The Uniqueness of JesusSample

Planned, Purposed & Prophesied

Beloved, did you know that one of the most unique things about Jesus is that His whole life – from His conception through the miraculous virgin birth to the miracles He would perform, to His death on the cross and His resurrection – all of it was planned, purposed, and prophesied!

Prophecies are pre-written history that God chose to reveal to certain people throughout the Old Testament. These people were mainly the prophets, aka people who heard directly from God.

However, the astounding thing is not just that Jesus’ life was foretold, but that He actually fulfilled what was foretold of Him Most Bible scholars believe that Jesus fulfilled not only 10, 50, or 70 prophecies, but a whopping 300 of them! That is astonishing.

But why is this so important for us? First and foremost, because Jesus lived on earth and fulfilled these prophecies, we can be assured of the truthfulness and the accuracy of the Bible. We can trust what it says.

Another reason it is important for us is because it shows us that our salvation was always God’s Plan A. It’s not that God thought up a way to help humanity around the 857 B.C. mark, or after He had seen enough of humanity’s dire situation. 1 Peter 1:20 tells us that Jesus was chosen even before creation to be our Saviour. Everything that God did was for us. That should fill us with great confidence in the Lord’s love for us!

However, I truly believe that the most important thing this reveals to us is something of the nature of God. All of this assures us of God’s incredible faithfulness. Through the foretelling of Jesus’ coming to earth and in the fulfillment of this, it’s as if God is saying to us, “I am faithful to fulfill what I have promised.”

He is a God who does not lie, who does not make empty promises, and who does not change His mind (Numbers 23:19). Instead, He is a God who is faithful to His word, who is full of integrity, who speaks and acts, and who promises and fulfills. And Jesus was the greatest promise of God!

Dear beloved, it was for me and for you that God sent Jesus. He stayed true and faithful to His promises so that we would get to experience salvation and life in Christ. Would you marvel with me at that today?

Reflection

Why is it important to you that Jesus’ coming was planned, purposed, and prophesied?

Prayer

Lord God,

It is so wondrous to me that Jesus’ life, death, resurrection, and His purpose in saving me were all part of Your big plan from the very beginning of the world. You did not have to save me, but You chose to. Fill me again with the joy of Your salvation!

Though I can’t fully wrap my head around Jesus being planned, purposed, and prophesied, I am so grateful for what it reveals to me about You. I worship You, Lord, for Your faithfulness, for Your foresight, and for Your compassion for me.

Thank You for being faithful to fulfill what You have promised - not just in Jesus, but in all the promises You have spoken over my life. I put my trust and hope in You today.

In Jesus’ name, amen.