Russell Mckinney's Blog

Christmas is over but I’ve got one leftover gift for you. It’s a short Bible study about how God gradually revealed the specifics of the Savior’s birth. Here goes.

1. The gradual revelation began when God said to Satan (who was possessing Eden’s serpent at the time), “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel” (Genesis 3:15; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:22-23). So, the Savior would be born to a woman, specifically a virgin.   

2. The gradual revelation progressed when God promised Abram (Abraham), “In you all the families of the earth shall be blessed” (Genesis 12:3; Galatians 3:16). So, the Savior would be born to a virgin, and He would be a Jew.

3. The gradual revelation progressed further when the elderly Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) prophesied that the Messiah would come through the line of Jacob’s son Judah (Genesis 49:10; Hebrews 7:14; Revelation 5:5). So, the Savior would be born to a virgin. He would be a Jew. And He would be born from the tribe of Judah. 

4. The gradual revelation progressed further when God promised King David that He would establish the throne of his son’s kingdom forever (2 Samuel 7:12-13; Matthew 1:1; Luke 1:26-27; Romans 1:3). So, the Savior would be born to a virgin. He would be a Jew. He would be from the tribe of Judah. And He would be born from the line of David.

5. The gradual revelation progressed further when Micah prophesied that the Messiah would be born in the small town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1-6). So, the Savior would be born to a virgn. He would be a Jew. He would be from the tribe of Judah. He would be from the line of David. And He would be born in the town of Bethlehem. 

6. The gradual revelation finally concluded when an angel said to Joseph, “And she (Mary) will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21). So, the Savior would be born a virgin. He would be a Jew. He would be from the tribe of Judah. He would be from the line of David. He would be born in the town of Bethlehem. And He would be named Jesus.  

You see, down through the eons of human history, God kept getting more and more specific regarding the details of the birth of the Savior of the human race. A plan was always in place, and God was always working His plan. That plan culminated on that night so long ago in the birth of that little baby that lay there in that manger.