9, Luke 19:35-37)
• He would be a light to the Gentiles (Isaiah 49:5-6, Acts 13:47-48)
• Jesus died for our sins (Isaiah chapter 53, John 3:16, Matthew 27:26-30) 

Jesus came to love, forgive, save, bless,

         restore, heal, prophesy, redeem,

              give hope, bring peace, counsel, 

                    conquer, suffer in our place, serve, and forever change our lives.

Thinking about who Jesus is, and what He came to do for all of us, should cause us to bow down and worship Him as the Magi did.  And in return, that act of worship will fill us with joy.

Take some time this season to slow down and worship at the feet of Jesus. Maybe read through some of the messianic prophecies that have been fulfilled, and praise God that He loves you so much that He gave up his throne in Heaven and came to earth as a baby so you and I could have a relationship with Him. Then, just wait, with expectation, as your heart fills with joy.