Christmas Future

Over the next couple of weeks I will be posting some written Christmas sermons from the past couple of years. May they be an encouragement to think of the wonderful gift of Christ during this Christmas season.

Christmas Future

Isaiah 9:1-7

1    But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

2 	The people who walk in darkness
	Will see a great light;
	Those who live in a dark land,
	The light will shine on them. 
3 	You shall multiply the nation,
	You shall increase their gladness;
	They will be glad in Your presence
	As with the gladness of harvest,
	As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 
4 	For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders,
	The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. 
5 	For every boot of the booted warrior in the battle tumult,
	And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire. 
6 	For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
	And the government will rest on His shoulders;
	And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
	Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 
7 	There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace,
	On the throne of David and over his kingdom,
	To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness
	From then on and forevermore.
	The zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish this.

We have sung Christmas carols for so often that we know the words, but don’t often think about what they mean. In choosing songs for the Christmas season I came across some interesting similarities. In many Christmas carols the second coming of Christ is mentioned. We have fourteen Christmas carols in our hymn book and seven out of these fourteen have a mentioning of the future coming of Jesus. That is 50% of our Christmas songs. I find the truth of the second coming of Jesus to be a significant one that is much spoken of in our carols, but may be little thought of in our minds. Maybe it is just tradition in which we find our hope, joy and peace in the Christmas season. Maybe it is all of the other trappings of Christmas. What I want for us to see in this text is that because of Jesus first coming we have real hope for His second coming.

A Little Bit Of Logic To Kick Us Off

The importance of my proposition hinges on a little bit of logic. What we are not used to in the Christmas season is seeing the biblical account of the birth of Christ as a beginning. We usually see it as an end. Our programs, dramatic presentations, and nativity scenes make the birth of Jesus the end of the story. Our view of Christmas then becomes a cohesive story instead of being the exciting introduction. It usually starts with the annunciation to Mary and moves through the drama of small town girl getting pregnant without being married and having an incredible story for it. Joseph’s persuasion comes next, then the trek to Bethlehem, and the dramatic conclusion of no room in the inn, a stable birth, heavenly angels, shepherds and wise men’s adoration. The end, right? The biblical perspective and the perspective that I think we need to have is no! This is just the beginning. And I am not just talking about the beginning of the life of Jesus. I am talking about the beginning of something that is not even yet completed. What really moves us to hope, joy and peace in the Christmas story is not simply the birth story, or the life story, but the His story. We are currently in this Christmas story. It is not over yet. And aren’t you thankful for that? Aren’t you thankful that the work of Jesus in this world is not over? If it was, what a pitiful ending. People are still sinfully hurtful toward others. There is still suffering, pain, and death. There are those who do not have food, or shelter. Many are sick or in need. If the coming of Jesus the first time was so great, why don’t we see that greatness yet?

Jesus’ first coming clears our vision to see His second coming.

The passage that we all know so well is couched in a text that explains how Jesus is going to rescue His people the Jews. All the way back in Isaiah chapter 8 is fear and darkness. Israel is suffering in bondage. They are being persecuted and are feeling discouraged and yet there is still this reminder to keep looking to and worshipping God. He is the one that will give hope (8:13,17). This darkness without the hope of light continues to build until 9:2. Then you have the insertion of light. When the light comes then joy comes and things get better. Oppression is broken (9:3-5) and those who have ruled over them are now defeated. This victory, this light, comes from…a child? Yes the first coming of Jesus as a baby born in a manger is the initial flicker of light that brings joy, hope  and peace. Really the first coming of Jesus clears our eyes to even be able to see His second coming. The virgin birth, sinless life, sacrificial death, and victorious resurrection of Jesus makes it possible to even see the hope of the second coming. With out this child we still only see destruction, doom, and darkness. The truth of forgiveness and restoration and a peaceful relationship with God only come through this child, Jesus. This first coming of Jesus clears our vision through the gospel to see the second coming of Jesus.