The Jewish nation and the whole world were faced with a miraculous event slightly more than 2,000 years ago.
The event occurred in Bethlehem Ephrathah, a small village that was the birthplace of King David.
Joseph and Mary journeyed from Nazareth for the Roman census. Mary was pregnant while still a virgin. Their first child, Jesus, would be born in the city of David as prophesied in Micah 5:2:
“But you Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the cities of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times.”
That prophecy was recorded in eighth century B.C. some 750 years before the birth of Christ. For 400 years, the Christian Bible contains a gap as God was downplayed in Jewish society.
The miraculous birth of John to his mother, Elizabeth, in her later years was a fulfillment of an Old Testament prophecy.
John would become the forerunner for the Messiah. He came out of the wilderness and baptized the multitudes in the Jordan River and also baptized Jesus.
At the age of 30, Jesus was often referred to as Rabbi. For three-plus years He performed many miracles, healed the multitudes and spoke with an authority never seen by man before.
Yet, His true purpose was to come into this world as the God Man to die for all mankind.
Christ’s death, burial, resurrection and miraculous ascension into the clouds culminated with these angelic words from Acts 1:11: “‘Men of Galilee,’ they said, ‘why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus that has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.’”
Yes, the Messiah will return and fulfill many prophecies in His second coming. The same Christ Jesus worshiped by Christians over the past 20 centuries will soon return.
The Book of Revelation prophesies what I believe is soon at hand. The world as we know it will be transformed by God Almighty and the Jewish nation will play an integral part in that renewal.
Yes, they will once again finally meet and accept their long-awaited Messiah.
The ancient Jewish tribes have only been a modern country, the State of Israel, since 1948. A once-barren land has flourished into that promised land of milk and honey. Israel is America’s greatest ally and we are blessed to stand with them through their adversity.
There have been immense spiritual battles going on through the centuries, but through it all the Jewish nation remains the chosen people of God.
And we who trust in Christ Jesus as our Savior and Lord are blessed to call them our brothers and sisters!