The Bible Simplified: Mystery Revealed (Chapter 2)

 

Chapter 2: Promised Long Ago – The Prophecies of Christ’s Coming

From the very beginning, the Bible has whispered the coming of a Savior. Not in hidden riddles or cryptic codes, but through the consistent and patient voice of prophecy—clear for those who were looking, yet easy to miss for those distracted by tradition, pride, or preconceived expectations. Understanding these prophecies is crucial, not just to trace God’s promise through time, but to realize how deliberate and loving His plan truly is.

A Thread Woven Through Time

The story of Jesus didn't begin in Bethlehem. It was foretold long before shepherds saw angels or wise men followed a star. From Genesis to Malachi, the Old Testament is saturated with clues—some bold, some subtle—all pointing to a Messiah who would come not just to rescue a nation, but to redeem the world.

Let’s start at the very beginning. In Genesis 3:15, right after the fall of man, God speaks to the serpent:

"And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel."

This is often called the “protoevangelium” or "first gospel"—a seed of hope planted right at the point of humanity’s first failure. It spoke of a future descendant of the woman who would one day crush evil, though He Himself would be wounded in the process. It was the first whisper of the Messiah.

Echoes Through the Prophets

As the Old Testament unfolds, that whisper becomes a steady voice. The prophets—men raised up by God—began to give more detail about this coming One. They spoke not only of His birth, but His nature, His mission, and even the pain He would endure.

Isaiah, writing over 700 years before Jesus’ birth, offered some of the clearest glimpses:

• Isaiah 7:14 – Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Immanuel means "God with us.")

• Isaiah 9:6 –"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

These were not vague predictions. They were bold, precise, and full of promise.

Micah added another layer of detail:

• Micah 5:2 – "But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting."

A virgin birth. A child born in Bethlehem. A ruler with eternal origins. The picture was becoming clearer.

A Suffering Servant

But not all prophecies described a triumphant king. Some painted a different picture—a suffering servant, rejected and despised. For many, these two portrayals seemed to contradict, but they actually revealed two sides of the same Savior.

Isaiah 53 is perhaps the most striking chapter in this regard:

"He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed." (Isaiah 53:3-5)

This prophecy describes the very heart of the cross, centuries before crucifixion was even practiced. It speaks of a Messiah who would not only reign but also bleed—for us.

A Promise Misunderstood

Why, then, did so many miss it? Why, if the clues were there, did the world not recognize Him when He came? That’s the question we’ll explore in the next chapter. But for now, it’s enough to understand this: the coming of Christ was not a surprise twist in God’s story. It was the plot all along.

The prophecies were not meant to confuse—they were meant to prepare. But without a heart open to God’s ways, even the clearest prophecy can become a mystery.

Though the prophecies of the Messiah were rich with detail and divine intent, many in Israel failed to see what God was revealing. The promises were there. The signs were there. But when Jesus came—born of a virgin, healing the sick, fulfilling Scripture—He was not what many expected.

The long-awaited King stood in their midst… and yet, they turned away.

In the next chapter, we’ll explore how and why the very people who had been given the Law, the Prophets, and the promises missed their Messiah. And as painful as that reality is, it opens the door to one of the greatest mysteries ever revealed—God's grace extending beyond one nation, to all nations.

Follow along with us here at Truth Crusade Ministries as we continue with The Bible Simplified: Mystery Revealed'

My dear friend, if you have never received Christ as your Saviour, would you do so today? Pray this from your heart. Dear Jesus, I know I am a sinner. I believe you died on the cross for my sins. I believe you were buried and rose again the third day. I ask you now to forgive me of my sins and come into my heart and save me. Amen 

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