The Gospels record the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.

Yet, his birth was prophesied and foreshadowed for centuries in the writings of the Old Testament.

Prophets such as Isaiah and Micah foretold the coming of the Prince of Peace who would be born in the town of King David. Some of the prophetic passages, such as Isaiah 9, are familiar to us during the Advent season.

But the coming of the Son of God was also foreshadowed in other writings of the Hebrew Bible. For example, the book of Judges records national leaders God raised up to lead and defend his people. Similar to Mary and Joseph, the parents of Samson were greeted by a divine messenger who foretold his unexpected birth. Moreover, much like the Lord Jesus Christ, Samson was born to begin to deliver God's people from the enemy.

This foreshadows the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ who will once and for all deliver the church from the enemies of sin, death, and the devil.

Finally, the book of Judges leads to the coming of Christ because it highlights the fact that God's people cannot save themselves. God's people are stuck in sin, doomed to death, and destined for destruction. It is only by God's grace that leaders such as Ehud, Othniel, and Gideon were raised up to deliver God's people.

The book of Judges demonstrates that you cannot save yourself. You cannot be good enough for God. You cannot merit God's grace. You cannot purchase redemption.

Redemption from sin and death comes to us from God. It is his gift. It is his work.

As you celebrate Christmas, remember that God has purchased your redemption through the child born in Bethlehem; the child born to redeem his people from death by offering his own life in your place.