I Peter 1 – Christmas

I Peter 1:10-11, Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.

And it was all brought together in this announcement from God to those Christmas shepherds:

“There is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord,” Luke 2:11

A salvation of grace foretold by God had its writers pondering both the what and the timing.

1. Gen 3:15, He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.  What?
2. Gen 22, Abraham – “The Lord will provide a Lamb”.
3. Deut. 18:18, I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren
4. II Samuel 7:12, I will set up your seed after you…and I will establish his kingdom.
5. Isaiah 7:14, a virgin shall bear a Son – call his name Immanuel!  “God with us”??
6. Isaiah 9:6-7, For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.
7. Isaiah 11:1, a Rod from the stem of Jesse – He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth
8. Isaiah 42:1, “Behold! My Servant…He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.”  Gentiles?
9. Isaiah 49:6, You should be My Servant…You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth!
10. Micah 5:2, Whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting.”  Everlasting?

I Peter 1:10, the writers inquired and searched concerning the sufferings and glory to follow.

Sufferings: Isaiah 53:9, For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My people He was stricken. And they made His grave with the wicked, but with the rich at His death

Glories: Isaiah 53:11-12, He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied. By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong

And it all came together:  Luke 2:10-11, Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”

The “what” and the “when” questions were answered in the birth of Jesus.

So, I Peter 1:12, To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.

The prayer of Isaiah 64:1-5 was answered in the coming of Jesus in flesh to address our sin issue:
64:1, Oh, that You would rend the heavens! That You would come down! …To make Your name known to Your adversaries, That the nations may tremble at Your presence!  When You did awesome things for which we did not look… 4 For since the beginning of the world Men have not heard nor perceived by the ear, nor has the eye seen any God besides You, Who acts for the one who waits for Him. You meet him who rejoices and does righteousness, Who remembers You in Your ways.  You are indeed angry, for we have sinned— In these ways we continue; and we need to be saved.

God has come down and invites people to trust Him (wait), to rejoice in Him as did the shepherds, to live pleasing to God, to thank Him for His ways and to recognize their sin and need.

The questions have been answered in Jesus – Is Jesus the answer in your life??