The Sun of Righteousness is about to Rise - Dec 21, 2008

Grace and Peace be to you from God our Father, and from the Christ Child, our Great Master and Gentle Savior.

Sunrises are almost always beautiful, but whether they are welcome or not depends on what we expect the day to bring. The school child LONGS to see the sun rise on the first day of Christmas vacation. The condemned criminal DOES NOT LONG for the sunrise which marks the day of his execution. As the first sign of a new day, the rising sun can be longed for, or dreaded.

This Christmas day we will rejoice in the rising of the sun. For it ushers in our celebration of Christ’s birth and the peace that comes to us through Him.

Our sermon reading for today directs our attention not to the day of Jesus’ birth, but to the next time He will appear.

Sermon Theme:

“The Sun of Righteousness is About to Rise”

1. His rays heal the God-fearing

2. With Him comes renewal and joy

Sermon:......................................... Malachi 4:1-3 (NASB)

¹"For behold, the day is coming, burning like a furnace; and all the arrogant and every evildoer will be chaff; and the day that is coming will set them ablaze," says the LORD of hosts, "so that it will leave them neither root nor branch. ²But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall. ³You will tread down the wicked, for they will be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day which I am preparing," says the LORD of hosts.

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This is the word of God. May our hearts understand it rightly and accept it fully through the diligent working of God the Spirit. Amen.

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The “Sun of Righteousness” that Malachi speaks about is Jesus.

We know this for a number of different reasons. First of all, this vision is all about the Judgment Day. The Bible tells us that God the Father has appointed His Son Jesus to serve as Judge on that day. A loud trumpet will sound and Jesus will be seen descending on the clouds, accompanied by all the angels of heaven to separate those who serve God, from those who do not (Matthew 25:31ff, John 5:24-27, Revelation 1:7-8).

Malachi’s description of the Judgment Day puts, the “Sun of Righteousness” is the focus of attention – so it must be Jesus.

Secondly, Jesus calls Himself the “Light of the World” (John 8:12). At least three different times

Jesus revealed His glory on this earth by letting it shine out for others to see visibly.

Before His crucifixion, Jesus went up onto a mountain with a handful of His disciples. There His appearance was changed. His clothing became like a flash of lightning, and his fact like the brightness of the sun (Matthew 17:2, Luke 9:29).

After His crucifixion, Jesus appeared to the future apostle Paul on the road to Damascus. Paul was knocked down and describes a light surrounding him and his companions that was brighter than the sun. From that light Jesus spoke to Paul (Acts 26:12-15).

Years after that, when the apostle John received the visions recorded in the book of Revelation, Jesus appeared to Him also. John describes Jesus’ eyes as being like fire, and His face as being more brilliant than the sun shining at its brightest (Revelation 1:12-16).

And not only is Jesus described as appearing like the sun, the New Testament prophet Zechariah even calls the Christ Child the “Dayspring from on high”, or as we might say today, the “Rising Sun from heaven” (Luke 1:78).

There is no doubt. Malachi’s “Sun of Righteousness” is Jesus, the Son of God.

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Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”

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In the Hebrew language, the word for “wing” just means the edge or extremity of something. We use the English word “wing” in the same way today when we speak of the “west wing” of the White House.

Here in Malachi’s prophesy, the “wings” of the Sun are its rays of light. When Jesus comes in the clouds on the day of Judgment, His glory will stream out around Him like the great wings of an eagle. Some will look up with joy to see their salvation coming to them at last! Others will see His wings of glory as the dreadful wings of a great bird of prey.

For Jesus is a light that burns the proud and wicked. They will feel the heat of His judgment even from far off.

In one of the visions of the Last Day in the book of Revelation, the wicked are described as crying out in terror at the sight of Jesus. They run from Him, desperately screaming for the rocks and the hills to crash down on them and hide them from the face of the Lamb of God (Revelation 6:16).

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But for the God-fearing, Jesus is a light that heals.

Have you ever seen a little baby that has jaundice? Some newborns turn a yellowish color because their body can’t adequately process something in the blood called “bilirubin”. Jaundice isn’t usually a big deal. The doctors just put the newborn under a special light that helps break down the bilirubin until they can do it on their own.

That’s what the light of Jesus is like for those who trust in Him. His light doesn’t damage us like a burning desert sun, it heals us like a gentle bilirubin light.

