For Christians, Christmas time is one of the most sacred, most joyous celebrations of the year. What about for people who are thinking about it, but who aren't sure about the whole "reason for the season"? What do we really know about what happened in Judea, 2000 years ago?

We're going to try to approach this topic from a neutral standpoint, and see where that leads us.

It's well-established that Jesus existed. He was physically, historically real. There is voluminous evidence from Christian sources, of course. Jesus Christ was also mentioned in non-Christian historical documents that have survived from that period. He's referred to twice by Josephus, the Jewish historian, in his work "Antiquities of the Jews" published in 93-94 AD. Tacitus, the Roman historian, writing in around 116 AD, also refers to "Christus" being put to death by the Romans under Pontius Pilate.

Was Jesus special? Even skeptics would need to wonder why and how this man from a small village in Galilee could launch a religion which would become the biggest, most influential one for at least the next two millennia of human history.

One of the intriguing things about Jesus is that his birth and life seem to have fulfilled prophecies from the Old Testament, which date back to the time of Moses - at least 1500 years BC, and to far older stories in an oral tradition. Those prophecies existed in texts written long before the Christian Era started.

What were some of those prophecies? There are many of them! Swedenborg lists some in Doctrine of the Lord 6. In this article, we're just going to focus on a few of them.

In this very early prophecy, it's indicated that the Messiah would be born as the son of a woman:

"And Jehovah God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, cursed art thou above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life, and I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed: he shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. Genesis 3:14-15. This is confirmed in the story in Matthew 1:20.

In Micah, much later in the Bible, we read that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem, in Judea:

"But thou, Beth-lehem Ephrathah, which art little to be among the thousands of Judah, out of thee shall one come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth are from of old, from everlasting." Micah 5:2.

This is confirmed in the story in Matthew 2:1, and Luke 2:4-6.

In Isaiah, we read that the Messiah would be born to a virgin:

"Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14. This is confirmed in the story in Matthew 1:22-23, and in Luke 1:26-31.

Lineage was an important factor, too. At least 5 forefathers of the promised Savior are named. First, he was prophesied to come from the line of Abraham, the progenitor of many of the peoples of the modern Middle East, including the Jews, the Arabs, the Lebanese, the Druze, and others. See Genesis 12:3, and Genesis 22:18. This prophecy is confirmed in Matthew 1:1, and Romans 9:5.

In the next generation, prophecy stated that the Savior would be descended from the line of Isaac, one of Abraham's two sons. See Genesis 17:19, and Genesis 21:12. This is confirmed in Luke 3:34.

For the third generation, the Word states that the Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. It's prophesied in Numbers 24:17, and confirmed in Matthew 1:2.

For the fourth generation, attention focuses on the tribe of Judah, who was one of the twelve sons of Jacob (whose name was changed to Israel). See Genesis 49:10, and then Luke 3:33, and Hebrews 7:14.

Many generations later, in the second book of Samuel, and again in Isaiah, there are prophecies that the Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. Read 2 Samuel 7:12-13, and Isaiah 9:7. Then see Luke 1:32-33, and Romans 1:3.

There are many more prophecies, and we will look at more of them in a future article. But, to summarize these ones that we've just listed, what would Old Testament readers in the time of Caesar Augustus be expecting?

In Bethlehem, a virgin would bear a son. He would be descended from Abraham, through the line of Isaac, Jacob, Judah, and David. That's the way the story runs, in the Gospels.

It's clear that the Old Testament wasn't altered to suit the "facts on the ground". The prophecies are already there in pre-Christian scrolls. That leaves two possibilities:

1) Scenario A: The New Testament could have been written to twist the facts to match the old prophecies. Faithful Jews were awaiting the Messiah; they would have wanted to find matching stories. In this scenario, Jesus could have been just a regular man, but a standout leader and teacher and healer. He was so inspiring that his apostles endured hardship and death to spread what became a global religion. The stories about him were exaggerated or modified to help match the prophecies.

2) Scenario B: The Old Testament text contains deep inner meaning, and its prophecies were actually prophetic and true. The facts of Jesus' birth and life and ministry actually did match and fulfull the prophecies. In this scenario, Jesus was truly a miracle baby.

Which scenario is right? In both, there's a recognition that the teachings of Jesus contained wisdom, and that there is great value in them. In New Christian thought, the choice is for Scenario B -- that Jesus really was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah, or Savior.

This of course requires some level of belief in miracles - prophecy, fulfillment, the virgin birth, angels bearing tidings, healings, feeding the multitudes. Can miracles really happen? Is it scientifically possible? Maybe they can... maybe as science advances, we will begin to understand those boundaries better.

At some level, don't most of us believe in miracles -- in the miracle of the very existence of the universe, and of living organisms that can reproduce, and of human life, and of love?

