Immanuel Comes

Big Idea

Tension: What does Isaiah envision the reign of Immanuel will be like?

Resolution: It will be like light upon darkness, like peace dispelling war, like justice overcoming oppression, like God’s rule coming upon man.

Exegetical Idea: Isaiah envisions Immanuel’s reign will be like light upon darkness, like peace dispelling war, like justice overcoming oppression, like God’s rule coming upon man.

Theological Idea: When Immanuel comes, he will come as the greater Melchizedek.

Homiletical Idea: When Immanuel came, he brought God to us.

Outline

Intro: What will Immanuel be like?

Immanuel means God-with-us

The Priest-King who comes down from heaven

Like light upon darkness

He will bring us the glory of God

As one who makes peace

He will bring us the peace of God

As one who reigns in righteousness

He will bring us the righteousness of God

At Christmas, we celebrate that not only is Immanuel going to come, but that he already has come. He can only truly do those things for us if he becomes one of us. At Christmas we celebrate the fact that the day that Immanuel longed to see, and yearned to see, and hoped to see has come. Not on a stately throne, but in a bed of straw.