December 23, 2017
This post is part of a series of Christmas Devotionals by Dr. John Neihof, president of Wesley Biblical Seminary. You can find all of the devotionals by clicking here.
Scripture passages: Genesis 3:15, Isaiah 6:1-9, 9:6-7, John 1:29
Dear Jesus, I want to know who You really are.
Adam heard the voice of God pronounce a curse and a prophesy in the Garden of Eden. Adam describes You as the seed of the woman who would crush the serpent’s head.
Noah knew Your call to build an ark. Noah describes You as Judge of all the world, Deliverer and Savior of his family.
Abraham encountered You in holy covenant. Abraham testifies that You are covenant-keeping God. You are the One who circumcised his heart by faith.
Jacob encountered You in a dream. He saw You at the top of the ladder to heaven, and found You to be the God who perpetually pursued his heart.
Isaiah saw You in the smoke-filled temple, accompanied with incense, fire, and angels. He recognized You as Triune God: “Holy, Holy, Holy!” Isaiah prophesied Your coming as Immanuel, Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace, and a Light for the Gentiles.
Jeremiah prophesied Your coming as the Branch of David. He referred to You as the Lord our Righteousness.
Daniel envisioned Your coming as the Messiah, the stone hewn out of the mountain that would crush the kingdoms of the world.
Amos preached Your conquest over the former enemies of Israel, “and all nations that bear my name.” Micah envisioned You as the Shepherd-King to be born in Bethlehem. Zecharaiah called You “the man whose name is Branch… a priest on his throne, a fountain open to the house of David … to cleanse them from sin and impurity.”
John the Baptist identified You as “the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”
Who are You? You are my Savior, my Lord, and my soon coming King. Thank You for coming the first time. I await Your return.