How to end this article? The whole subject of miracles needs more thought. And, here it is, December 22, and... instead of getting more analytical, I find that right now I just want to "be" in the holy days of Christmas.

If you're feeling skeptical, have a look at Arcana Coelestia 2568, and Arcana Coelestia 2588. They offer an interesting perspective!

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One source for this article was "100 Prophecies Fulfilled by Jesus: Messianic Prophecies Made Before the Birth of Christ", by Rose Publishing.

(References: Teachings about the Lord 6)

38. The Lord is called Jehovah. This is apparent from the following:

...thus said Jehovah, your Creator, O Jacob, and your Maker, O Israel: “...for I have redeemed you.... ...I am Jehovah your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” (Isaiah 43:1, 3)

I am Jehovah, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King. (Isaiah 43:15)

Thus said Jehovah, the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker.... (Isaiah 45:11, cf. 45:15)

...that all flesh may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 49:26)

...that you may know that I, Jehovah, am your Savior and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob. (Isaiah 60:16)

...Jehovah...your Maker from the womb.... (Isaiah 49:5)

...O Jehovah, my rock, and my Redeemer! (Psalms 19:14)

Thus said Jehovah, your Maker, and your Former from the womb.... Thus said Jehovah, the King of Israel, and its Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts.... (Isaiah 44:2, 6)

Our Redeemer, Jehovah of Hosts is His name, the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 47:4)

“With everlasting kindness I will have mercy on you.” Thus said Jehovah, your Redeemer. (Isaiah 54:8)

Their Redeemer is strong; Jehovah of Hosts is His name. (Jeremiah 50:34)

Jehovah (God) is my rock, my fortress, and...the horn of my salvation..., my Savior.... (2 Samuel 22:2-3)

...said Jehovah, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.... (Isaiah 43:14, 48:17)

Thus said Jehovah, the Redeemer of Israel, His Holy One...: “Kings shall see....” (Isaiah 49:7)

I...am Jehovah, and besides Me there is no Savior. (Isaiah 43:11)

Have not I, Jehovah? And there is no other God besides Me, (and)...a Savior, there is none besides Me. Look to Me, that you may be saved, all you ends of the earth! (Isaiah 45:21-22)

I am Jehovah your God..., and...there is no Savior besides Me. (Hosea 13:4)

You have redeemed me, O Jehovah, God of truth. (Psalms 31:5)

Let Israel hope in Jehovah; for with Jehovah there is mercy, ...with Him is abundant redemption. He shall redeem Israel from all its iniquities. (Psalms 130:7-8)

...Jehovah of Hosts is His name, and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called God of the whole earth. (Isaiah 54:5)

In these passages Jehovah is called Redeemer and Savior, and because the Lord alone is the Redeemer and Savior, it is the Lord who is meant by Jehovah.

[2] That the Lord is Jehovah, or in other words, that Jehovah is the Lord, is apparent also from the following:

A Rod shall come forth from the stem of Jesse, and an Offshoot out of his roots shall bear fruit. The Spirit of Jehovah shall rest upon Him.... (Isaiah 11:1-2)

It will be said in that day: “Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him to save us. This is Jehovah, for whom we have waited; we will rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” (Isaiah 25:9)

The voice of one crying in the wilderness: “Prepare the way of Jehovah; make smoothe in the desert a highway for our God.... (For) the glory of Jehovah shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it....” Behold, the Lord Jehovih is coming in strength, and His arm shall rule for Him. (Isaiah 40:3, 5, 10)

I, Jehovah...will...give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles.... I am Jehovah, that is My name; and My glory I will not give to another.... (Isaiah 42:6-8)

Behold, the days are coming...when I will raise to David a righteous offshoot, (who) shall reign as king and prosper, and execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.... And this is His name by which they will call Him: Jehovah Our Righteousness. (Jeremiah 23:5-6, cf. 33:15-16)

You, Bethlehem Ephrathah..., out of you shall come forth to Me One to be Ruler in Israel.... He shall stand and give pasture in the strength of Jehovah.... (Micah 5:2, 4)

...unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called...God, Hero, Father of Eternity...., upon the throne of David..., to establish it and found it with judgment and justice, from that time on and even to eternity. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Jehovah will go forth and fight against the nations.... And...His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which faces Jerusalem.... (Zechariah 14:3-4)

Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you doors of the world, that the King of glory may come in! Who is this King of glory? Jehovah strong and a hero, Jehovah a hero of war. (Psalms 24:7-10)

In that day Jehovah of Hosts will become a crown of adornment and a miter of beauty to the remnant of His people. (Isaiah 28:5)

...I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great...day of Jehovah. (Malachi 4:5)

And so on elsewhere in places that mention the great and coming day of Jehovah, such as Ezekiel 30:3, Joel 2:11, Amos 5:18, 20, Zephaniah 1:7, 14-15, 18.