Christmas

 In Genesis 3:14-15, God promised a "Serpent Crusher" to undo the curse of sin. This promise was initially vague, but throughout the Old Testament, God provided more prophecies to reveal the Redeemer’s identity. He would be human, from the line of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Judah, and eventually, from the house of David. He would also have a miraculous birth and be divine—God with us.  Prophecies like Isaiah 7:14 predicted a virgin birth, fulfilled in Jesus, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born in Bethlehem as foretold in Micah 5:2. The wise men’s gifts and the events of Jesus's life reflected the promises in Isaiah 60 and other scriptures. Haggai 2 prophesied that the glory of the second temple would surpass Solomon's, fulfilled when baby Jesus, God Himself, entered it.  Jesus is the long-awaited Messiah, the Seed of the Woman, and the Lamb of God who takes away sin, fulfilling God's promises. This is the heart of Christmas—God's faithfulness and grace in sending Jesus. Hallelujah! Merry Christmas!