December 23rd, 2025
Today, we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the incredible gift that He is to the world. In the midst of all the Christmas festivities, I’ve been thinking about all the promises Jesus fulfilled. From His humble birth in a manger to the day He breathed His last on the cross, and every moment in between, He fulfilled promises God had already given. See, Jesus was not a Band-Aid on a broken world. He was not a final effort to save humanity. Jesus was God’s plan of redemption from the moment Adam and Eve took of the forbidden fruit. Glimpses of God’s plan for Jesus’ life, even down to Bethlehem, the city of His birth, were written hundreds of years before He came (Micah 5:2). I want to share with you just a few of the countless promises He fulfilled in His birth, life, death, and resurrection.
Promises pointing to Jesus can be found throughout the Old Testament. After His resurrection, Jesus interpreted these promises to two disciples as they walked along the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:27 says,
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
It would be wonderful if that conversation were recorded in its entirety, but thankfully it was not the first time Jesus interpreted the Old Testament in regard to Himself. In the book of Matthew alone, the word “fulfill” is used fifteen times connecting Jesus’ life to an Old Testament promise and there are many more throughout the rest of the New Testament.
Matthew 1:22-23 is the first one we’re going to look at. It says,
‘All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, (which means God with us)”’
Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 here, which was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Everything surrounding Jesus’ birth took place to miraculously fulfill what was already in the heart of the Father. God would visit His people in such measure through Jesus that they would call Him Immanuel—God with us.
God is still with us just as He was then. Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of this promise, but He is still fulfilling that promise today. God’s word is living and active, so that promise still has the capacity to come alive in every human being on earth (Hebrews 4:12). Romans 8:38-39 says,
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Does anything declare more clearly that God is with us? Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written by Isaiah, but He is still fulfilling that promise today, in the heart of every believer. God is with us!
Another promise Jesus fulfilled is found in Matthew 4:13-16 which says,
“He went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
This prophecy, once again quoted from the book of Isaiah, was about the specific region Jesus would live in, demonstrating how carefully God planned every detail of His life. However, the promise here wasn’t just for that region. Jesus was the light that dawned for all humanity—in a humble stable, in the seemingly insignificant town of Bethlehem. His life is a demonstration of what it looks like when the light of heaven shines in the darkness. Everywhere He went, the darkness receded. Just as was true for the other promise we looked at, this promise is still alive today. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says,
‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’
John 1:4 says,
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Jesus is still the light of the world. He is still the sunrise in the heart of every human being who believes in Him. He is still shining, and the darkness has not and never will overcome Him!
There are countless more promises the Bible specifically references that were fulfilled in Jesus.
To name just a few:
Hosea 11:1 is quoted in Matthew 2:15 referencing Jesus being taken to hide in Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of the male children under two years old. Jeremiah 31:15 is quoted in Matthew 2:17-18 regarding the grief of that tragedy. Matthew 12:17 cites Isaiah 42:1-3 and speaks of the Gentiles hoping in the Messiah. Matthew 13:14 cites Isaiah 6:9-10 in regard to the Pharisees rejecting Jesus. Matthew 21:4-5 cites Zechariah 9:9, which tells of a King that would come, humble, riding on a donkey.
Nothing about Jesus’ birth, life, or death was random. He was the perfect plan of God, known before the foundation of the world. There are dozens of these citations throughout the gospels alone, but I want to look at one final verse in detail, to conclude. Matthew 8:16-17 says,
‘When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Now this verse cites the first half of Isaiah 53:4, which says in the ESV,
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering.”
However, the words “pain” and “suffering,” or even “infirmities” and “diseases,” do not capture the breadth of these words that Isaiah prophesied and Matthew cited.
The first word, translated “pain,” is translated “grief” in the KJV but that also doesn’t tell the full story. The word means grief, illness, or affliction. It speaks of all bodily sickness and disease.
The next word translated “suffering” or “diseases” could also be translated “anguish” or “affliction,” but none of those capture its fullness either. The word conveys physical or mental pain of any kind. One scholar said it is “a single word to portray the entire spectrum of human suffering.” That’s what Jesus carried for us. See, just one verse later in Isaiah 53:5, it says “by His wounds we are healed.” When Jesus died, it wasn’t just to save us from sin. It was to save us from everything that would keep us from life. He said He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). He fulfilled this promise not just by dying, but by living. He fulfilled this promise through His humble birth and an obedient life of intimacy and power, laid down in love.
Even before He went to Calvary and shed His blood, He evicted every ounce of physical pain and demonic affliction wherever He went. He set free every human being who was brought to Him, fulfilling the promise given hundreds of years before. That promise is as true today as it was the day Isaiah wrote it and the day Matthew cited it. Jesus still removes every ounce of pain and affliction because He has already borne it and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a manger to a young woman who simply trusted God to keep His Word. His coming was announced to shepherds using a passage from Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born.” That promise too is alive today for every human being on the earth. Unto us, a child was born. He fulfilled countless promises and He’s still fulfilling them today!
There are, however, promises yet to be completely fulfilled. Acts 1:11 says He will return in the same way they saw Him go, which means He’s coming back on the clouds, in power and glory! 2 Peter 3:9 says God isn’t slow to fulfill His promises, but He's waiting so as many as can be saved will be saved. Every single promise God has written in His Word will be fulfilled!
Jesus is all the promises of the Father, the greatest gift the world has ever been given, wrapped in one humble package. He was given for us over 2,000 years ago, but He’s as close to you as your next breath. He’s still Immanuel—God with us! He’s still the light of the world. He’s still the One who bore every possible human affliction—mental, physical, emotional or spiritual – for you. He was rejected so you would always be loved. He was broken so you wouldn’t be. He was given so you could receive! We can’t celebrate His birth without celebrating every promise He fulfilled. Today, let’s be thankful for all that He is – the baby in the manger and soon-coming King! Merry Christmas!
