“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
yet out of you shall come forth to me
the One to be ruler in Israel,
whose goings forth are from of old,
from the days of eternity.”
Micah 5:2
This is a Scripture from the Old Testament that you can show to your Jewish friends. It is saying that the one born in Bethlehem is God himself, for he is the only one who has been “from the days of eternity.”
So WHO is this one born in Bethlehem?
“For unto us a child is born,
unto us a Son is given;
and the government will be upon his shoulder.
And his name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
There was a child born in Israel, a human being who Isaiah says is the “mighty God.”
The child is God? The “mighty God?”
Oh yes, and he continues to validate that by adding that this child is the “everlasting Father.”
“Everlasting?” There is no other child who was born in Bethlehem of whom it is said that his goings forth are from the days of eternity, that he is the mighty God, and that he is everlasting.
Take your friend then, through Isaiah 53 and ask who could possibly be the one spoken of here:
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows,
yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted.”
Isaiah 53:5
WHO bore our griefs and carried our sorrows? WHO did Israel miss because they thought he was smitten by God? Furthermore, WHY was he “smitten by God?”
53:6
“All we like sheep have gone astray,
we have turned, every one, to his own way,
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”
The Lord laid ON HIM – the iniquity of us all.
53:8
“For he was cut off from the land of the living; FOR the transgressions of my people he was stricken.”
So we have God, the “Mighty God” who bore our griefs and carried our sorrows, and who was CUT OFF (he died) …FOR the transgressions of God’s people.
But …WHY?
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son,
that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
John 3:16
The human race is fallen, all are sinners, and the judgment on sin is death.
“For the wages of sin is death.”
Romans 6:23
But that judgment was taken by another. Jesus Christ is the one born in Bethlehem, the mighty God, the everlasting one, and HE took that judgment in our place when he hung upon that Cross and was crucified. Therefore anyone who places their trust in him and receives him as their Savior and Lord, is set free from the judgment on their sins.
This gift is given to whoever is willing to surrender control of their lives to him and receive him as Lord. “All we like sheep have gone astray.” We need to turn around and let him lead us back to the fold, let him become the shepherd, let him become the Lord of our lives. Whoever so puts their faith in him will be saved.
Pray with me:
Father God, I know I am a sinner and your Word says that the judgment on my sins is death. I stand condemned. But in your great love for me, you sent your Son to die in my place and receive in himself all the judgment that was due me. Lord Jesus, I ask you to be my Savior. I, like a sheep, have gone astray but you took upon yourself my iniquity, my sins. I turn from my way and ask you to show me YOUR way for my life. I hand over to you my self-led life and surrender all to you, for from this day forward you are my Lord. And I will forever bring thanksgiving to you for what you have done for me.
More:
Who Is Jesus Christ?
Christmas 