Introduction: The Waiting Is Over

“But when the time had fully come, God sent His Son, born of a woman.” — Galatians 4:4

Do you remember all the promises God made in the first three books?

He promised Eve that one day a child would crush the snake’s head. He promised Abraham that all the families of the earth would be blessed through his family. He promised David that a King from his family would rule for ever. And through the prophets He promised a child called Immanuel, “God with us”, who would be born in Bethlehem.

Then God’s people waited. They waited for hundreds and hundreds of years. Kings came and went. Empires rose and fell. And still the promised King had not come.

But God doesn’t forget His promises. And when the time was exactly right, the waiting was over.

This book begins the second part of Tell Me the Story: the Life of Jesus. You will meet an old priest who couldn’t speak, a young girl who said yes to God, shepherds in the fields at night, and wise men following a star. You will see Jesus as a baby, as a boy of twelve, and as a man beginning His work, calling fishermen to follow Him and turning water into wine.

Everything in the Old Testament has been leading up to this. So look out for the old promises as you read. In this book, under some of the stories, you will see a line called “The promise kept”. That’s where the Bible itself tells us that something God promised long ago has come true in Jesus.

The King is coming. Let’s go and meet Him.

Dear God, thank you that you keep every promise you make. Thank you for sending Jesus. As we read about Him, help us to know Him and love Him. Amen.