WEBVTT 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:09.039 The children are on their way out to children's church. 00:00:09.119 --> 00:00:11.119 Any other children would like to join them? 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:13.919 They'll be downstairs for a little Bible lesson. 00:00:14.160 --> 00:00:16.160 Feel free to slip out now. 00:00:21.440 --> 00:00:24.239 Oh boy, Christmas is almost here. 00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:30.399 Does time speed up as you get older? 00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:31.760 I think so. 00:00:34.799 --> 00:00:38.880 I think Einstein left that out of his equation somehow. 00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:53.359 A main part of our Christmas celebrations is the giving of receiving of gifts which reflect the awesome gift God was giving us in his son Jesus. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.799 If you need an outline, go ahead and raise your hand. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:00:59.920 Our ushers are moving around and we'll hand you one. 00:01:00.479 --> 00:01:09.040 You know, our gifts, though, that we give to one another pale in comparison to God's gift of salvation in Jesus Christ. 00:01:09.120 --> 00:01:09.760 But you know what? 00:01:09.840 --> 00:01:11.280 We try anyway. 00:01:11.680 --> 00:01:20.640 I was reading a story of a 90-year-old grandmother who was getting pretty overwhelmed trying to buy gifts for everyone in her family. 00:01:21.280 --> 00:01:23.359 So she came up with a plan. 00:01:23.439 --> 00:01:28.560 She decided to write out a check to everyone and put it in their Christmas card. 00:01:29.200 --> 00:01:39.120 And in each card, in addition to her name, with the check, she just put buy your own present and then sent them off. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:51.599 Everyone on her list received a beautiful card from her with buy your own present written on the inside, but she forgot to include the check. 00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.640 Yeah. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:01:59.439 Wow. 00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:03.519 Like to be in that family gathering. 00:02:05.359 --> 00:02:16.319 After Jesus rose from the dead, and just before he ascended to heaven, he told his disciples in Luke chapter 24 that the whole Old Testament was written about him. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:30.719 Luke 24, 44, he said to them, These are my words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the psalms must be fulfilled. 00:02:31.039 --> 00:02:46.400 So in this advent series this year, I'm using Jesus' outline of where to find him in the Old Testament to see his coming beforehand, prepared as God was preparing Israel. 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:50.159 We find him in the Law of Moses, the prophets, and the Psalms. 00:02:50.319 --> 00:03:01.039 By the way, the Psalms are also called writings in the Hebrew Bible, and those are the three separate genres in the Hebrew Bible. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:09.840 And that the writings include not only the Psalms, but Ecclesiastes, Proverbs, Song of Songs, Job, and so on. 00:03:10.080 --> 00:03:14.800 So far, we've looked at and found Jesus in the law of Moses and the prophets. 00:03:14.879 --> 00:03:20.560 And today, as we finish this series, we move on to look for Jesus in the Psalms. 00:03:22.319 --> 00:03:30.479 And so the Psalms, if you're not familiar with them, they are a very rich source of messianic prophecies. 00:03:30.719 --> 00:03:37.680 And because of that, there's no way I've got time to cover everything in the Psalms about Jesus. 00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:44.879 So I've just kind of made a selection of some of the main references in the Psalms that point to Jesus. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:51.759 We're going to look at really three main categories of messianic prophecies in the Psalms. 00:03:52.000 --> 00:03:56.719 Something I, the first thing I call the fundamental prophecies of Jesus. 00:03:56.879 --> 00:04:03.280 And then secondly, the fulfilled prophecies of Jesus, and third, the future prophecies of Jesus. 00:04:03.439 --> 00:04:08.400 First, let's consider the fundamental prophecies of Jesus in the Psalms. 