Micah prophesied that the “ruler of Israel” would come from “Bethlehem Ephrathah.” Jesus, the King, was born quietly in a Bethlehem stable. He grew up in the home of a carpenter and lived his first thirty years in Nazareth as a tradesman. 

Except for his visit to the temple at the age of twelve, we know very little about the “ruler of Israel.” He amazed the priests at the age of twelve, but who else noticed Jesus wasn’t just another man?

Jesus impacted a small region of the world after his baptism. Many were healed, many were taught, and many experienced his miraculous power. But Jesus didn’t fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy until the week before his death.

Zechariah had written, “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The day Zechariah’s prophecy was fulfilled, the people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). Only a few days later, the shouts would change to: “Let him be crucified!” (Matthew 27:23).

The story of Christmas is a story of great hope, but so is the story of Easter. Jesus’ glorious birth was followed by a long period of day-to-day, natural growth. The story of Jesus’ earthly ministry was just about three short, busy years. The glory of his entrance into Jerusalem was soon overshadowed by his tragic death. But, just three days later, his glory was established forever. 

The hope of Christmas required a wait. So did the hope of Easter. Peter taught those early believers, and us, how to wait with hope. He wrote, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:3).

The hope of Christmas is the hope of Easter today, but it is a living hope that dwells in each of God’s children. If you have the Holy Spirit of Jesus living in your life, you have that living hope because you have the promise of one day spending Christmas with Jesus in your eternal home. 

Wisdom is understanding that the gift of Jesus is our treasure. Treasure the living hope we have as believers today.