[Trae Johnson]

Reading Matthew 2 and the prophecies of Christ, I am impressed at how specific and detailed the Bible is about the coming of Jesus. The prophecy in Micah about the Messiah to be born in Bethlehem speaks deeply to me, not as history, but as a personal reminder of God’s plan and promise. Thinking about how this little, far off village was specifically chosen from all the places in the world makes me realize the consideration and forethought that God put into His actions. It blows my mind that these prophecies were written hundreds if not thousands of years prior to Jesus’ birth, but every fact was accounted for. This has made me reflect on the reliability of Scripture in a way that goes beyond just reading—it feels like God is speaking directly into history and into my life.

Beyond His birthplace, I’ve also been struck by the many other messianic prophecies in the Old Testament, from His lineage to the manner of His death. To watch how each of them fit into the life of Jesus causes me to understand in wonder and reassurance that God’s Word is true. To experience them firsthand myself made my own faith stronger and reminds me that God’s Word is not random or by chance. It encourages me daily to hear, believe, and respond to His Word, knowing that His plan had been in process way before I was even conceived.