The one difference is that jaundiced babies outgrow the need for a bilirubin light. We don’t ever outgrow the need to sit in the light of Jesus by hearing, learning and talking about Him. We need to continue to spend time in Jesus’ light so that our souls remain strong and healthy. So that our souls will continue to truly trust in Him alone as our salvation for sin.

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Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”

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The Sun of Righteousness has already risen in the hearts of all who trust in Jesus as Master and Savior. Now we wait for Him to rise before our very eyes and bring our salvation to a glorious close.

For the wicked the Sun of Righteousness is described as a burning thing that will light them on fire. For the God-fearing the Sun of Righteousness is like the intense Amazonian sun which shines down on the well watered jungle, causing it to grow lush a full of life.

Or look at it like a metalworker might. The fire burns away all the impurities, but the gold is not harmed in the least. In fact, gold which has passed through the fire is more brilliant and reflective than before. Because of Jesus, you have become the gold, and He promises to purify you fully from your sins.

Years ago, my wife and I got to go to the Caribbean. We got to lay on beaches that were just a few miles away from the equator. The sun was so powerful there. I still remember laying on a beach chair reading a book. The sand baked me from below and the sun from above. I felt like I was being warmed through all the way to my bones.

And that’s nothing compared to what it will feel like to kneel in the presence of the God-Man, Jesus Christ. Intense, but painless purification will take place when Jesus makes us perfect on the Last Day. Amazing renewal and joy will be ours.

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Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”

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Injuries put shackles on us. A runner with a broken foot might as well have a ball and chain around his ankle. Physical injuries prevent us from doing things we want to do.

But spiritual injuries are worse. Spiritual wounds shackle us in ways that we can’t even see. Our sins prevent our souls from enjoying life and they prevent us from serving God.

The sin of impatience prevents us from enjoying the moment because we’re too busy moving on to the next thing. Impatience also causes us to skip over the things that we aught to do in God’s service.

Sinful anger focuses our attention on what someone else has done instead of on what we can do. When we respond to others in anger, we are really being slaves to them. We let their actions determine what ours will be.

It doesn’t matter what sin you pick. They all injure and shackle us in some way.

But, in the light of Christ, these shackles fall away. When we confess our sins to Jesus, He forgives us. He promises to help us avoid and resist the sins that dog our every step.

And on the Last Day Jesus will remove all shackles of sin from us forever. On that day the healing rays of the Sun of Righteousness will set us completely free from sin and from the deterioration and pain that come because of it. Finally we will be free to be the people that God always intended us to be. Finally we will be sinless servants who live in His presence. Him enjoying us. We enjoying Him.

Can you imagine being more truly yourself than you have ever been? You will be, when Christ comes back. And this will result in true, deep, brilliant joy.

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Malachi 4:2 “But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings; and you will go forth and skip about like calves from the stall.”

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The last image in verse two is a description of a young calf that has been pent up in a stall all night long. Finally when the sun rises, the rancher opens the gate and the calf is free to go into the green pasture to feed and play. The calf doesn’t slowly amble out – he skips out! He is filled with life and happiness!

This is a picture of what the Sun of Righteousness brings to us now, and on the great day of the LORD.

When the Ark of the Covenant was carried up to Jerusalem, King David went before it and danced because he was so full of joy. The crippled man whom the apostle Peter healed went running and leaping and praising God through the Temple grounds. And Malachi’s little calf went out skipping with joy.

Let this spirit take you this Christmas as you look in the manger. In the manger we see the first dawning of the Sun of Righteousness.

In the first chapter of his Gospel, the apostle John says

“…The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world” (John 1:9 NIV).

Then He says,

“¹⁴The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NIV).

Though He did not burn with the visible light of the sun then, He will.

As you hear the account of the Savior’s birth again imagine Malachi’s joyful young calf set free to frolic. That’s you! That’s me! We’ve been released by this Manger Child. Through Jesus our sins have been forgiven, and our relationship with God our Creator has been restored.

In the Sun of Righteousness there is healing for the darkest of sins. So we bring them to His light. Come to His light. Be forgiven, healed, renewed, invigorated by Christ this Christmas. Let His gentle light of love prepare you for His final dawning. Amen.

The peace which comes from God, which far exceeds all our understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

A House of Prayer for All Nations - Dec 14, 2008

SERVICE INTRODUCTION:

The Good News of sins forgiven through Jesus Christ came to the Jews first. But this message of salvation was also for non-Jews. Ethnicity does not attach us to God, trust in His promises does.

