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DID YOU KNOW THAT... The birthplace of Jesus was predicted about 700 years before Jesus Christ was born?

THE BIBLE:

Old Testament Prophecy
“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.” --Micah 5:2, NIV

New Testament Fulfillment
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem. --Matthew 2:1, NIV

REFLECTION: What are the chances that a small town would survive on the map for seven centuries, let alone thousands of years even to our days. So many other towns disappeared around Bethlehem during this prophetic period, yet Bethlehem, transliterated the "House of Bread," the birthplace of King David, survived and flourished.

It was never a military post, nor a financial center. It was only the humble birthplace of two kings, the second King of Israel and the King of Kings. Over the centuries, thousands, if not millions of settlements have disappeared, yet this seemingly insignificant place remains even to this day.

Micah purposely and masterfully distinguishes between Bethlehem of Zebulun from the days of Joshua, Moses' successor from the conquest days in the history of Israel (Joshua 19:15) and Bethlehem of the Ephrathite clan (Ruth 1:2) and ties this city to David but it is its association with Jesus that makes this location important for Christianity.

The Good Shepherd's birth, life, influence, suffering, death and resurrection makes this city stand out beyond the scope of David's influence. This is the same city the priests and scholars of the day knew as Bethlehem of Judea (Matthew 2:3-6)

It is the fact that Jesus was both human and divine that fascinates the mind of scholars and believers alike and give great important to the location of this remarkable event in the history of humanity. Not only Micah acknowledges the divine origins of the Messiah, "Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting, but Isaiah, Micah's contemporary who also agrees (Isaiah 9:6).

What are the chances that a little place like Bethlehem would survive political upheaval all around its historical geography?

The answer is: very little to almost impossible. The best answer is the miraculous will of God to demonstrate to His people his faithfulness and good intentions and power to be in control, even of world events to accomplish His purposes and give certainty to believers that His Word always comes to pass, fulfilled.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: What certainty is there in your life today that you trust most? For us human beings, life is never a guarantee, but death is. What can we trust?

Place your trust in Jesus. He has accurately fulfilled His Word in the past and will fulfill the past few promises left. He will return soon. Believe it. It is true.

DID YOU KNOW THAT... the virgin birth of Jesus was predicted in Scripture?

THE BIBLE
Old Testament Prophecy:
Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14)

New Testament Fulfillment:
And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; ... thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. (Luke 1:26-31)

REFLECTION: The mythological character of Hercules was an adaptation of the Greek divine hero Heracles, who was the son of Zeus and the mortal Alcmene. In essence, he was a god-man. Hercules is mostly known for his strength and adventures. Unfortunately, there is no real evidence that he ever really existed, except in the imagination of ancient Greeks and Romans.

Jesus is God in human form. The Bible tells us that "he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness." --Philippians 2:7. There is plenty of historical data to back up the authenticity of Jesus who was born and lived under Roman rule in Palestine.

Jesus is also known for His strength in conquering death and returning to life. 1 Corinthians 15:6 records that about 500 people saw Jesus alive before his ascension.

It boggles the mind to think that a person may be born from a woman who had not prior sexual contact. Yet, history records that such event occurred. The Spirit of God created the miracle of new life in the womb a young virgin.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: It is up to you to believe what you please. This does not make it a fact or reality. In the age in which we live, fiction has impacted the worldview of so many people. We may have the freedom to believe anything we wish, yet none of us are entitled to our own reality. It is either day or night, rainy or sunny. Reality does not give us a prerogative to change the facts.

If you have not done so, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and live. Let us know how we can help.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BIBLE, sign up for our free course. Read it. Study it. And see the evidence for yourself.

THE REJECTION OF JESUS

THE BIBLE. "He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not." (Isaiah 53:3)

REFLECTION. Being dismissed, ignored or invalidated can be signs of rejection. Repeated rejection may lead to emotional as well as physical pain. Rejection may in some individuals elicit withdrawal from society for fear of pain.

The Bible predicted the rejection of Jesus in Isaiah 53. this was confirmed by the Gospel of John the Beloved.

