Lesson 7

The Birth of Jesus (about 4 BC)

It has been about two thousand years since God began the nation of Israel through Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 12), and about fifteen hundred years since He established His covenant with Israel (Exodus 19:5). God has used His covenant with Israel as a teacher (Galatians 3:24). It has opened their eyes to His character and expectations, His committed love and His demand for holiness.

But Israel has also discovered some of the shortcomings God had built into the covenant (Hebrews 8:7). It often led to more questions than answers (1 Peter 1:10–12). And they discovered their inability to fulfill the covenant. The kingdom they were supposed to become was still a future hope.

By the time Jesus came to earth, Israel had been hoping and waiting for a Savior for centuries (John 7:31). They were told a King would come and exalt God’s people (Zechariah 9:9–10). But when Jesus came, Israel did not think He was the one. He did not fit their image of a hero. Jesus was not as attractive as they hoped (Isaiah 53:2). He came from the wrong part of Israel (John 1:46). His friends were uneducated (Acts 2:7). And He dwelt not among the prominent, but the poor and diseased (Matthew 11:2–6). Finally, any remaining hope that He was the Savior was erased when Jesus died on the cross.

It wasn’t until after Jesus’ death and resurrection that Israel finally began to understand that Jesus truly was the fulfillment of the Old Testament and its promises.

Jesus, the Prophet (Deuteronomy 18:15–18)

Moses from the beginning promised that another prophet would come, even greater than himself, to bring new revelations from God. Jesus proved to be that prophet by revealing the answers to all of the mysteries left unresolved in the Old Covenant. Read 1 Peter 1:10–12 and Ephesians 3:1–12. What were some of those mysteries? Read Hebrews 9:1–5 and John 1:9—how else did Jesus enlighten man?

Jesus, the King (Zechariah 9:9)

Read Psalm 2 and Isaiah 2:1–4. The Old Testament pointed to a future time of prominence for the kingdom of God’s people. Israel expected the Messiah to be the King that would exalt them. As we learned previously, Ruth introduced us to Jesus’ royal family. Read 2 Samuel 7:16 and Psalm 89:36—what promises were made of that great King? Why didn’t Israel accept that Jesus was their King?

Jesus, the Sacrifice

Read Hebrews 10:1–10. If animal sacrifices don’t forgive sins, then why did God make Israel kill so many animals before Jesus came?

Jesus is the fulfillment of all God’s work and plans. All things are “summed up in Christ” (Ephesians 1:8–10). Let’s get to know Jesus and His teachings. He is the way back to God (John 14:6).