In Romans the apostle Paul writes:

“I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile” (Romans 1:16 NKJV).

Our readings for today emphasize the fact that the Christ Child was born for all nations.

PSALM OF THE DAY:

The first half of Psalm 22 describes the sufferings that God’s Son would endure on the cross. The second half if Psalm 22 describes the great praise which God would receive because of the forgiveness that Jesus won for sinners there.

Psalm 22:22-31 (NIV)

P: I will declare your name to my brothers;

in the congregation I will praise you.

You who fear the LORD, praise him!

All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

C: For he has not despised or disdained

the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

but has listened to his cry for help.

P: From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly; before those who fear you will I fulfill my vows. The poor will eat and be satisfied;

C: they who seek the LORD will praise him—

P: may your hearts live forever!

C: All the ends of the earth

will remember and turn to the LORD,

and all the families of the nations

will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the LORD

and he rules over the nations.

P: All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

those who cannot keep themselves alive.

C: Posterity will serve him;

future generations will be told about the Lord.

P: They will proclaim his righteousness

to a people yet unborn—

C: for he has done it.

GOSPEL READING:

If you read the first part of this chapter you find two accounts of Jesus healing people. In the first, Jesus heals the servant of a Gentile centurion. In the second, Jesus raises a Jew from the dead in the city of Nain. Jesus focused His ministry on the Jewish people, but he certainly also came to bless and save the Gentiles.

Luke 7:18-27 (NIV)

¹⁸John’s disciples told him about all these things. Calling two of them, ¹⁹he sent them to the Lord to ask, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

²⁰When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?’”

²¹At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²²So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ²³Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

²⁴After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ²⁵If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and indulge in luxury are in palaces. ²⁶But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ²⁷This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,

who will prepare your way before you.’

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Some look at this account and see John the Baptizer troubled by doubt. Was Jesus really the promised Savior, or not? Others think John couldn’t have doubted. He must have sent his disciples to ask Jesus this question in order that that they would be convinced that Jesus was the Savior.

Either way, there is a lesson to be learned. The antidote for doubt is to hear the Savior speak. When we have question and fear and doubt all wrapped around our thoughts like a black hurricane, we need to seek the eye of the storm. We need to go to Jesus where the light shines and the winds are calm. We need to hear the Words of God’s own Son. At His side our doubts are dispersed, our fears are calmed and our questions are answered.

LETTER READING:

These words were written by the apostle Paul to the young pastor Timothy. They show us once again that God’s people are connected to God through trust in His Son. If we separate ourselves from the Christ Child, we separate ourselves from God. If we cling to Jesus as our Savior from sin - even to death, then we will live.

2 Timothy 2:3-15 (NIV)

³Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus. ⁴No one serving as a soldier gets involved in civilian affairs—he wants to please his commanding officer. ⁵Similarly, if anyone competes as an athlete, he does not receive the victor’s crown unless he competes according to the rules. ⁶The hardworking farmer should be the first to receive a share of the crops. ⁷Reflect on what I am saying, for the Lord will give you insight into all this.

⁸Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, ⁹for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal. But God’s word is not chained. ¹⁰Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

¹¹Here is a trustworthy saying:

If we died with him,

we will also live with him;

¹² if we endure,

we will also reign with him.

If we disown him,

he will also disown us;

¹³ if we are faithless,

he will remain faithful,

for he cannot disown himself.

¹⁴Keep reminding them of these things. Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen. ¹⁵Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.

SERMON:

Acts 8:26-40 (NIV)

²⁶Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” ²⁷So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, ²⁸and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. ²⁹The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.”

³⁰Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked.

³¹“How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

³²The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture:

“He was led like a sheep to the slaughter,

and as a lamb before the shearer is silent,

so he did not open his mouth.

³³ In his humiliation he was deprived of justice.

Who can speak of his descendants?

For his life was taken from the earth.”

³⁴The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” ³⁵Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus.

³⁶As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” ³⁸And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. ³⁹When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing.

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In the Name of God the Father and in the Name of the Christ Child – our flesh and blood Savior, grace and peace be to you.

He came from over a thousand miles away. By chariot he had travelled along the dirt paths and Roman roads all the way from Ethiopia to the City of the LORD. To Jerusalem.

He came because He was a proselyte. A convert. Though he was not Jewish by birth, he had come to trust in the God of the Jews. The God of the Bible. And so, he wanted to worship at the LORD’s Temple. He wanted to bring his sacrifices there at that one Temple which stood dedicated for the worshiping of Jehovah God.

