12/18/2025
“FORETELLING AND FULFILLMENT” By Dallas Elder
This quote about God still bounces around in my head. It is by Richard Rohr from his book, “The Divine Dance--The Trinity and Your Transformation.”
“God is not “once upon a time”—God is the “never-ending story in which we are scripted.”
It is hard to imagine just how detailed God is. His creation certainly screams it. Its intricacies are endless and unfathomable. God has had a script from the beginning. Each of us have a part in His unfolding, never-ending story. While there are certainly mysteries and unknowns about God and His Divine Plan, there are plenty of previews, prompts and promises that God has clearly stated. They are recorded in His Word. They are repeated by His prophets. They are reemphasized by His Spirit. We are given signs as reminders. The problem people have is not that God isn’t communicating, but humankind has calloused hearts, dulled hearing, and have closed their eyes. It all results in a lack of spiritual understanding. (Acts 28:26-27; Isaiah 6:9-10)
The fascinating, enriching and impacting aspects of Christmas are the previews, prompts and promises of God. They are manifested on a number of fronts. On one hand, Christmas is like the crescendo of a long-playing symphony. As powerful and dynamic as its fulfillment and conclusion are, in other ways it births new beginnings.
The angel Gabriel was very busy. He appeared to the priest, Zechariah, as he burned incense in the Temple before the Lord. Angel Gabe told Zech that his wife Elizabeth would bear him a son, though they were past child bearing years. (Uh, does this sound vaguely familiar?) They were to name this son John, meaning “God is gracious.” “...Many will rejoice because of his birth, ...he will be filled with the Holy Spirit before He is born.” (LK 1:14) What!!? Even though Zech is a seasoned priest ministering before the Lord, this is unbelievable to him! He ultimately states, “How can I be sure of this?” Gabe says, “I minister in the Presence of the Lord and I came to bring you this good news, but you didn’t believe. How about this as a sign!? You will be mute, unable to speak until the boy is born.” Zech goes home to his wife and “signs” out the story. Elizabeth conceives. Listen to her praise. “In these days he (God) has shown me favor and has taken away my disgrace among the people.” (LK 1:25) There was foretelling, and there was fulfillment. Have you heard a similar story?
Well, there is the account of Abram and Sarai. The Lord told Abram and Sarai they would have a son, even though they were in their old age. They laughed. They thought it was impossible. How could this happen in their old age? From the foretelling, they waited 25 years for the promise to be fulfilled, Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son at 90 years old. Ohhhh! This has happened before! Remember Abraham and Sarah? It was a supernatural birth with parents past child-bearing years. It was foretold and it was fulfilled. The Lord told Abraham that through his “seed,” (family linage) he would bless all nations. There was the “preview” and the promise. This was the promise and hope of Israel, the Messiah.
This episode with Zechariah and Elizabeth is not coincidental happenstance? This is a reminder announcement. “Get ready world! Messiah is now! The Promise of God is unfolding into manifested fulfillment upon the earth. This similar scenario with Zechariah and Elizabeth was meant to draw all of Israel back to the promise God gave to Abraham and Sarah. Both couples shared prophetic foretelling and promise fulfillment in a supernaturally, natural birth in their old age. It was a “sign” pointing toward the ultimate “sign” of the Promise which was about to be fulfilled. “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
The angel Gabriel’s next visit was to a young virgin in the town of Nazareth named Mary. She was 15-16 years old. She was engaged to be married to Joseph. This was typical in the culture of the day. “The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”
“How will this be,” Mary asked the angel, “since I am a virgin?” The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month. For no word from God will ever fail.” “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.” Luke 1:28-38
Mary had her question, “How will this be since I am a virgin? She is a young woman of faith, not a mature priest like Zechariah. This is a one-time, historical event, that a virgin would conceive by the Holy Spirit and bear the Son of God. This is totally a supernatural Holy Birth. The Lord encouraged her faith by using the example of Elizabeth. Mary was aware of the promise of Abraham. (LK 1:54-55)
The Lord over shadowed Mary. She conceived by the Holy Spirit. She immediately leaves to go and visit her “senior” relative Elizabeth who is six months pregnant. Talk about a strong young woman! Sixteen-year-old Mary travelled from Nazareth to the hill country of Judah which was roughly 80-100 miles (five days’ journey). “At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah’s home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:39-45
Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit! Pre-born John, filled with the Holy Spirit! (John will baptize with water. Jesus will baptize in the Holy Spirit.) The name John means: “The Lord is gracious.” The name Jesus means: “The Lord Saves.” Yeah, by grace we are saved through faith.
Welcome Immanuel-God with us! Welcome Holy Spirit-God in us!
Promises foretold, promises fulfilled —and still unfolding!
Enjoy your part in the script.
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS!
