Which prophet announced the birth of Jesus?

The birth of Jesus Christ, the central figure of Christianity, was foretold by several prophets in the Old Testament. However, one of the most well-known prophets who announced the birth of Jesus is Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet in ancient Israel who lived in the 8th century BCE and prophesied about the coming Messiah, the Saviour of humanity.

One of the most famous prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus can be found in Isaiah 7:14, where the prophet declares, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel." This prophecy, known as the Immanuel prophecy, foretold the miraculous birth of a child who would be given the name Immanuel, meaning "God with us." Christians view this prophecy as a direct foretelling of the birth of Jesus Christ, who was born of the Virgin Mary in fulfillment of this prophecy.

Furthermore, Isaiah 9:6-7 contains another prophecy that is often interpreted as announcing the birth of Jesus as the Messiah. The passage reads, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end." This prophecy highlights the divine nature and the royal authority of the child who is to be born, affirming his role as the promised Messiah and the fulfillment of God's plan for salvation.

In addition to Isaiah, the birth of Jesus was also foretold by the prophet Micah in Micah 5:2, where he prophesies, "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times." This prophecy pinpointed Bethlehem as the birthplace of the Messiah, a prophecy that was fulfilled when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, as recorded in the Gospels.

The announcement of the birth of Jesus by these prophets highlights the continuity and fulfillment of God's plan of redemption throughout history. The prophecies of Isaiah, Micah, and other Old Testament prophets served as a beacon of hope and anticipation for the coming of the Messiah, whose birth would bring salvation and reconciliation between God and humanity.