Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. 2 Corinthians 4:16.

Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne; lovingkindness and truth go before You. How blessed are the people who know the joyful sound! O Lord, they walk in the light of Your countenance. Psalm 89:14-15.

And continuing the 351 Old Testament prophecies fulfilled in Jesus Christ, we come to number 16: The time of His coming. Genesis 49:10: The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes, and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. And, Luke 2:1-7; Galatians 4:4: Now in those days a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, in order to register along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. While they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. And she gave birth to her firstborn son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn…But when the fullness of the time came, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the Law.

There was great expectation in the land prior to the birth of Jesus. Scripture had told them hundreds of years before that a child, a Son, would be given. And living under oppressive foreign rule they longed for the promised deliverance of the One who would save them. And He did, but not in the way they expected. Do we leave room in our expectations for what Creator God – Father, Son, Spirit, will do? When we read what Jesus actually taught the people living then, how can we not see the disconnect from what He taught and the way of this world then and now? We are no different from the Pharisees of old or from the idolatry of the nations then. To step out of that frame of mindset we need to repent and believe the good news of the kingdom of God. Not the kingdoms of this world today or of the kingdoms past. If Jesus came today, would we be as shocked and disoriented as were the people living then? They expected a mighty warrior like David. David expected a Shepherd who protected and blessed with His Presence those whose hearts were faithfully turned to Him. What about our heart? Are we looking for a Savior not of this fallen world? Israel expected a Messiah from the line of David to save Israel. Our Father sent His Son to save the world. Are we ready to receive this King of kings and Lord of Lords? Come, Lord Jesus, Come…that all may know Your love and Your truth and be healed by You and rejoice!