00:04:08.639 --> 00:04:17.839 By fundamental, what I mean are passages in the Psalms that refer to Jesus' identity, who he is, who we should expect. 00:04:18.879 --> 00:04:22.240 How do the Psalms describe Messiah's identity? 00:04:22.560 --> 00:04:28.959 We don't have to go very far before he is introduced in Psalm 2, which was read earlier. 00:04:29.199 --> 00:04:33.439 As for me, I've installed my king on holy Mount Zion. 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:36.240 I'll tell of the decree of the Lord. 00:04:36.399 --> 00:04:39.279 He said to me, You are my son, today I've begotten you. 00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:43.920 Ask of me, surely give you the nations as your inheritance. 00:04:44.240 --> 00:04:52.079 And then we've already heard this today, but the warning, verse 10, now therefore, O kings, show discernment. 00:04:52.480 --> 00:04:57.839 O judges of the earth, worship the Lord in reverence and rejoice with trembling. 00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:07.120 Do homage to the Son, the Son, Messiah, that he not become angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath may soon be kindled. 00:05:07.199 --> 00:05:08.319 But listen to this. 00:05:08.560 --> 00:05:23.279 Oh, how blessed are those who take refuge in him, all preparing us for Messiah's coming, Jesus Christ, who when we believe in him, take refuge in him, we are saved from God's wrath for our sin. 00:05:24.240 --> 00:05:33.360 Psalm 2 describes Messiah as God's begotten Son, the judge and king over all, who will inherit the entire earth. 00:05:33.600 --> 00:05:49.600 Now what's interesting is when you come to the New Testament, Psalm 2 is quoted several times, and the the apostles refer to Psalm 2 as pointing us to Jesus. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:06:01.120 Uh quoting Psalm 2 of the Lord coming as King and God's begotten son in the Gospels. 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:22.399 Second, the New Testament book of Hebrews quotes Psalm 45 in Hebrews 1.8, identifying, and this is striking, he the writer of the Hebrews in the New Testament quotes Psalm 45, identifying the Messiah as God. 00:06:24.160 --> 00:06:31.040 Here's what Psalm 45, 6 and 7 says that the writer of the Hebrews says this is referring to Jesus. 00:06:34.800 --> 00:06:37.920 A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. 00:06:38.079 --> 00:06:47.040 You've loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore, God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of joy above your companions. 00:06:47.519 --> 00:06:56.240 Psalm 45 also is a psalm celebrating the wedding of the king and his bride. 00:06:56.480 --> 00:07:02.480 And so Jesus actually refers to himself as the bridegroom in Luke chapter 5. 00:07:02.720 --> 00:07:13.040 I think also kind of intimating that that bridegroom spoken of in Psalm 45 is really him. 00:07:13.680 --> 00:07:22.000 Third, Psalm 110 and identifies the Messiah as priest, judge, and king. 00:07:22.639 --> 00:07:27.680 The identity of Messiah, the Psalms reveal Psalm 110, 1 to 5. 00:07:27.839 --> 00:07:33.279 The Lord said to my Lord, Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. 00:07:33.600 --> 00:07:39.519 The Lord will stretch forth your strong scepter from Zion and say, Rule in the midst of your enemies. 00:07:39.680 --> 00:07:43.680 Your people will volunteer freely in the day of your power, in holy array. 00:07:43.920 --> 00:07:48.480 From the womb of the dawn, your youth are to you as the dew. 00:07:48.720 --> 00:07:51.040 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:54.720 You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek. 00:07:55.439 --> 00:07:56.800 Lord is at your right hand. 00:07:56.959 --> 00:07:59.360 He will shatter kings in the day of his wrath. 00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:06.160 Again, in the New Testament, Hebrews chapter 5 confirms this Psalm was pointing us to Jesus. 00:08:06.399 --> 00:08:20.399 So so far in the Psalms, and I haven't done it all or been exhausted with it, the Psalms identify Messiah as God's begotten Son, as priest, as judge and king over all the earth. 00:08:20.959 --> 00:08:26.319 The Psalms identify him as the Son of Man, Psalm 8, and the Son of God. 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:32.559 Now let's look at the prophecies and the Psalms that were fulfilled in Jesus' lifetime. 