Many verses in the Old Testament indicate that God Himself would come. He would be the One that would one day reign over the world. What was not understood - even though it was spoken of - was that He would also die.
The punishment for sin could only be paid for by Someone without sin. This is what every animal sacrifice in the Tabernacle and Temple taught - the innocent for the guilty.
The sin nature of the human race is apparently passed through the male genes. This was one reason why Christ had to be born without a human father. Matthew 1:23 tells us that "Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." This verse indicates that Mary's pregnancy was the fulfillment of a prophecy made about 700 years earlier in Isaiah 7:14. Because He was born of a virgin, He was able to have no sin nature as a human.
This verse given to Joseph also revealed that the One Who would be born of her was God - indicated by the meaning of the Name Emmanuel - "God with us." Further revealing that Jesus was God is John 1:14: "And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." The first verse in John chapter one reveals that this same Person did not come into existence at His conception - but only His human body. John 1:1 says: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." No wonder the angels sang so joyfully, saying: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men" (Lk. 2:14).
It was His Divine nature that enabled Christ to pay the final penalty for sin. It is, however, as was mentioned in yesterday's post, only available to those who turn from sin and personally trust Christ to become their Savior.
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Keywords: Jesus, lamb of God, Mary, virgin, Emmanuel, Word, God with us, sin, trust Christ