After the angel visited Mary to announce her special purpose of giving birth to the Christ, “Mary hurried to enter the house and greet Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child LEAPED WITHIN HER, and ELIZABETH WAS FILLED WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT (this all happened because in Mary’s womb was Jesus the Christ, God the Son). Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has BLESSED YOU above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honored, that THE MOTHER OF MY LORD should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb LEAPED FOR JOY.” (Luke 1:39-44) Elizabeth was about to give birth to John the Baptist who was “…that voice crying in the wilderness preparing the way for the coming Messiah.” (Isaiah 40:3)
Look at what the scripture says about each baby that is born into this world, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! It is amazing to think about. Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it. YOU WERE THERE WHILE I WAS BEING FORMED in utter seclusion! You saw me before I was born and SCHEDULED EACH DAY OF MY LIFE BEFORE I BEGAN TO BREATHE. Every day was recorded in your book!” (Psalms 139:14-16) God recorded His plan for us but He allows us “free will” to choose what we want to do. That’s why David wrote this at the end of this Psalm, “SEARCH ME, God, and know my heart; TEST ME and know my anxious thoughts. SEE IF there is any offensive way in me and LEAD ME in the way everlasting.” (Psalms 139:23-24) Most parents do not teach this to their children so, they don’t even know about their purpose.
Now the birth of Christ was different than any other birth, “So, the Lord Himself shall give you a sign. Behold, the virgin will conceive and shall bring forth a son, and THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL (God with us).” (Isaiah 7:14)
These scriptures from Psalm 22 foretell Christ’s suffering better than any written 1000 years before it happened:
- Psalm 22:1 “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” – “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?” (Matthew 27:46)
- Psalm 22:7-8 “All who see me mock me; THEY HURL INSULTS, shaking their heads. ‘He trusts in the Lord,’ they say, ‘let the Lord rescue Him. Let Him deliver Him, since He delights in Him.’” – “Those who passed by HURLED INSULTS AT HIM, shaking their heads…” (Matthew 27:39)
- Psalm 22:16-18 “Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet. All my bones are on display; people stare and gloat over me. They divide my clothes among them and CAST LOTS for my garment.” – “When they had crucified Him, they divided up His clothes by CASTING LOTS.” (Matthew 27:35)
When the Psalmist asked the Lord, “What is man that You are mindful of him? (Psalms 8:4) This was the Biblical response, “God SO LOVED the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him SHOULD NOT PERISH but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him MIGHT BE SAVED.” (John 3:16-17) This is your opportunity to ask for forgiveness and invite Jesus into your heart!
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham