Behold He Comes

Devotional

Day 1: Scripture bears witness to Christ, not law.

Jesus points out that the Father himself has testified about the Son, yet many who know the law miss the living Word because the law speaks condemnation while Christ speaks life; the Scriptures are to lead one to Him, not to be treated as a ladder to earn salvation. Come just as you are—scripture’s true end is to point to the Savior who gives life, not to be a substitute for coming to him in faith. [06:23]

John 5:37-39 (ESV)
"And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me."

Reflection: What is one specific way you have relied on obedience or religious duty to measure your standing before God, and what is one concrete step you will take this week to turn from that reliance and rest in Christ alone?

Day 2: The Messiah's ancient origin and shepherding reign.

The prophets declared that from tiny Bethlehem would come One whose origin is from ancient days, a ruler who will stand and shepherd his flock in the strength and majesty of the Lord; this is good news for the weary because the Good Shepherd holds his people and gives them secure dwelling and peace. Trusting him means acknowledging both his eternal dignity and his tender, present care for the downtrodden and fearful. [12:37]

Micah 5:2, 4-5 (ESV)
"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 of old, from ancient days. And he shall stand and shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. And he shall be their peace."

Reflection: Name one area of your life where you feel afraid or unsecured; how does picturing Jesus as the shepherd who stands in God’s strength change your immediate response, and what single practical step will you take this week to rest in his shepherding care?

Day 3: Prophecy fulfilled: Messiah born in Bethlehem.

The record of the Gospels shows God’s providence in arranging history so that Micah’s prophecy was fulfilled: wise men saw the star, Herod inquired, and the chief priests and scribes pointed to Bethlehem—prophecy and providence converged to confirm Christ’s identity. This should move the heart to worship the Savior whose coming was foretold and brought about by God’s sovereign hand. [17:23]

Matthew 2:1-6 (ESV)
"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 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 least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.'"

Reflection: What small, humble place in your life—like Bethlehem—might God be choosing to bring blessing or new life, and how will you intentionally yield that place to him this week (name one concrete action)?

Day 4: At the fullness of time, God sent Redeemer.

When the fullness of time arrived, God sent forth his Son—born of a woman, born under the law—to redeem those under the law so that believers might be adopted as sons; this is the heart of Advent: God entering human history to secure both justice and mercy. This truth frees sinners to come qualified only by Christ’s work, not by their merit, and to begin the work of sanctification through his grace. [22:46]

Galatians 4:4-5 (ESV)
"But 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, so that we might receive adoption as sons."

Reflection: In what season of "fullness" do you find yourself—waiting, preparing, or acting—and what one practical habit will you adopt this week to live out your identity as an adopted child of God (for example: a daily moment of thanksgiving, a confession practice, or a specific act of service)?

Day 5: Messiah's surprising humble origins revealed in prophecy.

The people were divided over Jesus because he did not fit their expectations of grandeur; yet Scripture had said the Christ would come from the offspring of David and from Bethlehem—showing that God often fulfills his promises in humble, unexpected ways. This should soften hearts toward the lowly and prompt readiness to recognize God’s work outside our presupposed terms. [19:57]

John 7:42 (ESV)
"Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?"

Reflection: Where have you assumed God must act in a certain "grand" way, and what is one clear step you will take this week to open yourself to recognizing God’s humble, unexpected work in that situation?

Sermon Summary

Behold, He comes. From the first pages of the Old Testament to the manger in Bethlehem, God spoke through the prophets to a world not of optimism but of deep need. Those promises are not vague wishes; they are precise, time-stamped hope. Even a simple look at a handful of prophecies shows the staggering likelihood that Jesus is the Christ sent from the Father—yet this is not just about statistics. There comes a moment when head knowledge bends the knee to personal surrender: He came for me.

Jesus is the eternal Son who stepped into time—fully God, fully man—so He could stand where we stand, feel what we feel, and redeem what we cannot repair. He faced temptation, sorrow, betrayal, grief, and worry, not as a distant observer but as our faithful representative. He is the Good Shepherd who holds His flock with a grip stronger than our doubts and failures. If we still have faith today, it is because He keeps us.

The Scriptures themselves aim us to Him. The law, powerful as it is, can expose our need but cannot give us life. The Pharisees knew the texts but missed the Person to whom the texts point. The invitation is not to master information but to come to Jesus, just as we are, with the whole mess of us.

