He was pierced for our Transgressions

The Story of Christmas...

— Any story of the baby Jesus must have it roots in the Book of Isaiah.

— This book exposes the ugly underbelly of being a Jew.

— Over and over and over and over Jesus was being talked about… but the connection was not made.

— This left many then and ultimately millions or billions of practicing jews… Still chasing for, looking for the Messiah.

Well He is hiding in plan sight.

— Every single one of our actions and interactions… Represent Christ

— Every time we hit our thumb or drop a wrench or forget to get the gallon of milk… We are repping Christ

— Everyone is watching to see if we will act like Christ or if we are still hanging with satan and his ways.

— Like almost everything… our record in that regard is about 60/40.

— 60% of the time we choose Righteousness.

— 40% of the time we loose our compass and are off to the races going here or there…Sometimes on purpose other times by mis-step.

Choices

— Genesis 2, gives Adam and Eve a choice.

— The very presence of the forbidden tree gives Adam and Eve the opportunity to choose whether to obey or to eat...

— We know they both chose to eat with eternal consequences

— The nation of Israel generally chooses poorly, beginning with the exodus and continuing through every successive era, including that of the judges and kings, until it is finally carried off into exile and disciplined for idolatry among a host of other things

— God still makes and gives invitation to follow

Isaiah 1:18 ESV

18 “Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord: though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

— Your sins are noteworthy, but God says He will make them white as snow.

— We choose, we act, sometimes we regret… But through it all God is close and Jesus is available.

Think about some of your most difficult times… when sin came easy!

— Such is the story of mankind

— Looking back we as a human race, choose out of ignorance I hope, to follow what feels good.

— God is still beside us and gives us a choice

Joshua 24:15 ESV

15 And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

— Thank you Joshua for laying it out exactly as they needed to hear.

— How does it need to be said today so that we hear and care what is being said.

I want you to look at a passage of Scripture that is somewhat familiar to many

Isaiah, Chapter 52 beginning in verse 13

Isaiah 52:13 ESV

13 Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted.

— It is God who introduces and identifies the servant, who belongs to God and serves Him.

— Here God, exalts “My servant,” He will act wisely.”

This must remind us of Paul’s work.

Philippians 2:9–11 ESV

9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

— We must choose who we are going to serve.

— What are the “results” of the choice we can make here

— By our choice to follow this, we come in close contact with the Savior.

— By turning it all over to him… calling our choice but no choice at all, We are choosing to let our hearts follow Christ.

— The next passage scripture is written as a prophecy that looking back we know that Jesus fits the bill.

Question: Does this passage