His Arrival
By JK Woodall, Ph.D.
From the moment of humanity’s fall, a divine promise was set in motion—a Redeemer who would come to crush the head of the serpent and restore humanity to its Creator. Yet, His arrival on Earth was marked by resistance, a gambit of rulers and earthly authorities driven to extinguish the bloodline leading to Him. Their collective efforts sought to stop the Ultimate Ruler, Jesus, from fulfilling His eternal purpose.
The Foreshadowing of the Lamb
In the garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve sinned, God Himself provided garments of skin to clothe them (Genesis 3:21, NIV). This act required the sacrifice of an innocent animal, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice—Jesus, the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world (John 1:29, ESV). From the very beginning, God pointed to the coming of His Son as the remedy for humanity’s fall.
The Rulers Against the Promise
Pharaoh: In Egypt, Pharaoh decreed the slaughter of all male Hebrew infants, a failed attempt to crush the Israelites, the chosen people from whom the Messiah would come (Exodus 1:15-16, NIV).
Athaliah: The queen mother in Judah, Athaliah, nearly eradicated the royal lineage of David, through whom the Messiah was promised. Only Joash was spared, preserving the Davidic line (2 Kings 11:1-3, NKJV).
Haman: Haman’s plot to annihilate the Jewish people in Persia was another satanic attempt to cut off the promised bloodline. Esther’s bold intervention ensured God’s plan prevailed (Esther 3:5-6, NIV; Esther 7:3-6, ESV).
Herod: After hearing of Jesus’ birth, Herod the Great ordered the massacre of male infants in Bethlehem. Yet, God’s hand protected His Son, as the Holy Family escaped to Egypt (Matthew 2:16-18, NIV).
Hidden in Plain Sight
Despite these orchestrated attacks, the Messiah’s arrival unfolded not in grandeur but in humility. Born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, and laid in a feeding trough, Jesus was hidden in plain sight. Shepherds rejoiced at His birth, angels proclaimed His coming, yet the world’s rulers failed to recognize Him as the King of kings (Luke 2:7-14, ESV).
The Eternal King
Even as the forces of darkness moved against Him, God’s sovereignty ensured the fulfillment of His plan. Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection demonstrate that no earthly power can thwart God’s redemptive work. He is the eternal King who reigns with justice, righteousness, and truth (Isaiah 9:6-7, KJV; Revelation 11:15, NIV).
This Christmas, we celebrate not only the birth of our Savior but also the unstoppable power of God’s plan. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (John 1:5, NIV). Let us remember that Jesus was not only born to live among us but to redeem us and reign forever.
Merry Christmas and God bless you all!
JK Woodall, Ph.D.
No comments:
Post a Comment