The Expected One
An Expected Blessing
Our family has had a lot of babies. Each time we have found out that we were expecting another arrival it has been an exciting time. We wait anxiously anticipating the arrival of our precious little boy or girl.
We are expecting because we understand the signs of pregnancy. These signs can be confirmed by a doctor. When we have that confirmation, we then wait in anticipation for the coming birth.
Expectation begins after the pregnancy is confirmed by the natural signs. This is true for virtually every human birth.
However, the Christ was expected before conception. This child was expected because God had announced His coming long before He was born.
There are many passages that we could look at to confirm this statement. For this article, we will look at one in particular.
But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for Me One who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from old, from ancient days. (Micah 5:2)
The book of Micah speaks of the judgment of God. How God’s righteous judgment will fall on Samaria and Jerusalem because of their sin. Amid the proclamation of judgment Micah speaks of The Expected One.
Prophecy of an Eternal Ruler
Micah’s prophecy looked to the future when it was recorded. The prophet Micah announced the birth of a Ruler greater than David. One who was to be born in Bethlehem. This Ruler is no ordinary man. But the expected One. The One whose coming is of old, from ancient days.
This Ruler is the Messiah. The Ruler greater than David. The One from Old. The One from ancient days.
The Expected One.
His coming was announced by God through His prophets. His birth was confirmed in the Scriptures,
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw His star when it rose and have come to worship Him.” When Herod the king heard of this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
“And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means the least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a Ruler who will shepherd My people Israel.” (Matthew 2:1-6)
Micah looked to the future. Now, we can look back into history to see how this was perfectly fulfilled by Jesus of Nazareth.
By Faith, Not Sight
Jesus was born to the virgin Mary. In the town of Bethlehem of Judea. Jesus is The Expected One. The Ruler greater than David. He was born King of the Jews. The One from old, from ancient days. Jesus is God in the flesh. The second Person of the Trinity. The beloved eternal Son of the eternal Father.
The wise men were wise indeed. They were searching for The Expected One. When His star appeared, they set out to find Him. They did so, so that they could worship Him.
In the Gospel account of Luke, there is an amazing declaration of The Expected One.
Now there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon, and this man was righteous and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came in the Spirit into the temple and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the Law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said,
“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, according to Your word; for my eyes have seen Your salvation that You have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to Your people Israel.” (Luke 2:25-32)
Simeon expected the coming Messiah. When he saw the Lord’s Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, Simeon rejoiced and worshiped the newborn Messiah. Simeon proclaimed the glory of God with his lips.
Simeon was a man of faith. He believed in the testimony of God recorded in the Scriptures. As a result, Simeon believed in the Christ before Jesus ever performed a single miracle. Simeon believed and glorified God without the need for seeing Jesus confirm His identity through signs and wonders. Simeon knew that this was the Lord’s Christ simply because he believed what God has said concerning the coming Messiah. Since Simeon believed these things, he was well prepared to acknowledge the Messiah when He arrived.
Simeon’s faithful expectation was greatly rewarded at the proper time.
Faithful Expectation
Just as Simeon declares these marvelous truths of Jesus the Lord’s Christ, an old prophetess, Anna, approaches.
She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day. And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and speak of Him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem. (Luke 2:37b-38)
Anna had also been anticipating the coming of The Expected One. When Simeon announced that this baby, Jesus, was Him, Anna worshipped. Then she proclaimed Christ.
As Christians, we are not looking forward to the coming of The Expected One in the same way. He came already. Jesus, the Lord’s Christ, dwelt among us. The Ruler greater than David. The One from old from ancient days. God with us. He has come in fulfillment of God’s promise.
Jesus lived a perfect life. Died for the sin of the world. Took up His life on the third day. The Messiah is now exalted, seated at the right hand of the Father.
Expected Again
This however, is not the end of the story for The Expected One. He is expected to come again.
“Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:11)
Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see Him, even those who pierced Him, and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of Him. Even so. Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:7-8)
Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord, and that He may send the Christ appointed for you, Jesus, whom heaven must receive until the time for restoring all the things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets long ago. (Acts 3:19-21)
The return of Christ is as sure as His first coming. The first time, Christ came not to condemn the world but to save it (John 3:17, paraphrase). His second coming is to bring forth a righteous judgment (Acts 17:31).
Considering this truth, will you join me in worshiping Him? Not just because He came to save. But also, because He is coming again as the righteous Judge. And like the wise men, Simeon, and Anna will you also join me in proclaiming His coming?
Let us worship and proclaim the Lord’s Christ, Jesus, until He comes again.
(If you would like to hear more about this article you can listen to the podcast episodes: The Expected One, Part 1, and The Expected One, Part 2)