Thank you to Pat for this week’s MWB
The Light has come!
With Christmas just 4 weeks away perhaps you have already planned your festive activities, meals, visits, guests etc. Or perhaps you’re getting in touch with friends and family, trying to find out what they might be organising to be able to celebrate together.
Today we begin a 3-week series on Old Testament prophecies which point to Christ’s coming as Messiah. There are many references to this great event, some with specific details and others providing insight into the one who was to come as the saviour of the world. God had planned this amazing occurrence, and many years before he was letting people know what was going to happen, not all the details, but signs and hints to point towards this amazing gift to them and the whole world, so they could prepare themselves and get ready.
Let’s begin this series by reading Isaiah 9: 2 – 3, 6 – 7:
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
3 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.
6 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 Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 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.
Nights have certainly been drawing in, things changed very quickly once the clocks went back. Dark evenings, colder and greyer days, although the sun is out as I write this! Sometimes circumstances also seem very grey and dark with news from our world and nearer to home being sad and worrying. Many around us, and around the world, face a bleak Christmas: war, conflict, natural disasters, poverty and brokenness.
This prophecy brings hope,’ Darkness has seen a great light’. God promises us a Messiah, Jesus, who was coming into our world and declares that darkness can be overcome, that there can be joy again, that peace will come, that God is our everlasting Father. We may be reminded of Jesus’ words “I am the light of the world”, John 8: 12, and when he says to believers “You are the light of the world”, Matthew 5: 14 – 16. In Ephesians 5: 8 – 9, Paul writes, “For once you were full of darkness, but now you have light from the Lord. So, live as people of light! For this light within you produces only what is good and right and true.” So, as God sent his son Jesus to be the light of the world, we need to play our part as Christians living in this hope, being light to those around us.
This prophecy speaks of the Mesiah’s humanity, with the words son and child, but also to his divinity, with the accolade of divine characteristics. He will be wonderful, and he will amaze us! He will be our counsellor, guiding and leading us. He will be mighty, reigning over his kingdom and he will be everlasting! He will bring peace, even in the storms of life. His shoulders are broad enough to carry us all and all things, now and into eternity where his reign will be fully established for ever. And all this is a gift, v. 6, an awesome gift to each one of us and to the world to save us, to reconcile us to God.
Let the knowledge that Christ came into the world, died and rose again and one day will return, give us hope in a world where darkness can sometimes overshadow everything else, and life is anything but peaceful.
Everlasting father, we pray for our world; where there is darkness bring your light; where there is hate and anger, bring your forgiveness and peace; where there is poverty bring your riches of grace and love. We pray for ourselves and all Christians, for a commitment to share resources and your love and to shine as lights in the darkness, to be peacemakers in your kingdom giving hope to those around us. In Jesus’ name. Amen