Book Review: The Promise of the Messiah by Ethan Jago

It has been nearly a month since we celebrated Christmas. Most Christians love this time of the year because we remember what God did by sending His Only Begotten Son born of a virgin. What's sad is many Christians after Christmas will forget all about the incarnation of Christ till next Christmas, which is less than 12 away for those who are keeping track. 

The Incarnation of Christ is not something we should study around Christmas time. It should be something that we study, read, and know for all times of the year. I am delighted to recommend a great resource from G3 Press written by Ethan Jago, titled, The Promise of the Messiah: A Theology of Christmas. 

Jago does a wonderful job showing his readers that the coming of the Messiah was something God promised all the way back to the beginning in the garden of Eden. He also points out that while Christmas is a time to reflect on the birth of Christ, it is also time where we anticipate His return. Christ's first coming should always make us consider that one day He will return.

Jago continues to point out that Christ never ceased to be God. Jesus went through everything a man could go through yet was without sin. He was tempted so that He can be a Great High Priest that can sympathize with us in our weakness. Jesus did not earn righteousness or salvation but came to fulfill the Father's will. Jesus was already the Son of God and He delighted to do the will of God.

Jesus did not come just to be a good teacher, as Jago says in the book, or a miracle worker. He came to bear the sins of the world so that we can have righteousness from God by faith in Christ. Christ lived a perfect life because we could not. 

Jago concludes that the fulfillment came when Christ took our place on the cross so that He can pay for our sins. He also was raised on the third day and will physically return one day. As Christians today, we must share this good news to all. Christ's incarnation is not something that should be celebrated just during Christmas time, but in every season of the year. Not saying we should bust out the Christmas decorations, but we should remember that God loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son as John 3:16 boldly proclaims.

This is a great resource for all studying on the incarnation of Christ. This is also a useful tool to be used for Christmas time when doing a Sunday School lesson or sermon on the incarnation.

I received this book from G3 Press in exchange for an honest review.