The Great Messianic sign
The True Meaning of Christmas A unique and stupendous miracle. as told by Micah Ch.5
It concerns a Birthplace
Micah records for us the prophecy of Messiah's birthplace.—As to His humanity, Christ was born in Bethlehem of Judah; as to His Deity, He is from of old, from everlasting.
The Hebrew term here expresses the very highest conception of ever-enduring existence.' The Pharisees promptly pointed Herod to this text as fixing the place of Messiah's birth.
The Sign was given
The sign was given to the House of David (see Isaiah Ch7:v14-15) It was divinely given. The Davidic family is denoted as Ephrathites (Ruth Ch.1:v:2 "Ephrathite of Bethlehem – Judah" That is, residents of Ephrath a suburb of Bethlehem. Which later became incorporated into the town.
The double connection here not only connects The Messiah with the Davidic family line, but also with Bethlehem (house) (place of food)
It involved, a miraculous sign, no mere human baby of that day, and embraced making the sign "deep as shoel" or making it "high as heaven", which implies a unique and stupendous miracle.
It concerns a "virgin"
The context necessitates such a virgin birth and the "inspired Word" declares such to be true see Matthew Ch1:v22-23 His very name "Immanuel" means "with us" (humanity) is God (Deity)
It involves the incarnation of Christ "miracle of the ages" Although divine He would also be truly human see Luke Ch2:52
The Roman Emperor, Joseph and Mary little thought that this Census was ordered of God so as to fulfil the prediction of Micah Ch.5. v2, and so secure the birth of the Holy Child at Bethlehem. Thus God manifested His wisdom.
No Room in this World
When God manifest in flesh came to earth there was no room for Him there. . He began His life in a manger, ended it on a cross, and all along His ministerial way had not where to lay His head!
His Birth was not trumpeted forth in lordly guise to priests and princes and the great ones of the earth, but to obscure shepherds—the lowest caste in Society at that time.
It concerns a Saviour and King
The Babe was not to become a King and a Saviour. He was born both. He was a Saviour; He was Christ; He was Jehovah. His Name was called Jesus.
The word means Saviour. He might have chosen a loftier title, for the highest titles are His, but He passed them all by and selected a Name, which speaks of deliverance for a lost world.
He did not come with pomp and circumstance as the Hebrew Church expected, but as a Babe, with working class parents, and received by an obscure company of Simeons and Annas—His hidden ones—the poor of the flock.
It concerns the Wonder of His Birth
Simeon had not to ask Mary who the Child was, and enquire as to the wonders of His Birth. He recognised Him at once by inspiration as Jehovah's Anointed, and said: " Mine eyes have seen Thy salvation."
He personally possessed that salvation, for he took Him into his arms (v. 28), and that possession conquered death and banished all its terror (v. 29).
