[Message] Pastor Jung Myeong Seok
[Scriptures] Isaiah 7:14-15
Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign;
The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son,
and will call him Immanuel.
He will be eating curds and honey
when he knows enough to reject the wrong and choose the right.
Today is Christmas, the day we commemorate the birth of Jesus the Messiah,
who was sent by God and was born on this earth.
The religious people of the Old Testament believed in God for 4,000 years
and waited for the Messiah whom God would send.
However, they failed to receive Jesus the Messiah
when he actually came, even after God had promised.
God did not send Jesus the Messiah without any warning.
He had already prophesied about it and promised it to them through the Prophet Isaiah,
whom the religious people of the Old Testament followed. (Isaiah 7:14-15)
He also told them ahead of time that the savior would be born in Bethlehem
by prophesying through the Prophet Micah,
and He said, 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.
These words are from Micah 5:2 in the Old Testament.
Besides these verses, God prophesied about the Messiah through the prophets
whom the religious people of the Old Testament followed
and in accordance with those prophecies, God sent Jesus the Messiah to the earth.
The Jewish religious people of the Old Testament waited so eagerly for the Messiah,
but ultimately they failed to receive him even though he came
because they failed to correctly perceive Jesus, whom God sent.
However, Jesus fulfilled the prophecies in the Bible and Israel began to be restored.
No matter how much they shun, persecute, and refuse to believe,
God’s history fulfills all the Will while flowing along serenely.
Likewise, even if God give us things according to His promise,
if you don’t know, you will fail and only those who know will receive the Lord and rejoice
while believing and taking action.
If you don’t know, you will live failing to receive him even if he is next to you,
so I bless everyone to know it again, realize, and take action.
Now, let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus who came according to God’s Will and promise,
and I pray that you will give thanksgiving and glory to God who sent him.