00:08:34.320 --> 00:08:41.360 Psalms refer to a few miracles praising God. 00:08:41.519 --> 00:08:47.519 The Psalms are basically songs of praise to God for all his mighty works. 00:08:47.840 --> 00:08:53.360 But in the Psalms, God is praised for His power over nature. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:55.919 Psalm 89, 8 and 9. 00:08:56.159 --> 00:08:59.120 O Lord of hosts, who is like you? 00:08:59.360 --> 00:09:02.799 O mighty Lord, your faithfulness also surrounds you. 00:09:03.039 --> 00:09:05.519 You rule the swelling of the sea. 00:09:05.759 --> 00:09:08.960 When its waves rise, you still them. 00:09:09.840 --> 00:09:20.960 And in Mark 439, Jesus demonstrated his deity when he, in the storm with his disciples in the boat, made the waves stop on the Sea of Galilee. 00:09:21.039 --> 00:09:24.080 And they all said, Who is this? 00:09:24.559 --> 00:09:27.519 Makes the wind and sea calm. 00:09:28.480 --> 00:09:36.240 Well, Psalm 89 is pointing us to someone who can still the waves and the wind. 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:38.960 And that someone is Messiah. 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:54.559 Second, the Psalm we see it's Psalm 118, 22 and 23, and you'll be familiar with this prophecy basically, uh describes the Messiah as the stone which the builders rejected. 00:09:55.279 --> 00:10:05.600 In Matthew 21, 42, Jesus quoted this psalm and told us it was referring to him and how the religious leaders rejected. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:20.399 And in Acts chapter 4, verse 11, Apostle Peter also quotes this psalm and said it's referring to Jesus Christ. 00:10:21.919 --> 00:10:34.240 Third, in Psalm 40, um, the psalmist tells us that God will send the Messiah in the flesh to be an offering for sin. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:37.600 Psalm 40, verses 6 to 8. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:46.240 Psalmist says, Sacrifice and meal offering you have not desired, my ears you have opened, burnt offering and sin offering you've not required. 00:10:46.399 --> 00:10:49.279 Then I said, Behold, I come. 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:53.120 In the scroll of the book, it's written of me. 00:10:53.360 --> 00:10:58.159 I delight to do your will, O my God, your laws within my heart. 00:10:58.399 --> 00:11:14.879 And of course, in the New Testament, Hebrews 10 actually quotes this psalm, giving us a picture of Jesus' conversation with the Father before he was born, saying, in effect, these sacrifices aren't helping. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:19.279 I volunteer myself, a body you've prepared for me. 00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:23.759 I will come to do your will. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:27.840 Striking in the Psalms. 00:11:28.240 --> 00:11:39.519 Fourth, there are at least seven psalms that refer to details of Messiah's betrayal, suffering, and death that we see fulfilled in Jesus. 00:11:39.679 --> 00:11:41.600 Let me just quickly go through them. 00:11:42.080 --> 00:11:48.480 Psalm 41, 9 tells us that the Messiah will be betrayed by his friend. 00:11:49.679 --> 00:11:57.279 Even my close friend, in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me. 00:11:58.080 --> 00:12:05.519 Of course, in the New Testament in Luke 22, uh Jesus said, One of you will betray me. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:07.200 And they said, Who? 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:09.440 The one I'm dipping the bread. 00:12:11.759 --> 00:12:14.399 Of course, Judas did betray him. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:20.639 Psalm 22, verses 7 and 8 tells us the Messiah will be mocked and ridiculed. 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.399 All who see me sneer at me. 00:12:24.639 --> 00:12:26.320 They separate with the lip. 00:12:26.399 --> 00:12:32.480 They wag their heads saying, Commit yourself to the Lord, let him deliver him, let him rescue him, because he delights in him. 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.879 That's exactly what happened to Jesus in Luke 23. 00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:39.759 The mocker said, He trusts in God. 00:12:40.240 --> 00:12:42.879 Let him come down from the cross and prove it. 00:12:45.840 --> 00:12:47.360 Mocked, ridiculed. 