Old Testament prophecy is fascinating to read. This passage from Isaiah came true in the person of Jesus, the Christ. He bridged the gap between man and God, and God and man, and changed man’s understanding of who Almighty God is. Christianity it is the only religious system in which man does not reach God by doing rituals or trying to be “good.” Instead, God reached to man to redeem him and give him abundant life and eternity in His Presence. No one can “earn” the right to heaven. Jesus called our deeds and motivation “dirty rags.” God is not impressed by our deeds. Rather, He convicts us of our sinful motives, attitudes, and actions. We are told in the Old Testament to love God with all our hearts, minds, strength, and souls, and Jesus added the corollary–to love others as we love ourselves. That’s a tall order, and no one can reach that goal in our mortal lifetimes.
However, in the fullness of time, when all was ready, Jesus took on mortal life for a while. He was not born in an antiseptic space with doctors, nurses, medicines, cleanliness, and support nearby. He was born, as predicted, in the little town of Bethlehem, a place of no consequence except the prophecy that sometine indeed good could come out of Nazareth and the inconsequential town of Bethlehem. Why, even, were Mary and his earthly father, Joseph there?
It was all politics, just as politics seems to govern our lives now. Again, prophecy foretold the place of Jesus’ birth, and the fact that soon after his birth in a stable, and his first bed was a feeding trough with scratchy straw, not a spotless nursery with cute wallpaper. It was cold, smelly, and lonely. No family was there to greet the newborn, but angels, a donkey, shepherds were. Later, wise men came, bringing offerings. No, they were not there on that Holy Night.
But Jesus held titles. Look at the list of them at the end of Isaiah’s prophecy.
Now those people live in darkness.
But they will see a great light.
They live in a place that is very dark.
But a light will shine on them.
God, you will cause the nation to grow.
You will make the people happy.
And they will show their happiness to you.
t will be like the joy during harvest time.
It will be like the joy of people
taking what they have won in war.
Like the time you defeated Midian,
You will take away their heavy load.
You will take away the heavy pole from their backs.
You will take away the rod the enemy uses to punish your people. Every boot that marched in battle will be destroyed.
Every uniform stained with blood will be destroyed.
They will be thrown into the fire
.A child will be born to us.
God will give a son to us.
He will be responsible for leading the people.
His name will be Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God,
Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.
Now, to today’s Chrismon (crismon) ornament:
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