Message by: Colonel Jeff Williams
Beyond Familiarity: The Profound History of the Nativity
We can become so familiar with the Christmas story recorded in the Gospel of Luke that we take it for granted, losing the profound significance of its place in history.
To truly understand the “fullness of time,” we must consider the scope and depth of the message delivered in the middle of Chapter 1: “And 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)
After 400 years of prophetic silence, the angel Gabriel brought this message directly from the throne of God to a young woman named Mary. It was the announcement that the promise of redemption—first given in Genesis 3 and later to Abraham in Genesis 12—was finally being fulfilled.
Five Pillars of the Promise
The text of Luke 1:31-33 contains five specific elements that bridge Old Testament prophecy with New Testament fulfillment:
1. The Virgin Conception and Birth
There are approximately 350 prophecies of a Redeemer in the Old Testament. Isaiah 7:14 and 9:6 explicitly predicted that a virgin would conceive and bear a son named Immanuel (“God with us”). By bearing a “son,” Jesus is affirmed as fully man.
When Mary asked, “How will this be?” the angel pointed to the Holy Spirit. Much like the Spirit was the agent of creation in Genesis 1, the Spirit acted as the agent of a “new creation” in Mary’s womb.
2. The Name: Jesus (Yeshua)
In Hebrew, Yeshua means “Jehovah saves.” This name confirms that the son would be the long-awaited Savior. In Isaiah 45:21, God calls Himself a Savior; in Luke 2:11, this truth is realized: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
3. Intrinsic Greatness
Gabriel had previously said John the Baptist would be “great before the Lord,” but Jesus is described as intrinsically great. His greatness is not granted; it is inherent. He is the manifestation of the glory and attributes of God Himself.
4. Son of the Most High
The title “Most High” refers to El Elyon, affirming that the Son is fully God. As Hebrews 1:3 states, He is “the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature.” He is not just the Redeemer; He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things.
5. The Eternal Throne of David.
David lived 14 generations before Jesus, but the promise of redemption was legally tied to David’s lineage. God’s covenant in 2 Samuel 7:16 promised a kingdom that would be “established forever.” By claiming the throne of David, Jesus is revealed as the Eternal King and the “Root of David” mentioned in Revelation.
The Fulfillment of Time
The fulfillment did not end in the manger. It included the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus—the complete Advent of Christ. As the Apostle Paul wrote in Galatians 4:4:
“…when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law… to redeem those who were under the law.”
Our Response: Magnifying the Lord
Luke’s Gospel was written as an “orderly account” so that we might have certainty (Luke 1:1-4). Like Mary, we are individuals in need of a Savior. When she grasped the weight of God’s grace, her response was pure worship: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:46-47).
This season, let us move past the “familiar” and recommit to the real, historical, and world-changing significance of Christmas.