00:12:47.440 --> 00:12:57.360 Psalm 22, 16 tells us strikingly, at a time when there was no crucifixions until Rome came on the scene. 00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.399 This is Old Testament Psalm area. 00:13:01.679 --> 00:13:04.879 Tells us the Messiah's hands and feet will be pierced. 00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:20.879 John 20, 25 to 27. 00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:23.679 They nailed him to the cross. 00:13:24.320 --> 00:13:44.240 And when he rose from the dead and met with the disciples, and Thomas wasn't there, and then he appeared again, and Thomas was there, he said, Hey Thomas, put your finger here in my hands where the nails were put, and then your hand in my side where I was speared. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:48.240 Don't be unbelieving. 00:14:18.879 --> 00:14:19.840 Not one of them is broken. 00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:30.240 John 19, 33, the soldiers wrapping things up at the crucifixion, broke the legs of the two criminals on either side of Jesus. 00:14:30.320 --> 00:14:33.039 But when they came to Jesus, they saw he was already dead. 00:14:33.360 --> 00:14:36.799 They did not break his bones to cause death. 00:14:47.039 --> 00:14:54.080 In this context, they also gave me gall for my food and for my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink. 00:14:54.320 --> 00:14:58.720 And that's exactly what happened in Matthew 27, 34. 00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:04.720 Psalm 22, 1 tells us that Messiah will be forsaken by God. 00:15:04.879 --> 00:15:10.559 And Jesus helps us out here because he quotes that as he's dying on the cross. 00:15:10.720 --> 00:15:13.759 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:15.840 Direct quote from Psalm 22. 00:15:15.919 --> 00:15:19.039 Do you think he was trying to tell us this is all pointing to me? 00:15:24.399 --> 00:15:25.919 There's a lot more. 00:15:26.960 --> 00:15:32.480 But fifth, some psalms point to the resurrection of Jesus. 00:15:32.879 --> 00:15:43.840 Psalm 16, 10 and 11, speaking of Messiah, for you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will you allow your holy one to undergo decay. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:46.559 You will make known to me the path of life. 00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:50.159 In your presence there is fullness of joy, and your right hand are pleasures forevermore. 00:15:50.320 --> 00:16:01.440 And Peter quotes Psalm 16 in his famous sermon on Pentecost and says, David was referring not to himself but to Jesus in that Psalm. 00:16:03.200 --> 00:16:08.320 Because tell you what, David's still in his tomb, but Jesus isn't. 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:18.879 Also, you see this in Psalm 49, 15, but God will redeem my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me, Selah. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:26.960 So many passages we see in the Psalms that were fulfilled in Jesus' life. 00:16:48.480 --> 00:17:01.919 Well, finally we see the future prophecies of Jesus of the Psalms that have not yet been fulfilled, but I guarantee you that we've seen all these prophecies before this come to pass. 00:17:02.240 --> 00:17:05.440 I'll guarantee you there's still more to come. 00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:06.319 Here they are. 00:17:06.480 --> 00:17:12.720 First, a number of the Psalms prophesy that Messiah will judge the world in righteousness. 00:17:12.960 --> 00:17:15.039 Psalm 96, 13. 00:17:16.559 --> 00:17:20.480 Before the Lord, before for he is coming. 00:17:21.119 --> 00:17:23.119 He's coming to judge the earth. 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:27.359 He will judge the world in righteousness and all the peoples in his faithfulness. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:28.480 He's going to do it right. 00:17:28.640 --> 00:17:30.319 Not like we would do it. 00:17:32.079 --> 00:17:33.599 He's going to do it right. 00:17:34.880 --> 00:17:36.400 Psalm 67, 4. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:39.039 Let all the nations be glad and sing for joy. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.799 That's interesting. 00:17:41.839 --> 00:17:42.480 Why? 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:46.799 Because you're going to judge the peoples with uprightness and guide the nations on the earth. 