The Signs of Christ’s Coming

Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.   -Isaiah 7:14 (KJV)

Several years ago I used to deer hunt on land owned by a church member.  One day as I was heading into the woods he warned me that it was surely going to rain all day.  I asked how he could be so sure.  “Look up into the hilltops,”  he said, “as long as those misty looking clouds linger up there then it is going to rain.”  You know something?  He was right. 

Down through the ages people have understood that there are signs in the world that signify coming events.  When we see the sun setting and the sky is red we recognize that as a sign that the next day we will have nice weather.  However, if we see a red sky in the morning we know that’s a sign that we are in for some bad weather.  Jesus confronted the religious leaders with this very truth when they came to Him asking for a sign (Matthew 16:1-4).  Jesus told them that they could read the signs in the sky, but they were blind to the evidence of the coming of the Son of God.   

Isaiah the prophet proclaimed God’s Word at a time when the people did not want to hear it.  They had become hardened to the power of God and the truths of His Word.  Isaiah told them that since they were unwilling to seek the Lord that God Himself would give them a sign of His power and grace.  A virgin would conceive and give birth to a son.  This probably left King Ahaz and his entire court blinking in speechless bewilderment.  The prophet was seeing a sign that would be fulfilled in a span of time when God’s master-plan of redemption for all of mankind was ready to be unveiled.  Jesus Christ, the Son of God, born of the virgin and proclaimed by angels, has come into the world.  As John the beloved disciple testified, “And we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  

Let us rejoice that Christ has come into the world and has brought salvation to all who believe.  The signs of His coming remain; we have an empty tomb, the witness of Scripture, and the convincing power of the Holy Spirit in us.   

Hallelujah, what a Savior!