When I think of that first Christmas night, it is hard to imagine that while Bethlehem was bursting with people, not one of them knew that in their midst, the Son of God was being born. The Word had become flesh, the Redeemer of the world had entered time. The only pomp and circumstance He received came from the angels singing over a field that night and a few smelly, rugged shepherds became privy to the good news that the Hope of the World had finally arrived.

While His arrival was mostly overlooked, the coming of this Christ-Child had been heralded over and over again all throughout the Old Testament.

It is easy to look at the Old Testament as a choppy collection of stories told to help us understand the history of God’s people. While we do learn a lot about the people of Israel, the Old Testament is primarily about Jesus. It is God meticulously orchestrating all things in such a way that would result in Mary marrying Joseph, the couple going to Bethlehem for the census, and Mary giving birth in a barn to the long awaited Savior, whose path would lead Him to the cross.

God gave promises and signs all along the way. Some of these promises were very subtle like in Genesis 3:15, and sometimes they were like a loud trumpet declaring to all that a Rescuer was on His way (Is. 9:6).

We already saw how God revealed that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem (Micah 5:2), that He would be born of a virgin, and that His name would be Immanuel because He is “God with us” (Is. 7:14). But even in 2 Samuel, in the middle of the story of David, God makes a promise that He is going to establish someone from the line of David on a throne that will last forever. It is a foreshadowing of the ultimate King whose kingdom will never crumble or be overthrown. This child, who was born to humble parents, in humble circumstances, is establishing a glorious kingdom on whose throne He will forever sit.

It is a kingdom that is characterized by peace, safety,  justice, love, worship, excitement, tranquility, and provision. The inhabitants of this kingdom will lack nothing and their joy will be made complete as they live with Jesus himself.

We are a part of this kingdom but only because the Son of God took on flesh and dwelt among us. This is one of the many truths we need to celebrate this Christmas season.

Looking to Jesus,

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Jen Thorn

Jen Thorn grew up in Germany and then spent her teenage years in Africa, where her parents were missionaries. She moved to the United States for college and attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where she met her husband. They have been married for twenty-two years and have four children. Jen lives in the suburbs of Chicago, where her husband is the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship. Jen is passionate about theology and the connection to daily living.