00:17:46.960 --> 00:17:47.759 Selah. 00:17:47.920 --> 00:17:49.279 Rejoice because you know what? 00:17:49.359 --> 00:17:51.759 You're going to be judged, but he's going to do it right. 00:17:57.519 --> 00:17:59.519 He will come to judge the earth. 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:03.920 Yet, a prophecy not fulfilled yet. 00:18:04.079 --> 00:18:05.279 The Psalms prophesy. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:09.279 We read some earlier that the Messiah will come to reign as king over all the earth. 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:10.720 We started with it. 00:18:11.039 --> 00:18:15.359 As for me, I've installed my king on Mount Zion, Psalm 2 says. 00:18:15.920 --> 00:18:18.799 And he's going to reign. 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:23.440 And so the Psalm begins, Well, why are you enraged? 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.839 Why are you so troubled, kings of the earth? 00:18:28.559 --> 00:18:33.599 If I were you, I would bow down and kiss the Son. 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:41.920 The Son who is my only begotten that I'm installing as King overall. 00:18:42.480 --> 00:18:48.880 Psalm 24, 7, lift up your heads, O gates, be lifted up, O ancient doors, for that the King of glory may come in. 00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:53.599 He's coming as king. 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:59.039 Psalm 96, 10, say among the nation, the Lord reigns. 00:18:59.200 --> 00:19:02.000 Indeed, the world is firmly established, it will not be moved. 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:04.960 He will judge the people with equity. 00:19:05.200 --> 00:19:11.200 Again, he's gonna reign righteously, equitably. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.200 Nobody's gonna say that's not fair. 00:19:15.440 --> 00:19:18.160 Everybody will say, that's exactly right. 00:19:18.799 --> 00:19:19.920 Everyone. 00:19:21.200 --> 00:19:22.640 Every one of us. 00:19:23.279 --> 00:19:26.480 Believers standing before the judgment seat of Christ. 00:19:26.720 --> 00:19:35.440 Not the final judgment, but the judgment seat of Christ to give account for our actions in the body before he returns. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:39.039 Nobody's gonna say it. 00:19:39.279 --> 00:19:40.240 That's not fair. 00:19:40.880 --> 00:19:43.200 Everybody will say, every one of us. 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:44.480 You're right. 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:47.039 Absolutely right. 00:19:49.920 --> 00:19:55.759 He's coming to judge, he's coming as king, and third, good news of hope. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:59.759 A few psalms prophesy, yet future, that the Messiah will. 00:20:00.240 --> 00:20:04.640 Come and actually renew the entire earth when he comes to rain. 00:20:04.960 --> 00:20:06.799 Psalm 65, 9. 00:20:07.200 --> 00:20:11.279 You visit the earth and cause it to overflow. 00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:13.279 You greatly enrich it. 00:20:13.519 --> 00:20:15.759 The stream of God is full of water. 00:20:16.559 --> 00:20:20.160 You prepare their grain, and for thus you prepare the earth. 00:20:20.319 --> 00:20:22.000 Psalm 66, 1 and 4. 00:20:22.160 --> 00:20:24.720 Shout joyfully to God, all the earth. 00:20:25.279 --> 00:20:28.799 All the earth will worship you, sing praises to you. 00:20:29.039 --> 00:20:31.279 They'll sing praises to your name. 00:20:31.519 --> 00:20:33.440 And then Psalm 98. 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:37.440 Listen to God's creation. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:47.680 All of nature starts singing when he makes everything new, renews everything in the beauty it was originally intended to be. 00:20:48.640 --> 00:20:51.119 Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth. 00:20:51.279 --> 00:20:54.880 Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. 00:20:55.039 --> 00:21:01.359 Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre, with the lyre, and the sound of melody with trumpets and the sound of horn. 00:21:01.519 --> 00:21:02.720 There you go, George. 00:21:02.960 --> 00:21:05.839 Shout joyfully before the King, the Lord. 00:21:06.160 --> 00:21:12.880 Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. 