The First Coming of Christ

 Every year on December 25th we celebrate Christmas… If you’re a Christian then every year on December 25th you celebrate the birth of Jesus- and I’m sure you’ve heard the story. Whether read to you in church, school, from your family… We have all heard of the virgin birth, the star, the shepherds, the wiseman, the manger, the no room in the inn… Maybe you don’t know every detail, but you know enough to know why there is even the Holiday of “Christmas”. Maybe you don’t know where the story is found in scripture, but you know the basics of the story at least? 

And you even prepare for this celebration of baby Jesus every year. Maybe you aren’t thinking about Jesus, but still you buy the presents, make the family plans, pick out the outfit for church, cook the food… There's a lot of prep that goes into celebrating the birth of Jesus every year actually- we even get school breaks, work off, stores will even shut down… 

And maybe you don’t even know why you do all of it- but you know you're supposed to cause it’s Christmas right? 

Maybe you’ve never even read through the Christmas story before- but you know it’s important enough to go to church and make it a holiday, right? 


Well did you know that the birth of Jesus was predicted? 

The Prophet Isaiah prophecies in his writing in Isaiah 7:14, that a virgin will give birth to God's son:

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

Then again in chapter 9:6 

“For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

And Micah also foretold Jesus’ birth in Micah 5:2- he writes,

 “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,

    though you are small among the clans[a] of Judah,

out of you will come for me

    one who will be ruler over Israel,

whose origins are from of old,

    from ancient times.”


These prophecies were spoken hundreds of years before Jesus was ever born- but yet they came to fruition exactly how the prophets had spoken it.


And did you know that just as Jesus came to the world as a baby, that He is coming again? 


John writes in Revelation the vision of prophecy that the Lord gave Him of what His second coming would look like- 

Revelation 19: 11-16

“I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and wages war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:


King of kings and Lord of lords.”


Just as the prophecy in Isaiah came to be- so will this one. Soon. 

Jesus is coming again. 


Not as a baby- but this time as a King. Crowned, and clothed in a robe dipped in blood.

Not placed in a manger- but riding on a white horse, with an army of angels following Him. 

Not named Jesus- but his name written on his his robe and thigh “King of kings and Lord of Lords.” 

Not mocked and spit on by man or with a crown of thorns shoved in His head- But every knee bowing and every tongue confessing that He is Lord! 


He is coming again. At the time of His second coming He will come victoriously, defeat Satan, be seated on the throne, and make a New Heaven and a new earth. 

He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. (Revelation 21:6)


And what are you doing to prepare for this second coming? 


We buy the presents, cook the food, and decorate the tree, for the celebration of the first coming- but are we preparing the way for the King of kings and Lord of lords for His second coming?


How many of us are guilty of living out our Christian life the way that we live through Christmas? 

We say we are Christians- but don’t fully know why. 

We go to church to check it off a list. 

Our Bibles are collecting dust on a shelf, and we can’t even remember the last time we prayed. 

But yet we are a “Christian”, right? 

Wrong! 


Our lives should be preparing the way for the second coming. Our lives should be a living altar for the King of kings. 


Jesus- a baby born of a virgin. He came humbly as an innocent baby. Placed in a manger- He lived a perfect life, and after 33 years, took our death on the cross. 

Through His death- He gave us life. We deserved the cross. Because of our sin, we were meant to endure the punishment. 


But through Jesus, through the cross; we get freedom- we get life- and in this life we get to celebrate the birth of baby Jesus on December 25th. Every year. 


But there will be a day. A day where heaven will open up and that same Savior will come in all of His glory and Majesty. Reigning in victory.

And we will be before Him and His judgment seat. 


Maybe you have gotten by through the years going through the motions of Christmas- going through the motions of the things you're supposed to be doing- not really knowing the true reason and significance of what you are celebrating. 


Being a follower of Christ should not be the same. It can’t! 

We repent. We believe. And then we walk with Him daily. Pick up our cross and follow Him daily. Abide by His word daily. 


We know from scripture that there WILL be a second coming of Christ. 

The second coming is just as real as the first. 

The King on the white horse is just as real as the baby in the manger. 

(Revelation 19:1-21, Revelation 20, 21, 22) 


Revelation 22: 6-21

“The angel said to me, “These words are trustworthy and true. The Lord, the God who inspires the prophets, sent his angel to show his servants the things that must soon take place.”


“Look, I am coming soon! Blessed is the one who keeps the words of the prophecy written in this scroll.”


I, John, am the one who heard and saw these things. And when I had heard and seen them, I fell down to worship at the feet of the angel who had been showing them to me. But he said to me, “Don’t do that! I am a fellow servant with you and with your fellow prophets and with all who keep the words of this scroll. Worship God!”


Then he told me, “Do not seal up the words of the prophecy of this scroll, because the time is near. Let the one who does wrong continue to do wrong; let the vile person continue to be vile; let the one who does right continue to do right; and let the holy person continue to be holy.”


Epilogue: Invitation and Warning


“Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.


“Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. Outside are the dogs, those who practice magic arts, the sexually immoral, the murderers, the idolaters and everyone who loves and practices falsehood.


“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.”


The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.


I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.


He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”


Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.


The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.”



Don’t wait until tomorrow. Put your faith in Jesus today. If you have gone through the motions, let this be the last Christmas season where you don’t celebrate in reverence to the birth of Jesus, and live in preparation for the second coming. 


John 3:16

For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 


Acts 2:21

But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 


Acts 2:38 

Peter said, “Turn back to God! Be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, so that your sins will be forgiven. Then you will be given the Holy Spirit." 


John 14:6 

“I am the way, the truth, and the life!” Jesus answered. “Without me, no one can go to the Father." 


1 John 1:9

But if we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. 


Romans 5:1

Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us

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