"He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him." (John 1:10-11)

Even though Jesus was rejected by His own people and experienced pain and disappointment, he never withdrew from service unless it was for personal. He worked long hours a day to relieve the pain of others. By doing this He left an example for others on how to deal with rejection.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Do take time to rest; it is necessary. Maintain at least one trustworthy relationship in which you can confide for most personal thoughts. Seek professional help if your situation is causing depression.

In all that you do, remember to bring your concerns to Jesus through prayer. He is well acquainted with rejection and disappointment.

King David also experienced rejection. He shared his recipe to overcome emotional distress. He turned to the Scriptures for spiritual uplifting. Meditating on the word of God is healthy. Not only David depended on God's Word but Jesus Himself. Human beings do not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

"Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

"That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither —whatever they do prospers." (Psalm 1:1-3, NIV)

THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS

THE BIBLE: But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

Then they remembered that he had said this. So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

REFLECTION: There are some who propose that the resurrection of Jesus proves nothing because they assume that the miracles recorded in Scripture are not real. Without providing any piece of evidence or proof for their assumptions, they discard the trustworthy historical record that science and archaeology support.

To them the resurrection hijacks "critical thinking" and is nothing more than "indoctrination hoodwink." To make matters more interesting, many of these opponents of the Bible have either had terrible experiences with some Christians or boast that they understand better because they have some advanced degree in religious studies. Certainly we encourage higher education, but simply claiming to have a degree does not entitle anyone to assume that their conclusions are infallible.

Surprisingly, the Scriptures has this counter-argument for these type of individuals struggling with common sense.

The Apostle Paul eloquently asserts:

Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. If in Christ we have hope[b] in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied.

But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:12-19, ESV)

The heart of the matter is this: "...Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, ...he was buried, ...he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 ..he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time" (1 Corinthians 15:3-6, ESV)

This is in addition to the numerous prophecies regarding the birth, life, suffering, death and resurrection that were all fulfilled with certainty at the right time. What are the odds of one man accomplishing all this perfectly?

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: You owe it to yourself to learn more about your Lord and Savior. Your eternal life is in the balance. Request further studies regarding the truth contained in Scripture. Click on the link above for Bible Study Offer. It is FREE! Nothing to lose. Much to gain.

THE BURIAL OF JESUS

THE BIBLE: Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph. He was a member of the Jewish high council, but he had not agreed with the decision and actions of the other religious leaders. He was from the town of Arimathea in Judea, and he was waiting for the Kingdom of God to come. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body.

Then he took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in a long sheet of linen cloth and laid it in a new tomb that had been carved out of rock. This was done late on Friday afternoon, the day of preparation, as the Sabbath was about to begin.

As his body was taken away, the women from Galilee followed and saw the tomb where his body was placed. Then they went home and prepared spices and ointments to anoint his body. But by the time they were finished the Sabbath had begun, so they rested as required by the law. --Luke 23:50-56

REFLECTION: Jesus' death before the Sabbath hours is quite significant. If it were not, the writer of the Gospel of Luke would not have taken the time to emphasize it. Not only Jesus rested on the seventh-day while He was alive, but even in death, he rested from all His labors on earth to save humanity.

How could this have been planned in advance? Impossible! Yet, it seems like Jesus not only planned to allow His death to occur and had control even as to the hour he would die.

On Friday Jesus was laid to rest according to the Sabbath commandment.

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FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Do you need rest? Come to Jesus. His yoke is easy; it is not a burden. Are you exhausted to struggle through life on your own effort? Then accept Jesus' invitation to rest today. If you are troubled and heavy-laden, come today and rest with Jesus.

Come rest a while. Like Mary, come rest at His feet. In the privacy of your home, pray to God to give you divine rest for your soul today.

Let us know how we can help you. We'd love to connect with you and share good news.

Happy Easter! :-)

THE CRUCIFIXION OF JESUS

THE BIBLE: Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

REFLECTION: The crucifixion of Jesus secures the restoration of eternal life for all human beings. Yes, this means eternal life for you and your precious family. All you need to do is accept His substitutionary sacrifice made by God Himself in your behalf, for your benefit.

FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Let us know how we can help you in receiving Jesus in your heart. In the meantime, pray. "Dear Lord, come into my heart and changed me to be like my Lord and Savior, Jesus."

Happy Easter! :-)

"Whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him." (1 John 2:5 ESV)

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