00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:15.359 Let the rivers clap their hands. 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:17.839 Man, it's going to be beautiful. 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:19.519 Renewed. 00:21:21.279 --> 00:21:24.400 Let the mountains sing for joy before the Lord. 00:21:24.559 --> 00:21:26.400 He's coming to judge the earth. 00:21:26.559 --> 00:21:29.680 He will judge the world with righteousness, the peoples with equity. 00:21:29.839 --> 00:21:31.680 How many times do we need to hear that? 00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:33.519 He's going to do it right. 00:21:34.000 --> 00:21:36.400 And everything's going to be beautiful. 00:21:37.039 --> 00:21:38.000 Renewed. 00:21:39.599 --> 00:21:43.519 That we will get to enjoy with him. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:50.880 And of course, the New Testament does confirm that Jesus will return to restore all things. 00:21:51.359 --> 00:22:01.839 This is our hope, our certain hope, given to us throughout the New Testament, from Jesus' lips beginning there, but through the apostles. 00:22:02.000 --> 00:22:06.559 Let me read a couple things from Acts chapter 3. 00:22:06.960 --> 00:22:10.640 Peter again in a sermon, verses 18 to 21. 00:22:11.599 --> 00:22:22.480 Uh, keep in mind, the person speaking here, the people I'm going to mention in these passages, they all saw the resurrected Jesus Christ. 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:24.559 They all talked with him. 00:22:25.599 --> 00:22:27.200 They ate with him. 00:22:32.000 --> 00:22:36.160 And Peter says, This is just the beginning. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:38.000 Are you kidding me? 00:22:38.160 --> 00:22:38.880 Look at this. 00:22:39.119 --> 00:22:50.480 He says, But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, he got it, that his Christ would suffer, and he has thus fulfilled. 00:22:50.640 --> 00:23:02.319 Therefore, repent, return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. 00:23:02.559 --> 00:23:06.880 I believe referring to the time when he does return and reduce everything. 00:23:07.119 --> 00:23:19.440 And that he may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of the restoration of all things. 00:23:21.039 --> 00:23:24.960 That's next on the prophetic calendar, you see. 00:24:05.279 --> 00:24:06.960 But it's just too good. 00:24:07.599 --> 00:24:18.079 Um the apostle Paul says, You don't want, I consider that the sufferings of this present time aren't even worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 00:24:19.519 --> 00:24:38.880 For the anxious longing of creation, the whole creation, the whole world, waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God, those who are Jesus' companions, disciples, followers, believed in him, eagerly waiting for the revealing. 00:24:39.599 --> 00:24:56.640 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it in hope that the creation itself would be set free from its slavery to corruption, into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 00:24:57.039 --> 00:25:03.440 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 00:25:06.160 --> 00:25:10.400 Paul says, but it's not going to stay that way. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.359 This is our hope. 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:19.359 He will restore all things, we will be renewed, our bodies will be glorified. 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:21.119 Philippians 3. 00:25:22.480 --> 00:25:33.359 Jesus told us that what was written about him in the law of Moses, in the prophets, and the Psalms referred to him and must be fulfilled. 00:25:37.039 --> 00:25:41.279 We've seen and looked for Jesus in all three of those categories. 00:25:42.160 --> 00:25:45.359 There are many more that I didn't touch on. 00:25:46.640 --> 00:25:48.880 But I want you to think of it this way. 00:25:51.519 --> 00:26:04.319 Someone has put did a survey of the prophecies concerning Jesus, the Old Testament prophecies concerning the coming of Messiah, and you've got about 300 of them in the Old Testament. 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:20.319 Um, do you have any idea what the probability would be for all 300 prophecies be fulfilled in one person in one particular time in history? 