A few years ago, there was a heartwarming story reported about a military father who made good on a Christmas promise to his kids. Brian Muller had spent a year with the US Marine Corps overseas in Bahrain. He was not supposed to return home until February. But Brian had made a promise to his nine-year-old and six-year-old that he would find a way to get home for Christmas. Brian managed to get a Christmas leave approved and when he told his wife, Helene, they planned to surprise the children.
A few days before Christmas, Helene, took the kids to a Pennsylvania Christmas tree farm to find the perfect fir to take home. After the kids picked out a tree resembling Charlie Brown’s pitiful pine, Helene, pointed to a man standing at the top of hill with an axe. “Go get that man with the axe and tell him we are ready to cut this tree down.” As the kids trudged up the hill, Brian emerged from the rows and an unforgettable reunion ensued.[1] You can watch the video here.
It has been said that “A promise is an island of certainty in a sea of uncertainty.” When the winds and waves of life toss us to-and-fro we cling to the hope of a promise. Promises are what lay at the heart of Bible prophecy. God has made hundreds of promises concerning Jesus’ first coming and His second. In fact, over 300 of those promises concerning Jesus’ first coming were literally fulfilled. The promises concerning Jesus’ return outnumber those of His first advent by a ratio of 8 to 1. The fact that God kept His word the first time, gives us great confidence that all the promises made about Jesus’ return will also be fulfilled right down to the gnat’s whisker.
When you read through the Christmas story, you’ll see both promises made and promises kept. In fact, 19 OT prophecies were fulfilled in Matthew and Luke as Jesus was born into this world. At the same time, these prophecies were fulfilled, there were several promises made in the Christmas context that have yet to be fulfilled. These are what I would call, “The unfinished promises of Christmas.”
Perhaps, the most obvious example is the angelic announcement made by Gabriel to Mary. “Behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, And you shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; And the Lord God will give to Him the throne of His father, David, And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; And of His kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:31-33)
Gabriel’s statement contains seven promises. Four of them relate to the First Advent of the Lord and the last three relate to His Second Advent. Those first four were: (1) Mary would supernaturally conceive a child. (2) Mary would give birth to a son named Jesus. (3) The son would be great. (4) The son would be called “the Son of God.” All four of these prophecies were fulfilled in the life of Christ, but the last three remain to be seen.
Jesus will be (5) given the throne of David, to (6) reign over the house of Jacob and (7) there will be no end to His kingdom. The Bible tells us that these last three promises will be fulfilled upon Jesus’ return and the establishment of His Millennial Kingdom on earth. Specifically, Isaiah 24:21-23 speaks of Jesus occupying the throne of David. Meanwhile, Ezekiel 37:21-28 predicts that when Jesus returns, the Jewish remnant will be gathered to the land of Israel and He will rule over Jacob’s house. Finally, there is Isaiah 9:6-7, which is often-quoted at Christmas as well. But the second half of that prophecy speaks of Jesus’ kingdom saying, “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end.”
As we rehearse the Christmas story again in our minds, we can have tremendous hope because the God who came the first time, will keep His promise and come again a second time. Oh, how glorious and drastically different Jesus’ next appearing will be. Consider the following contrasts and let your heart rejoice.
· The first time Jesus came, He was veiled in flesh. The next time He comes He will be in unveiled glory (Mark 13:26).
· The first time Jesus came, a star marked His arrival. The next time He comes, the heavens will roll up like a scroll and the stars will fall from the sky (Is. 34:4).
· The first time Jesus came, the magi brought Him gifts. The next time He comes, He will bring His reward to repay each one for what he has done. (Rev. 22:12).
· The first time Jesus came, there was no room for Him in the inn. The next time He comes, the world will not be able to contain His glory (Hab. 2:14).
· The first time Jesus came, few knew about it. The next time He comes, every eye will see Him (Rev. 1:7).
· The first time Jesus came as an infant, He could not speak. The next time He comes, His voice will be like the sound of many waters (Rev. 1:15).
· The first time Jesus came, Herod brought the sword against Bethlehem. The next times He comes, He will bring the sword of judgment against sinners (Rev. 19:15).
· The first time Jesus came, angels heralded His arrival. The next time He comes, the holy angles will accompany Him (Mark 13:27).
· The first time Jesus came, he was wrapped in swaddling clothes. The next time He comes, He will be wearing a royal robe dipped in blood (Rev. 19:13).
· The first time Jesus came, He was placed in a manger. The next time He comes, He will sit on the throne of David (Luke 1:32).
· The first time Jesus came, He split time between BC and AD. The next time He comes, He will split the earth (Zech. 14:4).
-DM
[1]
Ivey De Jesus, “Marine Dad Home from Deployment Gives Kids a Christmas Surprise:
Watch,” Pennsylvania Real Time News, 22 December 2018 <https://www.pennlive.com/news/2018/12/pa-mom-has-kids-thinking-they-are-out-to-pick-a-christmas-tree-but-hiding-among-the-pines-is-dad-a-marine-who-managed-to-get-home-leave-just-in-time-for-the-holidays.html>
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