December 16, 2012

Jesus is not just the reason for the season. Jesus is the

only reason…period.

Everything points to Jesus including:

1. Mathematics

2. Science

3. History

Introduction

15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.

Colossians 1:15-20

Who is Jesus?

Old Testament Prophecy New Testament Fulfillment Probability

Christ to be born in Bethlehem

(Micah 5:2)

And Herod asked where Christ had

been born ... they answered Bethlehem

(Matt 2:4-6)

2.8 x 105 or 1 in 280,000

Forerunner of Christ

(Malachi 3:1)

John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ

(Mark 1:2-8) 1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000

Christ to enter Jerusalem riding on a

donkey

(Zech 9:9)

Christ enters Jerusalem riding on a

donkey

(Matt 21:4-11)1 x 102 or 1 in 100

Christ to be betrayed by a friend

(Psalm 41:9)

Judas betrayed Jesus

(Luke 22:21) 1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000

Christ to be betrayed for 30 pieces of

silver

(Zech 11:12)

Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of

silver

(Matt 26:15)

1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000

30 pieces of silver casted down and

used to buy a potter's field

(Zech 11:13)

30 pieces of silver used to buy a potter's

field

(Matt 27:3-10)

1 x 105 or 1 in 100,000

Although innocent, Christ kept silent

when on trial

(Isaiah 53:7)

Jesus kept silent when questioned

(Mark 14:60-61) 1 x 103 or 1 in 1,000

Christ crucified

(Psalm 22:16)Jesus was crucified

(John 19:17, 18)1 x 104 or 1 in 10,000

8 Out of Over 300 Prophecies

http://www.bibleprobe.com/365messianicprophecies.htmhttp://www.goodnewsdispatch.org/math.html

6 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:6-8

Prophecy Intersecting With History

The odds of a single person fulfilling just 8 of the

prophecies already highlighted: 1 out 1028

1 X 1028 mean 1 followed by 28 zeroes

Two ways to put this into perspectives

1. 1 billion is 1 followed by 9 zeroes. There are between 7 or 8 Billion people on earth today – More people than have ever lived at any one time.

What are the Odds?

Alternate Viewpoint

2. Understanding the numbers involved

• Fill the state of Texas with quarters to a depth of two feet.

• Mark one and throw it into mix

• Use bull dozers mix the quarters

• Now pick one of the quarters up at random

The odds of selecting your marked quarter out of that is the same as the odds of a single person fulfilling those 8 prophecies in a single life time.

- Total 268,581[3] sq. mi(696,241 km2) - Width 773[4] miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)

- Total 268,581[3] sq mi(696,241 km2) - Width 773[4] miles (1,244 km) - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)

God is in Control of History

The “Battle of Thermopylae” was used by God to set the stage for Jesus coming at the right time.

486 BC A stylized, fictional

account has been throughout culture

Even the secular world understand the importance of this event

Want to Know more about “Battle of Thermopylae”

There is a great documentary that aired on the History Channel. Let me know later if you want the YouTube Link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Q8MF6I9Tw4

“Few stood against many”

Spoiler Alert: The Greeks lost the Battle against the Persians (its been 2500 yrs., so forgive me anyone who didn’t see the movie)

It set the stage for the Greeks to unify as a single nation and ultimately defeat the Persian Empire that we was the most power Empire ever up until that time.

Importance of the Thermopylae Battle

Alexander The Great

Built and expanded the Greek Empire

Standardized Greek – translation of the Old Testament and the writing of the New Testament

Laid the foundation for the Roman Empire – whose roads and tech made it easier for the Gospel to travel quickly

Alexander The Great.

Empires

Rome During Time of Early Church

God worked through History and we can see that in the fact that Jesus fulfilled prophecies that were given centuries before his birth.

Objection 1: The messianic prophecies are so vague they could describe anyone.

Objection 2: The prophecies were not really written by the men tradition says they were.

Objection 3: Jesus purposely fulfilled the messianic prophecies so that he could take credit for being the messiah.

Objections

What I’m saying is that Jesus birth, death, and

resurrection was not a coincidence. It wasn’t an accident. God wasn’t just crossing His fingers hoping that all of this would work out. God sovereignly put everything and everyone in their place according to what HE wants to do. Fortunately, He wanted to save us. Jesus came to do exactly that. He died for us in our place to atone for the sins of His people. If you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart, you are one of God’s people and your sins are not counted against you. This is the point of Christmas. Jesus is the ultimate Gift – at the right place and at the right time. There are two last things I’d like to cover today.

Jesus is Plan A

Jesus is just as relevant today as ever

The answer to every question. The solution to every problem.

When Dr Zacharias had the opportunity to talk to one of the founders of Hamas during a Middle East peace negotiations, he made the most of it. And centered the brief time he had on Christ.

Dr Ravi Zacharias

Jesus is the Answer

There aren’t enough words or examples to fully

cover all the facets of God’s plan of salvation and how awesome and wonderful God has worked it out.

It’s too big and too complex. Take a moment and think about how many strings God pulled to bring Jesus at the just the right time.

Dr. S.M. Lockridge in 1977 gave a sermon that makes a good start at trying to describe Jesus. We will end with him.

Conclusion

Is Jesus Your King?