(Isaiah 43 v1-3, 59v20-60v6, 60v18-22)
We could almost feel a bit guilty, enjoying our Christmas turkey and chocolate when so many in the world have suffered and are still suffering such loss and sorrow in 2023. The world seems engulfed in various kinds of darkness. Earthquakes, hunger and seemingly endless war. What is there to celebrate?
Isaiah lived and preached some seven centuries before Jesus was born. Times in Jerusalem were not all bad still there were causes for concern. The Old Testament kingdom of Israel had split in two, the northern tribes were under threat from Assyria and the prophet was given to foretell that in the future Judah with the capitol Jerusalem and the temple would also fall to the Babylonians.
Much of the earlier chapters of Isaiah’s book contain sober messages urging his neighbours in Jerusalem to learn from the calamity threatening their northern brothers, warning them to submit afresh to God and turn away from sinful alternatives. But the people seemed determined to disobey so the outlook in the short term looked gloomy.
Yet this book of Isaiah also contains some of the most beautiful and encouraging messages promising hope. God is faithful. He would discipline Israel as a loving Father but not forsake her completely. He would keep His promises to Abraham and Jacob and Moses and David and once more come to His people’s rescue.
Some of these passages are spoken in the present tense. Their fulfilment would be centuries away yet such is Isaiah’s confidence in God he speaks as if it’s already happening. ‘Arise, shine for your light has come!’ Kings and people from other nations are finding salvation in Israel’s Messiah!
Perhaps he’s remembering in ch60 how the Queen of Sheba came with gifts to honour Solomon but we might also spot a hint of the Wise Men travelling from a foreign court, bringing gold and incense to celebrate the birth of the King of kings, the dawn of hope.
The point is that God has not left us alone in our darkness. In amazing grace He has come to be with us and share with us, ‘Immanuel’. The Father has given and the Son has come. The Word was made flesh, the Creator becoming part of His creation to redeem it. The Light of the world has come to illuminate the darkness.
God the Son was with us, he was in the world, living in a body, a house and family, a wee place and community something like this. He knows what it’s like, being human in a beautiful but sadly ruined world.
While here He shone like no other, giving a demonstration of God’s kingdom in which the hungry are fed, the weak defended, the sick healed and the oppressed set free. He chose to be born poor and vulnerable. He allowed Himself to be rejected and crucified but even this was a key part of the plan.
The King in a manger, the Lord on a cross, the Saviour suffering with us and for us that we might know we are treasured and redeemed and need not fear. There will be darkness, floods and fire but He is with us and will bring us through.
The world suffers on in our day for many hate the light, hate the Lord and His truth. Many persist in loving darkness because their deeds are evil but let’s realise something. Bethlehem was only the beginning, just the dawning of God’s kingdom on earth.
Peace begins in human hearts reconciled to God. ‘Call Him Jesus, Yeshua, it means ‘Saviour’/ ‘Deliverer’ for He will save us from our sins which alienate us from God. The ‘Prince of peace’ is still changing hearts and lives globally! And when this Gospel has borne fruit and saved souls from every nation upon earth our Lord will return to finally end evil and share resurrection with His Church. The new, heavenly Jerusalem will be a home for all people, a place of healing and never ending light and life.
So yes, at Christmas Christians celebrate with thanksgiving what began 2000 years ago but also with anticipation what is yet to come. Despite the frustrations of this present dark world we will sing, we will ring bells, we will celebrate the birth of our Saviour and the coming shortly of our glorious King!
We could almost feel a bit guilty, enjoying our Christmas turkey and chocolate when so many in the world have suffered and are still suffering such loss and sorrow in 2023. The world seems engulfed in various kinds of darkness. Earthquakes, hunger and seemingly endless war. What is there to celebrate?
Isaiah lived and preached some seven centuries before Jesus was born. Times in Jerusalem were not all bad still there were causes for concern. The Old Testament kingdom of Israel had split in two, the northern tribes were under threat from Assyria and the prophet was given to foretell that in the future Judah with the capitol Jerusalem and the temple would also fall to the Babylonians.
Much of the earlier chapters of Isaiah’s book contain sober messages urging his neighbours in Jerusalem to learn from the calamity threatening their northern brothers, warning them to submit afresh to God and turn away from sinful alternatives. But the people seemed determined to disobey so the outlook in the short term looked gloomy.
Yet this book of Isaiah also contains some of the most beautiful and encouraging messages promising hope. God is faithful. He would discipline Israel as a loving Father but not forsake her completely. He would keep His promises to Abraham and Jacob and Moses and David and once more come to His people’s rescue.
Some of these passages are spoken in the present tense. Their fulfilment would be centuries away yet such is Isaiah’s confidence in God he speaks as if it’s already happening. ‘Arise, shine for your light has come!’ Kings and people from other nations are finding salvation in Israel’s Messiah!
Perhaps he’s remembering in ch60 how the Queen of Sheba came with gifts to honour Solomon but we might also spot a hint of the Wise Men travelling from a foreign court, bringing gold and incense to celebrate the birth of the King of kings, the dawn of hope.
The point is that God has not left us alone in our darkness. In amazing grace He has come to be with us and share with us, ‘Immanuel’. The Father has given and the Son has come. The Word was made flesh, the Creator becoming part of His creation to redeem it. The Light of the world has come to illuminate the darkness.
God the Son was with us, he was in the world, living in a body, a house and family, a wee place and community something like this. He knows what it’s like, being human in a beautiful but sadly ruined world.
While here He shone like no other, giving a demonstration of God’s kingdom in which the hungry are fed, the weak defended, the sick healed and the oppressed set free. He chose to be born poor and vulnerable. He allowed Himself to be rejected and crucified but even this was a key part of the plan.
The King in a manger, the Lord on a cross, the Saviour suffering with us and for us that we might know we are treasured and redeemed and need not fear. There will be darkness, floods and fire but He is with us and will bring us through.
The world suffers on in our day for many hate the light, hate the Lord and His truth. Many persist in loving darkness because their deeds are evil but let’s realise something. Bethlehem was only the beginning, just the dawning of God’s kingdom on earth.
Peace begins in human hearts reconciled to God. ‘Call Him Jesus, Yeshua, it means ‘Saviour’/ ‘Deliverer’ for He will save us from our sins which alienate us from God. The ‘Prince of peace’ is still changing hearts and lives globally! And when this Gospel has borne fruit and saved souls from every nation upon earth our Lord will return to finally end evil and share resurrection with His Church. The new, heavenly Jerusalem will be a home for all people, a place of healing and never ending light and life.
So yes, at Christmas Christians celebrate with thanksgiving what began 2000 years ago but also with anticipation what is yet to come. Despite the frustrations of this present dark world we will sing, we will ring bells, we will celebrate the birth of our Saviour and the coming shortly of our glorious King!
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