Moments of Good

What the Scripture Says

Isaiah 9:1–7 NIV

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 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. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

A couple years ago, as I was about to start my last semester in Bible college, I started reading to try to understand Christ’s incarnation and why it is so significant. What does the coming of this baby mean that it was celebrated by shepherds and wise men alike? The answers, I think, are found in the Old Testament.

I wanted to do an advent series in the Old Testament so that we could understand the state of the Nation of Israel before the coming of Christ. The prophets wrote during the time of Israel’s destruction at the hands of Babylon. They watched Solomon’s temple destroyed. In Ezekiel 10, we see the Glory of God that dwelt in the temple actually depart the temple before the building was destroyed.

To many of the Israelites, it probably felt like God had abandoned them. Understand that the temple was the dwelling place of God on earth. There were a few times where God met with Moses or Aaron or Abraham on a mountaintop, but other than that, God’s earthly dwelling place was the tabernacle or the temple. It was the one place where heaven intersected earth and where God and man could commune. In reality the destruction of the temple was the result of Israel’s mistakes. God was willing to let them face the consequences of their actions. He never abandoned them; as we have discussed before God is always faithful to keep his promises, even when we fail ours.

God did, however, remove his physical presence from his people. The Light of God’s presence no longer shone in their dark world. How terrifying is that? So when Isaiah promises the return of that light and the return of Israel’s true King, you can imagine how this message comes across.

Isaiah is promising the return of a King who will bring with him the presence of God, the Light of God, and the Reign of God. This Wonderful Counselor is also the Mighty God is also the Everlasting Father and is also the Prince of Peace.

What This Means

We know, of course that this is the Christ we celebrate at Christmastime. The presence of God that once overshadowed mountaintops and filled the temple with light and splendor was born in a stable and laid in a manger. After God’s glory left the temple, it never came back. So for several hundred years there was no presence of God on earth. But now, in a stable in Bethlehem, the presence and light of God’s Glory was given to the world.

Yet the humility of this child stands in direct contrast to the temples and mountaintops where God has dwelt in the past, doesn’t it? Yet he was truly Immanuel, the presence and light of God. But that’s the problem with Jesus the Messiah: he doesn’t fit peoples’ expectations of the Son of David come to “Enlarge the nation, Divide the plunder, and shatter the rods of their oppressors.” The powerful presence of God is just as real in that manger in Bethlehem as it was on the mountaintops and temples of the past.

Light has come. We celebrate that fact this evening because we believe that the same glory that shone on Moses’ face, the same glory that filled the temple, the same glory that Ezekiel watched flee the temple actually returned to Earth to be with His people. And the promises of David’s eternal Kingdom were set in motion. The Kingdom of peace already exists in the people of God. The Light of God did not leave the Earth when Christ ascended, it remained on Earth through his Holy Spirit in the people of God.

How We Live it Out

So this Christmas Eve, I know there is abundant darkness around us. I am fully aware that this church has suffered in the past few years. It’s been difficult being without a pastor, missing months of services and still being unable to do much of what feels normal for this time of year. Meanwhile, this pandemic continues to rage on and threaten the lives of people we love.

But listen: the hope we have in Christ is profound against this background of darkness. The hope of Christ promises that God’s presence has returned to Earth. The Israelites endured their suffering with the hope that the presence of God will return. We endure our suffering having seen that hope fulfilled through Jesus.

So my encouragement this evening is to bring the light of Christ to those around you during this season. Bring the presence of God into places it does not normally go. And enjoy the presence of God in the Spirit-Filled people around you!

See, all that about the "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” is a description of the character of Christ that we carry with us. Through the Spirit of God, we can provide counsel to this hurting world, deliver the Might of God into powerless situations, provide everlasting hope in a fleeting world, and peace to a broken and violent world.

So as we go into our homes and celebrate this time of year with our families, it is my prayer that we will each carry with us the light of Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. It is also my prayer that the character of Christ shining through the Christians around you will be a greater blessing this holiday season than any present, any holiday tradition, or any Christmas carol.