Promises pointing to Jesus can be found throughout the Old Testament. After His resurrection, Jesus interpreted these promises to two disciples as they walked along the road to Emmaus. Luke 24:27 says,
“Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.”
It would be wonderful if that conversation were recorded in its entirety, but thankfully it was not the first time Jesus interpreted the Old Testament in regard to Himself. In the book of Matthew alone, the word “fulfill” is used fifteen times connecting Jesus’ life to an Old Testament promise and there are many more throughout the rest of the New Testament.
Matthew 1:22-23 is the first one we’re going to look at. It says,
‘All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call His name Immanuel, (which means God with us)”’
Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 here, which was written hundreds of years before Jesus was born. Everything surrounding Jesus’ birth took place to miraculously fulfill what was already in the heart of the Father. God would visit His people in such measure through Jesus that they would call Him Immanuel—God with us.
God is still with us just as He was then. Jesus’ birth was the fulfillment of this promise, but He is still fulfilling that promise today. God’s word is living and active, so that promise still has the capacity to come alive in every human being on earth (Hebrews 4:12). Romans 8:38-39 says,
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Does anything declare more clearly that God is with us? Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. Jesus fulfilled the prophecy written by Isaiah, but He is still fulfilling that promise today, in the heart of every believer. God is with us!
Another promise Jesus fulfilled is found in Matthew 4:13-16 which says,
“He went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
“ The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles—the people dwelling in darkness have seen a great light, and for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death, on them a light has dawned.”
This prophecy, once again quoted from the book of Isaiah, was about the specific region Jesus would live in, demonstrating how carefully God planned every detail of His life. However, the promise here wasn’t just for that region. Jesus was the light that dawned for all humanity—in a humble stable, in the seemingly insignificant town of Bethlehem. His life is a demonstration of what it looks like when the light of heaven shines in the darkness. Everywhere He went, the darkness receded. Just as was true for the other promise we looked at, this promise is still alive today. 2 Corinthians 4:6 says,
‘For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.’
John 1:4 says,
“In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
Jesus is still the light of the world. He is still the sunrise in the heart of every human being who believes in Him. He is still shining, and the darkness has not and never will overcome Him!
There are countless more promises the Bible specifically references that were fulfilled in Jesus.
To name just a few:
Hosea 11:1 is quoted in Matthew 2:15 referencing Jesus being taken to hide in Egypt to escape Herod’s massacre of the male children under two years old. Jeremiah 31:15 is quoted in Matthew 2:17-18 regarding the grief of that tragedy. Matthew 12:17 cites Isaiah 42:1-3 and speaks of the Gentiles hoping in the Messiah. Matthew 13:14 cites Isaiah 6:9-10 in regard to the Pharisees rejecting Jesus. Matthew 21:4-5 cites Zechariah 9:9, which tells of a King that would come, humble, riding on a donkey.
Nothing about Jesus’ birth, life, or death was random. He was the perfect plan of God, known before the foundation of the world. There are dozens of these citations throughout the gospels alone, but I want to look at one final verse in detail, to conclude. Matthew 8:16-17 says,
‘When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah:
“He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.”
Now this verse cites the first half of Isaiah 53:4, which says in the ESV,
“Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering.”
However, the words “pain” and “suffering,” or even “infirmities” and “diseases,” do not capture the breadth of these words that Isaiah prophesied and Matthew cited.
The first word, translated “pain,” is translated “grief” in the KJV but that also doesn’t tell the full story. The word means grief, illness, or affliction. It speaks of all bodily sickness and disease.
The next word translated “suffering” or “diseases” could also be translated “anguish” or “affliction,” but none of those capture its fullness either. The word conveys physical or mental pain of any kind. One scholar said it is “a single word to portray the entire spectrum of human suffering.” That’s what Jesus carried for us. See, just one verse later in Isaiah 53:5, it says “by His wounds we are healed.” When Jesus died, it wasn’t just to save us from sin. It was to save us from everything that would keep us from life. He said He came to give us abundant life (John 10:10). He fulfilled this promise not just by dying, but by living. He fulfilled this promise through His humble birth and an obedient life of intimacy and power, laid down in love.
Even before He went to Calvary and shed His blood, He evicted every ounce of physical pain and demonic affliction wherever He went. He set free every human being who was brought to Him, fulfilling the promise given hundreds of years before. That promise is as true today as it was the day Isaiah wrote it and the day Matthew cited it. Jesus still removes every ounce of pain and affliction because He has already borne it and He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
Over 2,000 years ago, Jesus was born in a manger to a young woman who simply trusted God to keep His Word. His coming was announced to shepherds using a passage from Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born.” That promise too is alive today for every human being on the earth. Unto us, a child was born. He fulfilled countless promises and He’s still fulfilling them today!
There are, however, promises yet to be completely fulfilled. Acts 1:11 says He will return in the same way they saw Him go, which means He’s coming back on the clouds, in power and glory! 2 Peter 3:9 says God isn’t slow to fulfill His promises, but He's waiting so as many as can be saved will be saved. Every single promise God has written in His Word will be fulfilled!
Jesus is all the promises of the Father, the greatest gift the world has ever been given, wrapped in one humble package. He was given for us over 2,000 years ago, but He’s as close to you as your next breath. He’s still Immanuel—God with us! He’s still the light of the world. He’s still the One who bore every possible human affliction—mental, physical, emotional or spiritual – for you. He was rejected so you would always be loved. He was broken so you wouldn’t be. He was given so you could receive! We can’t celebrate His birth without celebrating every promise He fulfilled. Today, let’s be thankful for all that He is – the baby in the manger and soon-coming King! Merry Christmas!
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