Monday, December 16, 2024

             As you likely know, Isaiah 9:2-7 is a prophecy concerning the birth and destiny of Jesus.  We read these lovely words during the Advent season as we await the birth of Jesus.  It is from this ancient prophet that we learn Jesus will “be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6b).  Those names or titles speak to Jesus’ identity and roles in God’s salvation story.  In the words of hymn writer Charles Wesley, Jesus is the “hope of every longing heart, the One who sets us free from our fears and sins!”  And the Christ our Lord is the joy of every longing heart!
            Isaiah began his prophecy in chapter nine with an observation about humanity in general.  He wrote, “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned” (Isaiah 9:2).  Have you ever stopped to consider that apart from Christ, or before we came to Christ, we were walking in darkness?  Spiritual darkness?  A darkness that seeped into and covered both heart and mind just like rising flood waters?  This spiritual darkness only increased and intensified with time.  Maybe you did not realize it.  Maybe you persisted in this darkness even though you had a sense that it was wrong.  Maybe you failed to see a better way.  But Christ came to us—as a great light.  He is the light of the world—a light that allows us to see the futility and fruitlessness of the darkness in which we have walked for far too long.  He is the Light that shows us the better ways. 
            Maybe you are walking in darkness now.  Maybe this year has had some long and dark days in it.  Just a few years ago, we were gripped by the darkness of a long and painful pandemic.  Just a few months ago, many of our neighbors were terrorized by historic storms, flooding and rainfall.  At my daughter’s college graduation this past weekend, the chancellor noted that this class of seniors started its college career with a pandemic and ended with a brutal hurricane.  Talk about a tough four years!  But sickness, job loss, struggling to make ends meet and the loss of a loved one are not confined only to pandemics and storms.  These things confront us in ordinary times as well as exceptional ones. And these things can feel like darkness—brutal and wearisome darkness. 
            Sins, defiance and disobedience can be likened to darkness too.  And Christ came to roll back the burden and weight of these things.  He came to free us from the chains and bondage of sin! Or, as Isaiah wrote, “a light has dawned.”  Darkness can easily overtake us.  Sin seems enticing and appealing.  Despair can creep up unnoticed.  We can find ourselves locked into conflict and rancor.  But Christ came to die for such things and to set right all that is wrong. 
            In Isaiah 42, the prophet again looked ahead to the coming of Christ—the Messiah of Israel and Savior of the Gentiles who came to save all who believe.  And again, Isaiah envisioned that Christ would both be light and bring light.  The prophet wrote, “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness” (Isaiah 42:6-7).  Matthew 4 tells us that Christ came in fulfillment of these prophecies from Isaiah.  He is the embodiment of God’s Word and Ways.  He is God in human form.  He is the Light of the world.  And this Light bids us to come, follow Him.  The Light of Christ that we celebrate and sing about in December goes with us into the often long and dreary days of early and mid-winter in January and February.  He is the Light in days and places of confusion, conflict and even chaos.  He is the Light that will carry us home.  Have a great Monday!  Remember you can share our worship any time at YouTube.com/FirstBaptistKannapolis.