Micah promised a ruler from Bethlehem who would shepherd His people and be their peace. In God’s providence, history moved to fulfill that word in the most unlikely ways. And when the fullness of time came, God sent forth His Son—born of a woman, born under the law—to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. Our peace in life and death does not rest on our record but on His ransom. Qualified sinners become beloved children, and grace does what effort never could: it saves, secures, and sanctifies.

Key Takeaways

1. Prophecy anchors faith in reality God did not whisper vague encouragements; He made verifiable promises and kept them in Jesus. Even considering eight prophecies fulfilled shows the weight of divine orchestration, not coincidence. Let fulfilled prophecy move you from admiration to trust, from “He came” to “He came for me.” [04:03]
2. Legalism blinds us to Christ Knowing the Scriptures without coming to Jesus breeds pride and despair in equal measure. The law exposes sin but cannot impart life; grace in Christ does what duty never can. Trade the pursuit of being good enough for the Person who is good for you. [09:26]
3. The Good Shepherd keeps our faith Perseverance is not the fruit of iron will but of pierced hands. When we wobble, He holds; when we wander, He seeks; when we’re weak, He sustains. Security in His grip is the soil where resilient obedience grows. [13:19]
4. Jesus shares our human sorrow The eternal Son chose a human life so He could meet us in the reality of tears, loss, and fear. He does not dismiss pain; He dignifies it by entering it and carrying us through it. Bring your whole, unedited self to Him—He already knows, and He truly cares. [05:56]
5. Adoption secured in the fullness of time At the precise moment, God sent His Son to satisfy justice and extend mercy. In Christ, we move from condemned under the law to beloved in the family. Adoption is not a metaphor—it is a new status that settles identity and frees us from performance. [25:29]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:57] - Prophets foretold a desperate world’s hope
[02:55] - Stoner’s probability study introduced
[05:56] - A Savior who feels our grief
[06:23] - John 5: The Father’s witness
[09:07] - Scriptures testify to Christ alone
[10:59] - Come to Jesus for life
[11:43] - Eternal Son enters history
[12:37] - Shepherd who holds His flock
[14:40] - Two foundations for dying peace
[16:38] - Micah confirmed in Matthew 2
[19:00] - Old Testament shadows the substance
[22:46] - In the fullness of time
[25:29] - Adoption through the just Redeemer

Bible Study Guide

Bible reading (ESV)
Micah 5:2
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 of old, from ancient days.

Observation questions (3–4)

What specific detail in Micah 5:2 stands out about the origin and identity of the ruler, and why would a small town like Bethlehem be emphasized? (Connects to the Old Testament prophecy theme.) [11:43]
How does John 5:37–39 (Jesus says the Father has borne witness about him and that the Scriptures bear witness to him) change the way one reads Old Testament promises about a coming Savior? [06:23]
The Stoner probability example argues that multiple fulfilled prophecies point to divine orchestration. What concrete example from the life of Jesus (cited in Matthew 2) was used to show prophecy fulfillment? [17:23]
Micah 5:4–5 speaks of a shepherd who will make his people dwell secure. What images or actions in the passage connect the coming ruler to the care and security of the flock? [12:37]

Interpretation questions (3–4)

How should the phrase “whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days” in Micah be understood for the identity and mission of the ruler (i.e., how does eternal preexistence shape his work in time)? [11:43]
How does the claim “God speaks to life eternal through grace through Christ” (contrast with law as condemnation) reframe the purpose of studying the Scriptures? [08:19]
What does the statistical illustration about fulfilled prophecies (the silver-dollar/Texas image) intend to say about the difference between coincidence and providence, and how should that affect confidence in Christ? [04:03]
How does the description of the ruler as “a shepherd” explain the relationship between perseverance of faith and the ruler’s sustaining work (i.e., is perseverance portrayed as human effort or as the shepherd’s holding)? [13:19]

Application questions (4–7)

Scripture bears witness to Christ rather than being an abstract checklist. In what concrete ways can you adjust your Bible reading this week so the focus moves from information about God to an encounter with Jesus himself? (Practical idea: pick one Old Testament passage and ask, “How does this point to Jesus?”) [06:23]
Legalism can make Scripture feel like a lawbook of duties rather than a testimony to grace. When have you fallen into evaluating your standing by performance, and what one specific confession or habit could you adopt to re-center on grace? (Example: confess the performance standard to a trusted friend; memorize Galatians 4:4–5.) [09:26]
The Good Shepherd holds his flock when human strength fails. Describe a recent time your faith wavered. What one concrete spiritual practice (prayer, reading a specific Psalm, asking a friend to pray) will you use this week to rest in the shepherd’s keeping? [13:19]
Jesus entered sorrow and knows our grief. Who in your life needs someone to bear witness to the reality of Christ’s compassion this week, and what specific step will you take to bring comfort (call, visit, sit with them, pray with them)? [05:56]
Adoption in Christ changes status from performance to belonging. Identify one area where you still strive to earn acceptance (work, family, church). What is one truth from Galatians 4:4–5 or Micah 5:2 you can claim this week to re-form your identity, and how will you remind yourself of it daily? [23:41]
Prophecy anchored in history aims to move admiration into trust. Is there a skeptical question about Jesus you’ve wrestled with? Name it, then pick one specific historical or biblical resource (a gospel passage, a short article, or a trusted friend) to examine it with and set a date to revisit what you learned. [04:03]