But the Ethiopian eunuch was not allowed to enter the Temple when he arrived at Jerusalem. The Word of the LORD was very clear on this matter. Non-Jews and eunuchs could not go wherever they pleased in the LORD’s Temple. Gentiles were relegated to the outer courts. Eunuchs were not allowed to enter the LORD’s assembly at all (Deuteronomy 23:1).

The Ethiopian eunuch went up to Jerusalem to worship, but his worship was done at distance. Perhaps he was permitted to send a Jewish envoy to present his offerings at the LORD’s Temple. I do not know. How hard it must have been for this man to not to be allowed to offer his praise within the Temple of His God.

These worship laws had been established by God Himself. They did not mean that the LORD rejected all Gentiles and eunuchs. All who trust in the promises of the LORD are accepted by Him. And trust in the LORD this man did.

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When Philip approached the Ethiopian eunuch , he found him studying the Bible. He was reading the Isaiah scroll. And praise be to the Holy Spirit he was reading in that part where Isaiah describes the crucifixion of Jesus, hundreds of years before it would happen. The eunuch was reading Isaiah chapter 53.

Our Old Testament reading for today comes from just a few chapters later in that same Isaiah scroll. It has special relevance to our sermon reading so we read it here.

Isaiah 56:1-7 (NIV)

¹ This is what the LORD says:

“Maintain justice

and do what is right,

for my salvation is close at hand

and my righteousness will soon be revealed.

² Blessed is the man who does this,

the man who holds it fast,

who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it,

and keeps his hand from doing any evil.”

³ Let no foreigner who has bound himself to the LORD say,

“The LORD will surely exclude me from his people.”

And let not any eunuch complain,

“I am only a dry tree.”

⁴For this is what the LORD says:

“To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths,

who choose what pleases me

and hold fast to my covenant—

⁵ to them I will give within my temple and its walls

a memorial and a name

better than sons and daughters;

I will give them an everlasting name

that will not be cut off.

⁶ And foreigners who bind themselves to the LORD

to serve him,

to love the name of the LORD,

and to worship him,

all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it

and who hold fast to my covenant—

⁷ these I will bring to my holy mountain

and give them joy in my house of prayer.

Their burnt offerings and sacrifices

will be accepted on my altar;

for my house will be called

a house of prayer for all nations.”

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The LORD says, “Just because you can not enter this outward house of stone where I am worshipped does not mean that I do not accept you. Those that trust in Me for salvation ARE MY PEOPLE.”

Furthermore He declares to all the foreigners and eunuchs who trust in Him, “…I will bring [you] to my Holy Mountain…” (Isaiah 56:7). God declares that all who trust in His name and show it by seeking to walk in His ways, they will be brought to place where God lives.”

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So what does this message about ancient eunuchs and foreigners have to do with you and me?

If this was the Temple of Isaiah’s time, I could not serve here. I am not a descendant of Levi. I would not be permitted by God’s worship laws to stand before you and lead our worship.

If this was Isaiah’s time, you would not be permitted to sit in this inner court of the LORD’s sanctuary. You are foreigners. You are not descendants of Abraham. I would guess that few if any of us could find Abraham in our family trees.

Yet, because of Jesus we have been given the privilege of worshipping the true God in this place. Greater than that we have been accepted into God’s family even though we were born sinners. We have been made spiritual descendants of Abraham through faith in Abraham’s Savior. We are acceptable to God because our faith connects us to His Son.

In first John it is written,

“¹My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. ²He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world” (1 John 1:1-2 NIV).

In His Word, God says, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” That’s what we want our church to be. A house of prayer for all nations. Not a house where people can bring in whatever religion they want and pretend like they’re worshipping the true God. No. We want this house of worship to be one that opens its doors to people of every culture, and nationality and personality so that they can know the true God, and the complete forgiveness of sins that comes through His Son Jesus.

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If we were to pick one word to describe what we do during Advent I think it would be, “prepare”. We prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate the Savior’s arrival on earth. His birth.

We prepare our hearts for his coming by searching our hearts for sin. And when we find sin, we bring it to Him in prayer and receive His forgiveness. When we look to Jesus for forgiveness, that’s when we’re prepared for Him to come to us. Faith is what makes us prepared. Faith in Him.

And shouldn’t we also prepare for others to come to us? Shouldn’t we think about ways to welcome those who don’t know Christ into this place of worship? I think so. What things about ourselves must we change so that we can better welcome others? What things might we do to lead more people of the world to hear the voice of the LORD?

Ponder these things as you prepare for Christ’s birth. Remember, “I was a foreigner, now I am a child of God. God has adopted me into His family by Christ. Now what can I do so that others may become sons and daughters of the King?

May the Holy Spirit be with you and give you insight into His will for your life, and for the purpose of our fellowship. Amen.

PRAYER:

Father in Heaven, thank you for making us acceptable through Jesus’ suffering and death. Thank you for making our spirits alive with Jesus at His resurrection. We will praise you loud and long in this life and in heaven.

Help us to see the chances we have to talk of your love for us, with others. Help us to speak with courage and with ease. Let us be confident in your Good News, that it is the power to change hearts, not our clumsy words.

Dearest Christ Jesus, prepare our hearts to meet you this year. Help us to understand what your birth means. Help us to see the lessons behind each and every detail. Don’t let the busyness of the holiday season steal our joy. Don’t let the preparations for celebrations make us grumpy and thankless. Draw us to your manger bed and charge our souls to shine with happiness.

Bless all our brothers and sisters in Christ across the globe. Continue to reach out through them to the nations of the world. Help us to do the same here. Let us not live our lives for ourselves, but to you Lord Jesus. Give us peace. Give us power. Give us joy. Help us to remember that we have been saved, to serve. Our salvation is secure, we are accepted and dearly loved by the Father. Now, Lord Jesus, please make our service acceptable too.

Amen.

Advent: A Time to Heal - Dec 10, 2008

Warmest Advent greetings from God our Father and from His Son, the Christ Child. May the Holy Spirit prepare us tonight, through His Word, to properly greet the Christ Child this Christmas. Amen.

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What do you do on your birthday? Does your family have some special birthday customs? Perhaps you get to have your favorite meal for supper. Maybe you get out of some of your regular chores. Maybe you even get a party with presents and games.

Regardless of how they are celebrated, birthdays are a part of most people’s lives. But have you ever stopped to ponder WHY we celebrate birthdays? At the office building where I used to work, birthdays were an excuse to stand around eating cheap cake and drinking coffee, but somehow I think there’s more to birthdays than that.

I guess it’s not all that hard to understand why we celebrate the births of the people that we love. We’re thankful that they have been born and that they are a part of our lives.

We celebrate birthdays for other reasons too. Sometimes we celebrate the births of people we’ve never even met because they’re very important people.

In February, Americans celebrate “Washington’s Birthday” or “Presidents Day”, as some states call it. None of us have ever met George Washington, but as one of the founding father’s of our country, he has had a huge impact on our lives. America wouldn’t be what it is today if George Washington hadn’t been born. So we celebrate (or at least remember) his birthday each year.

You know where this is going. Christmas Day, which we are already preparing and decorating for, is on it’s way. Simply described, Christmas Day is Jesus’ Birthday. Christians celebrate Jesus’ birthday for both reasons: because we love Jesus, and because He is very important. He is our Savior and the Savior of the world.

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Now, people who don’t know what the Bible says won’t understand what this means. They might ask, “Savior? What has Jesus saved us from?” The angel who spoke to Joseph, gives us that answer to that question.

Remember Joseph? When he had found out that Mary was pregnant, and not by him, he was troubled. Joseph decided to divorce Mary in a quiet way and move on with his life. But then an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said,

“Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:20b-21 NIV).

This Baby would save his people from their sins. He would heal the broken relationship between God and man. Exactly how the Christ Child would accomplish this healing is recorded in our sermon reading for tonight.

Isaiah 53:5 (NIV)

⁵ But he was pierced for our transgressions,

he was crushed for our iniquities;

the punishment that brought us peace was upon him,

and by his wounds we are healed.

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The other day I was talking to a person about God. This person said they had grown up in a church, but I didn’t know what their church had taught them. So I said, “Imagine that you die today. If you stood before the gates of heaven and God asked you, ‘Why should I let you in?’, what would you say?”

I ask people this question when I want to know what they REALLY think is going to get them into heaven.

The man I was talking to said, “Because of good life I’ve led.” Well, actually what he said was that he was a good man, and that he had lived his life better than a of people. So, he hoped God would let him in because of that.

I took the opportunity to tell him that according to man’s standards he might be a good man, but according to God’s standards we all fall short. We’re all sinners who can’t make God happy by our lives. We are sinners who, unless we are cleansed, will be condemned to hell. We cannot hope to enter heaven because of how nice we are, or how bad everyone else is.

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In the verse from Isaiah that we read a moment ago, the REAL cause of our salvation is stated FOUR times. Let’s look at it in more detail.

“…He was pierced for our transgressions.”

The Hebrew word for “pierced” can mean anything from a wound that merely hurts, to a wound that kills. In this verse the Hebrew language makes it clear that it is not just a wound, but a piercing through, a killing wound.

The word for “transgression” means sin of course. But when we look in other places where this particular Hebrew word is used we find that it is associated with the idea of rebellion. We might translate,

“He was pierced through, mortally wounded, because of our rebellions.”

As in a lot of Hebrew poetry the next line repeats the same thought with different words.

“He was crushed for our iniquities;”

The Hebrew word for “crushed” is talking about what happens when heavy weight is placed on something. This weight can be enough to bruise, or it can be so much that it crushes what is underneath its load. Again the Hebrew language makes it clear that here it is not just a minor bruising, but a crushing that ends in death.

The word for “iniquities” is another word for sin. But this word emphasizes the guilt that comes with sin. We might translate,

“He was crushed to death because of the sins we were guilty of;”

The final two lines of our Isaiah reading summarize the “take home” of this message.

“the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed”

His punishment, our peace. His wounds, our healing.

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This is really a text selection that would be fitting for the season of Lent. It’s all about Jesus’ suffering and death. But it’s fitting to consider this in Advent as well, because the Crucifixion that we think about during Lent is what gives Christmas its meaning.

The true Christmas spirit is excited to look at the Baby in the manger because of the Man that Baby would become. The God-Man who would rout the forces of Evil and set sinners free from punishment through the giving of Himself in their place.

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It is a bit of a sad thing to look into the Christmas stable with these things in mind. To think that this little infant’s hands would one day be pierced through with nails. To think that this little child would one day die on a cross because the people He came to help, repaid His immeasurable love with dark hatred. It doesn’t give us a “Christmassy” feeling at all, especially since we know that it is our own sinful words and actions that set this Newborn on the path to such a horrible death.

Standing in the light of the Bethlehem Star, we rarely pause to remember that all light stopped shining on Jesus for three hours during His crucifixion. Even the Father above withdrew from His Son so that He could suffer the full punishment that our sins required.

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Let me turn your heart now, from the darkness of Calvary, back to the Bethlehem stable once more. Think for a moment if you will, of young Joseph holding that puffy faced little Newborn Jesus, His little fingers still white and wrinkly. Think of Mary resting from her labor in the light of a small warming fire.

Did you know that some speculate that the stable might have been a little limestone cave that had been made over into a stable? There wasn’t a lot of wood around Bethlehem for building stables like the ones we see in so many nativity sets. And what a fitting thing, if that stable was a made-over cave. For when we look into the Christmas stable we see not only the cross of Christ that would be, but we also see the empty cave that was His three-day tomb. Isn’t this what we see all wrapped up in that little Baby?

The birthday of Christ is precious to Christians because in the manger is the Man who would live, die, and RISE AGAIN because His sacrifice was accepted by the Father.

The NEW LIFE lying in the Manger, is the King who will return in glory to give ETERNAL LIFE to all who trust in Him.

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We celebrate this Baby’s birth because of the Man He would become. Because we love this Man who loved us first. Because what He did has forever changed our lives. We would not be who we are today without Jesus. He has made filthy sinners like us into God’s Holy people (God’s Saints).

We were sin-sick and broken creatures separated from our Creator because of our sin. And He has healed us. He has brought us back from the dead of unbelief and has promised that we will live forever with Him in heaven.

If we look to Christ during Advent, it is a time of healing. He removes the shrapnel of sin from us and bandages our wounds with forgiveness and peace. If the Christ we see in the manger is the Christ we see on the cross and that we don’t see in the tomb, then Advent will always be a time of healing.

I invite you to pray with me now.

PRAYER

Father in Heaven, heal us this Advent and Christmas. Heal past relationships that have soured. Heal old pains of body that trouble us. Heal bad habits that we wish to be free from. But first of all, heal our hearts by focusing our minds on Jesus and the unchangeable truth that because of His wounds, our sins have been forgiven. Let this ever be our hope, our refuge, our reason for joy, our purpose in life and our greatest possession. In the name of the Christ Child we pray, Amen.

The peace which comes from God, which far exceeds all our understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.