When Predator and Prey Play Together.

Isaiah 11:1–10 NIV

A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord— and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked. Righteousness will be his belt and faithfulness the sash around his waist. The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them. The cow will feed with the bear, their young will lie down together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox. The infant will play near the cobra’s den, the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest. They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain, for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

17-Introduction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZw-1BfHFKM

18-Jesus will bring Harmony to Earth.

When people think of the Messiah this is a key passage for both the Jewish Faith and the Christian Faith.

Last week, I mentioned that in Judaism, it is a passage like this that helps bolster the idea when the Messiah comes that he would usher in global harmony and shalom peace.

We would agree with Judaism that.

That this passage depicts the Messiah as being from the Lineage of Jesse, King David’s Father.

That the Messiah would judge rightly.

And the Messiah would bring Global Harmony and Peace to the Earth.

And I would say, to everyone, except hunters and meet lovers, this is a beautiful picture of harmony, but rather astounding as well

The point here may or may not be more figurative (remember this is poetic prophecy)

The point is that those who were once thought of as enemies will be friends.

19- Now in verses 6–9 we see opposite enemies living at peace with one another. Wolves and sheep living together, lions eating with the ox, etc. Think of someone who is your opposite, who you really don’t like. Now imagine that person who you can’t stand being your best friend. You hug them, love them, care for them, eat meals with them, make yourself vulnerable to them. That’s the type of change that the Messiah does in the lives of his people and eventually will bring that kind of peace to the entire world.

20-Christmas with Soldiers in WWI

At the first light of dawn on Christmas Day, some German soldiers emerged from their trenches and approached the Allied lines across no-man’s-land, calling out “Merry Christmas” in their enemies’ native tongues. At first, the Allied soldiers feared it was a trick, but seeing the Germans unarmed they climbed out of their trenches and shook hands with the enemy soldiers. The men exchanged presents of cigarettes and plum puddings and sang carols and songs. Some Germans lit Christmas trees around their trenches, and there was even a documented case of soldiers from opposing sides playing a good-natured game of soccer. German Lieutenant Kurt Zehmisch recalled: “How marvelously wonderful, yet how strange it was. The English officers felt the same way about it. Thus Christmas, the celebration of Love, managed to bring mortal enemies together as friends for a time.” History Channel

Some soldiers used this short-lived ceasefire for a more somber task: the retrieval of the bodies of fellow combatants who had fallen within the no-man’s land between the lines.

World War I and the Christmas Truce

The so-called Christmas Truce of 1914 came only five months after the outbreak of war in Europe and was one of the last examples of the outdated notion of chivalry between enemies in warfare. It was never repeated—future attempts at holiday ceasefires were quashed by officers’ threats of disciplinary action—but it served as heartening proof, however brief, that beneath the brutal clash of weapons, the soldiers’ essential humanity endured.

During World War I, the soldiers on the Western Front did not expect to celebrate on the battlefield, but even a world war could not destroy the Christmas spirit.

Citation Information

Article Title

Christmas Truce of 1914

Author

History.com Editors

Website Name

HISTORY

URL

https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/christmas-truce-of-1914

Access Date

December 14, 2019

Publisher

A&E Television Networks

Last Updated

November 20, 2019

Original Published Date

October 27, 2009

BY HISTORY.COM EDITORS

Nelson Mandela - Only time in history that I know of where the persecuted did not become the persecutor bought sought reconciliation.

The Challenge that Judaism might suggest is this is not a reality in our world so...

21-When?

Now, but not yet....

22-The imagry of the shoot points to family tree

23-The imagry of the shoot both depicts smarting small and growth in the vision.

1. The Messiah would come from the lineage of Jesse, the father of King David (see ). “A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse” (). A shoot is a single green branch, in this case, popping up from the stump of a bush or tree. Isaiah and other prophets have warned of God’s judgment. The Hebrew people will be a like a cleared-out field of trees, with only stumps left behind. From the stump of Jesse will come the Messiah and from his roots will come fruit. Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the vine; you are the branches” ().

Bring in a branch or a shoot. Hannah's plants?

We have already learned that the Messiah’s rule will be for Eternity - “In that day is the Messiah’s life time” - So if this refers to Jesus, then eternity is his life time. - The ultimate realization of this picture is when he comes again. -

Justin Taylor “The True Story of Pain and Hope Behind, ‘I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day.”

22 - How?

Transformation - Christ’s Judgement by means of his word.

Leveling the Playing Field - It requires judgement of those who chose evil over Christ.

Transformation - of appetities - The lion becomes a vegetarian - The viper is not scared and has no need to bite, There is complete trust, no fear, no worry, no pride, no dominance (perhaps predators depict nations or people like Assyria who conquer, and prey represents humble peoples like Israel). In our world of world domination - this means all people’s are reconciled.

It comes through Knowledge of the Messiah.

"For the Hebrews, all true knowledge is based on experience. Therefore, when the prophet speaks here about 'knowledge of the Lord,' he is not speaking primarily of knowledge about the Lord but of insight into reality born of a close and intimate relationship with him. The Messiah will make it possible for all people to know God intimately."

So just like the story, we are called to participate in the Messiah’s work mission

Discipleship, Growing in Faith, and doing what he does.

Called to be transformed by our relationship with Jesus

This relationship will transform our appetites so that we can embody this harmony and shalom now, but not in its fullness yet.

Belhar Confession: - That unity is, therefore, both a gift and an obligation for the church of Jesus Christ; that through the working of God’s Spirit it is a binding force, yet simultaneously a reality which must be earnestly pursued and sought; one which the people of God must continually be built up to attain.

Conclusion: We will not see this kind of harmony until Christ comes again, but the root of it is in us now. Those who put their faith in Jesus have the Holy Spirit in them and the transformation is beginning. Where are you at on that journey - Receive, Surrender, Rejoice.

Reference the Reformed Confessions: The Reformed Confessions are statements of faith written to clarify the Gospel at times when the Church was in crisis. Heidelberg Catechism: Q&A 5-18, 29-34 Belgic Confession: Article 10, 14, 17-19 Canons of Dort: Head I, Article 1; Head II, Article 1-4; Head III and IV, Articles 1-3

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