00:26:20.559 --> 00:26:23.920 Do you have any idea of the probability of that? 00:26:24.720 --> 00:26:26.480 Well, I can tell you. 00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:29.759 Let's just take, here's 300. 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.880 Let's just take eight. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:35.519 Hey, all my math people out here, you can confirm it or correct me after the service. 00:26:35.680 --> 00:26:41.599 Don't correct me in public now, but let's just take eight of those prophecies. 00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:50.079 The chances of all eight of them being fulfilled in one person is one times ten to the seventeenth power. 00:26:50.559 --> 00:26:56.720 Or the chances of just eight of them being fulfilled is one and one hundred quadrillion. 00:26:57.039 --> 00:26:59.839 One followed by 17 zeros. 00:27:00.480 --> 00:27:01.759 The chances. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:23.119 And the person who fulfilled all 300 of them was Jesus Christ, whom God sent in the fullness of time to redeem us, to redeem everyone who believes in him as the promised Messiah, who died for our sins and rose again. 00:27:23.359 --> 00:27:24.720 It's amazing. 00:27:26.559 --> 00:27:36.799 The truth is, the New Testament tells us Jesus is not just coming once as an atonement for our sin. 00:27:37.359 --> 00:27:52.160 He's coming again to judge and to reign, to destroy evil and corruption and reign in righteousness, as the writer of the book of Hebrews in the New Testament speaks in Hebrews 9. 00:27:52.799 --> 00:28:04.799 But now, once at the consummation of the ages, he, being Jesus Christ, has been manifested to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 00:28:06.880 --> 00:28:11.119 And inasmuch as it is appointed for men to die once, and you know what? 00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:25.200 After that comes the judgment, so Christ also, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time for salvation without reference to sin to those who are eagerly waiting for him. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:28.640 Wow. 00:28:29.440 --> 00:28:31.119 Good news, my friends. 00:28:31.359 --> 00:28:41.119 And we uh prepare for Jesus' second coming by receiving what he came to give us at his first coming. 00:28:42.880 --> 00:28:51.359 Forgiveness of sins, the gift of eternal life, so we might join him in the renewed age. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:29:01.599 If you've never prepared for his second coming by receiving what Jesus promised at his first, it's not complicated. 00:29:01.920 --> 00:29:08.000 Jesus repeatedly said it, especially in the Gospel of John, believe in him for eternal life. 00:29:08.240 --> 00:29:10.480 Believe in him, believe in him, believe in him. 00:29:13.599 --> 00:29:21.519 Believe in him as the promised Messiah, who died for your sins, rose again, and can give you life eternal. 00:29:22.240 --> 00:29:29.119 If you've never done that, let me urge you to tell God today you believe in Jesus. 00:29:29.920 --> 00:29:32.079 You sent him to save us. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:37.519 I believe that, and I want to receive the gift of eternal life in his name. 00:29:37.680 --> 00:29:38.640 Would you do that today? 00:29:38.720 --> 00:29:39.440 Do it today. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:43.200 You'll be the best Christmas you've ever had if you've never done it. 00:29:43.440 --> 00:29:44.400 Let's pray. 00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:58.640 Father, thank you that Jesus told us that he came in obedience to you in order to fulfill your will for him in the scripture, which we've spent the last four weeks looking at. 00:29:59.599 --> 00:30:05.119 Thank you that we can see him, your beloved son, our savior, in the scriptures. 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:19.599 Thank you that just as surely as you promised to send him the first time, and many were not prepared, he promises to return to rescue us from the wrath to come and reign as king over all the earth. 00:30:19.920 --> 00:30:26.160 Help us now as we move through our lives, especially together in this church. 00:30:26.319 --> 00:30:31.680 Help us to live in that certain hope in these last days and help others find you. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:33.279 In Jesus' name I pray. 00:30:33.519 --> 00:30:34.160 Amen.