Use these questions to guide honest conversation, to point to Christ, and to encourage one another toward trusting and resting in the Shepherd who came from ancient days to dwell with us.

Sermon Clips

There's a time in every life, if you're listening, a time for all of us, if you're open to it, where God wants you to know that Jesus has come into the world for a reason.You know the facts.You know He died on the cross.You know He was a virgin born.You know all of this.There comes a time in every life, if you're listening, where you say, He came for me.May that day be your day today, that you know Jesus came for you. [00:01:16] (36 seconds) #HeCameForMe

May that day be your day today, that you know Jesus came for you.Behold, He comes.He comes not only for the world, He comes for the sheep of His flock.He comes for people like you, the downtrodden, the beaten down, the addicted.He comes for people like us.Some scholars believe 300 plus prophecies about Jesus in the Old Testament. [00:01:48] (35 seconds) #HeComesForTheBroken

And then they went on to estimate, suppose that you take 10 to the 17th power and they were represented by silver dollars.And you took the silver dollars and you laid them across the landscape of the state of Texas.They would cover the whole state of Texas two feet deep.Now, if you can imagine a blind man picking one silver dollar out of this mass covering the whole state of Texas two feet deep, that one person blindfolded could pick one and it'd be the right one.This is the proclamation of almighty God through his prophets of old proclaiming to us that Jesus is the Christ. [00:04:52] (53 seconds) #ProphecyImprobability

Christ did not appear on Christmas Day.The Bible teaches that Jesus was the preexistent God.He is eternal.He entered into the world and had a certain beginning.He had a certain birthday.But his real beginning was from eternal, from the ancient.This is our Christ.He came and took upon himself human flesh, so that he may in all points be tempted like we are.So he would know what it feels like to be sad and betrayed and lonely and worried.This Jesus was fully human and he was fully God. [00:11:43] (48 seconds) #EternalGodAndMan

I have never counted, but I cannot even consider how many funerals I have officiated in my ministry.30 years of ministry.I can't even consider how many.But I know there's a substantial difference between a person who had the peace of God when they left this earth.If you left the earth today, if today was your final day, and you don't know that it's not,if you left this world today, on what basis would you have confidence that you would have peace and eternal life? [00:14:33] (34 seconds) #PeaceAtPassing

``The other answer is that Christ gave his life a ransom for sinners of which I am one.This gospel is good news because it's not determined by what you do, but is satisfactory to almighty God and his just character through what Christ did.This is why it's available to all who will believe.You say, well, I'm not, let's say I'm not very educated or I've done a lot of bad things.You're qualified. [00:15:27] (32 seconds) #RansomForSinners

You say, well, I'm not, let's say I'm not very educated or I've done a lot of bad things.You're qualified.Qualified.Qualified in Jesus.You say, yeah, but I don't know that I can do better in the future.You're qualified because Jesus will begin to work with you and sanctify you.Next thing you know, you'll be surprised that you've made progress. [00:15:55] (30 seconds) #QualifiedAndGrowing

The whole Bible is about Jesus Christ.It's all about Jesus.You say, yeah, but there's some odd things in there.Well, yeah.You're kind of odd yourself.We're all odd.The Old Testament is a building up when those worshipers of old took their sacrifices to the temple and they placed their hands on the animal.And then the priestslayed that animal and the Old Testament worshiper was being identified with the blood atonement.That's the shadow of what was to come. [00:19:01] (40 seconds) #OTShadowsOfChrist

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Behold He Comes

Devotional

Day 1: Scripture bears witness to Christ, not law.

Day 2: The Messiah's ancient origin and shepherding reign.

Day 3: Prophecy fulfilled: Messiah born in Bethlehem.

Day 4: At the fullness of time, God sent Redeemer.

Day 5: Messiah's surprising humble origins revealed in prophecy.

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Chatbot

Behold He Comes

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