In his book The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible, Dr. Michael Heiser writes:
The Old Testament prepares us for Jesus by describing a figure who is both human and divine, a servant and a king, who will ultimately redeem Israel and bless the nations.
The Old Testament is full of prophets and prophecies. And, while the books of the Old Testament cover a range of stories and historical events, they all prepare the reader and point them to Jesus.
And during the season of Advent, or what we often refer to as Christmas, it’s important to remind ourselves of these prophecies. To dig in and better understand how the prophets spoke of a coming King. A Messiah who would usher in a new Kingdom and the renewal of all things.
While Christmas is beautiful in many ways, its true beauty lies in the prophetic words and the prophetic fulfillment of Jesus’ arrival.
As Alec Motyer writes in his work, The Prophecy of Isaiah: An Introduction & Commentary:
The prophetic writings are filled with expectation, portraying the Messiah not only as Israel’s hope but also as the light for the Gentiles, the One through whom the nations will be blessed.
The Old Testament prophets spoke of a future day when the Messiah would arrive. A day of hope and restoration. A time of healing and redemption.
It’s these prophetic words that form the foundation of the Christmas season and the hope of Advent.
The Old Testament and The Arrival of Jesus
Let’s look at 3 major prophecies from Old Testament prophets that point us to the advent of Jesus.
The Serpent Crusher
The prophetic words concerning the arrival of Jesus begin in Genesis.
After Adam and Eve are led astray by the serpent and disobey God, God turns to the serpent and speaks prophetically:
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel. (Genesis 3:15 NIV)
“He will crush your head.”
This prophetic word from God spoke of a day where the Son would dismantle the power of sin and death.
This prophecy points to the advent of the serpent-crusher.
And this prophecy is fulfilled in the New Testament through Jesus, as the author of Hebrews writes:
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—(Hebrews 2:14 NIV).
Dr. Heiser further highlights this truth in his book, The Unseen Realm, when he writes:
The promise of Genesis 3:15 is fulfilled in the person of Jesus, who, through his death and resurrection, delivers the fatal blow to the powers of darkness.
The Virgin Birth
Isaiah, one of the major prophets in the Old Testament, prophesied concerning the coming Messiah:
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 NIV)
Isaiah’s prophecy pointed to the circumstances surrounding the birth of the Messiah. Through the womb of a virgin the Savior would arrive. And through the virgin birth, “God with us” would become a reality.
This Old Testament prophecy points us to a coming day where God would come to make His home among us. And in the New Testament, John the Beloved writes:
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. (John 1:14 NIV)
The prophetic word from Isaiah became the fulfilled promise in John.
The Birthplace of the Messiah
Another prophet in the Old Testament, Micah, prophesied the Messiah’s birthplace.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times. (Micah 5:2 NIV)
And this prophecy was fulfilled in Matthew 2:
When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written…(Matthew 2:3-5 NIV)
What was prophesied by Micah was fulfilled in Matthew. Bethlehem would be the place where the Messiah was born. And Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem not only fulfilled Micah’s prophecy but signified His royal lineage as the eternal King promised throughout the Scriptures.
The Prince of Peace
The advent of the Messiah would also be the advent of peace.
Isaiah prophesied:
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. Of the greatness 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. (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV)
This prophecy describes the Messiah as the One who will bring peace and justice forever. And moving into the New Testament, John the Beloved pens Jesus’ words to His disciples:
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (John 14:27 NIV)
Emphasizing the advent of peace through the Messiah, N.T. Wright writes in his book Simply Jesus: A New Vision of Who He Was, What He Did, and Why He Matters:
Jesus, as the Prince of Peace, inaugurates a kingdom that overturns the violence and chaos of this world. His peace is not temporary or political but cosmic, bringing wholeness to all creation.
Peace was prophesied to be the hallmark of the Messiah. And peace is what Jesus brought to the world. His advent as King and Savior meant peace was now here and available to everyone who would receive it.
Dive Deeper into the Old Testament
Pastor and author, Tim Keller, writes in his book Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ:
The prophets tell us not only that Jesus is coming, but they also reveal the kind of Messiah he will be: a suffering servant and a conquering king, both humble and exalted.
The Old Testament prophets point us, not just to specific events in history, but to the advent of the Messiah. The Anointed One who would make His dwelling among His people.
And it’s those prophecies that prepared hearts for the long-awaited arrival of the Messiah.
If you’d like to dive deeper into the prophets, prophecies, and truths of the Old Testament, check our free online course: Old Testament Orientation.
Dr. Ronn Johnson walks through the Old Testament, discussing the divine council, cosmic geography, divine rebellions, and much more. After taking this course, you’ll be more equipped to:
Recognize important places, dates, events, and names within the Old Testament story.
Summarize the content and meaning of the books of the Old Testament.
Identify key terms, ideas, and topics in the current state of Old Testament study.
Define how individuals properly honored God during the Old Testament.
To sign up for this free course, click here.
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