The Promise of the Coming Messiah

Week 1 Introduction and Devotional

Week 1 Introduction

Theme: The Promise of the Coming Messiah

Dates: December 1–7, 2025

Throughout the Hebrew Scriptures, the heartbeat of divine promise pulses through prophetic words and sacred history. From the first fall in Eden to the cries of Israel’s prophets, God unveiled a redemptive plan centered on a coming Redeemer. He would crush the serpent, rule on David’s throne, and be the Light to the nations.

This week, we walk through the prophetic trail that began in the garden and culminated in a manger. These promises weren’t random—they were precise, ancient, and alive with divine intent. As we meditate on each day's theme, we remember that Christmas didn’t begin in Bethlehem—it began in the heart of God before the foundation of the world.

Week 1, Day 1 — Monday, December 1, 2025

Theme: The Seed of the Woman

Day’s Reading: Genesis 3:15

Key Scriptures

• Genesis 3:15

• Galatians 4:4

• 1 John 3:8

Introduction

The first prophecy of the Messiah appears not in Isaiah or Micah, but in Genesis—immediately after the Fall. As judgment was pronounced on the serpent, God declared a redemptive war between the serpent and the Seed of the woman (Genesis 3:15). This promise foretold the defeat of Satan by a future offspring of Eve.

Unlike every other biblical genealogy which traces descent through men, this prophecy is unique: the woman's seed. The phrase anticipates a miraculous birth—a child born not of man’s will but by divine design. Paul echoes this mystery in Galatians 4:4: “But when the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman…”

This promise, embedded in the curse, is the first glimmer of the Gospel. It reminds us that God did not wait for humanity to seek Him—He sought us. From Eden’s ashes, the plan for Christmas was already in motion.

Insight

The Hebrew word for “seed” (zera‘) can refer to both a singular descendant and a collective lineage. Rabbinic tradition and early Christian theologians both saw this as more than a poetic phrase—it was a prophecy. The Messiah would be born of a woman, bruised by suffering, yet victorious over evil.

As Miroslav Volf reflects, “God does not abandon His creation to decay. He enters it through the birth canal of a woman to redeem it from within.”¹ The incarnation was not a divine afterthought—it was a plan forged from the beginning.

Furthermore, the Apostle John confirms the purpose of this Seed: “The Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” (1 John 3:8). The war declared in Genesis was settled at the cross and confirmed by the empty tomb.

Reflection

- Have you ever considered that God planned your redemption before your rebellion?

- Where in your life do you need to remember that Jesus has already crushed the head of the enemy?

- In this Advent season, reflect on how God’s promises are fulfilled in Christ—not always quickly, but always surely.

Strategic Prayer Points

1. Thank God for His plan of redemption, initiated even before humanity asked for it.

2. Declare victory over areas in your life where the enemy tries to maintain a foothold.

3. Pray for the lost to see Jesus as the fulfillment of God’s promises and their personal Savior.

My Faith Confession

I believe that Jesus is the promised Seed, born of a woman, sent in the fullness of time. He has crushed the enemy’s head, and I now walk in His victory. The promise made in Eden has been fulfilled in Christ, and I belong to the story of redemption.

Final Prayer

Lord, thank You for the eternal plan of salvation You revealed at the very beginning. In the seed of the woman, You gave us a Savior who would crush the serpent’s head. I receive Your promises afresh today. Let the light of this victory shine into every dark place in my life. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Endnotes

1. Miroslav Volf, Exclusion and Embrace: A Theological Exploration of Identity, Otherness, and Reconciliation (Abingdon Press, 1996), p. 211.

2. Timothy Keller, Hidden Christmas: The Surprising Truth Behind the Birth of Christ (Viking, 2016), p. 31.

3. John Stott, The Cross of Christ (IVP, 2006), p. 53.