December 7, 2022 Text: Isaiah 9:6
Dear Friends in Christ,
In his last speech to Parliament as Prime Minister, Sir Winston Churchill said this: “Which way can we turn to save our lives and the future of the world? It does not matter so much to old people. They are going soon away. But I find it poignant to look at youth in all its activity…and most of all, to watch little children playing their many games, and wonder what would lie before them if God wearied of mankind.”
Since that speech the world’s efforts have only intensified in trying to get rid of God’s truths. We wander around in gloom and uncertainty. The words of Jesus are but a whisper heard by a few: “people fainting with fear and foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken.” (Lk. 21:36)
Here we are moving through another Advent/Christmas season. We look to another glorious Christmas as we consider the birth of Jesus and his names from Isaiah . . .
“THIS CHILD IS . . . MIGHTY GOD”
The Adam and Eve sin brought destruction to everything. Confused thinking, death, suffering, horrible human interaction and worst of all separation from God. So where was God?
Amazingly, He was right there with Adam and Eve. He was making a promise when he said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heal.” (Gen. 3:15). “He shall bruise your head.” That’s Jesus. On the Cross. The words, “It is finished.” Everything for our forgiveness and eternal life.
Many generations later the promise is magnified in the words of God to Isaiah: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel (God with us).” (Is. 7:14). And shortly after that these words to Isaiah: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called…Mighty God…”. And then 700 years after those words it would be fulfilled in the angel’s words to the Shepherds: “For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” (Lk. 2:11)
Isn’t that uplifting and assuring? Progressive churches want to discredit the inerrancy and inspiration of Scripture. They want to confuse. Yet a clear look at God’s Word shows its consistency, its understanding of human history and prophecies that have all come true. This Jesus, whose birth we celebrate, is Mighty God.
Why must this Son to be born for us, why must He be Mighty God? Because the filth and monstrosity of every sin would be piled on Him. He would willingly take it to Calvary. Only God could pay for the forgiveness and salvation of every sinner. Only God could extend that love to us in the Word and in holy Baptism and in the Lord’s Supper.
What this world thinks of Advent or Christmas or Easter does not disturb or threaten our Lord. The Psalmist writes, “Who sits in the heavens and laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” (Ps. 2:4). What do you think is happening to this God rejecting country and world, today?
Vance Havner wrote, “Salvation is free but not cheap…the writer of Hebrews speaks of those who count the blood of the covenant an unholy thing. One translation puts it, ‘who treats as a cheap thing’; another, ‘treated like dirt.’
“We hear these days about ‘cheap grace’ and how it doesn’t mean much to be a Christian. But salvation is the costliest item on earth. It cost our Lord everything to provide it and it costs us everything to possess it.
“We are a generation of cheap Christians going to heaven as inexpensively as possible; religious hobos and spiritual deadbeats living on milk instead of meat, crusts of bread instead of manna, as though we were on a cut-rate excursion.
“In a day when tragedy has become comedy, we play fast and loose with eternal issues. The pearl of great price is not cheap! I have read that years ago in that part of Africa where diamonds in the rough were plentiful, a traveler chanced on boys playing. Closer investigation revealed that they were playing marbles with diamonds! God forgive us today that we handle His treasures as though they were trifles and the coinage of the eternal as though it were play money. It is not time to play marbles with diamonds!”
The Mighty God is before us this 2nd mid-week worship service. This is the One who holds the world on his shoulders. Ultimately, what the world thinks is of no significance. In eternity, it will be of no concern as we stand before Him who gives us unending love, light, and life. Mighty God!
Amen.