05.12.10 - Christmas Means Freedom

Probably just about every year, churches read the prophecy from Isaiah that includes the words “For unto us a child is born; to us a son is given...”

We like it because it is clearly a prophecy of the Messiah and it was spoken about 800 years before Jesus was born. We like it because it tells us that God had a plan centuries earlier. We like it because the accuracy of the prophecy confirms for us the majesty of God who could foretell these things and centuries later they come to pass. We like it because it gives magnificent titles to Jesus. He will be called Wonderful counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. We like it because it says that God is in control and a new day is coming when Jesus will rule with justice and righteousness.

But, I think there is another reason why we should like it. To see that more clearly, we have to go back and read the section leading up to this passage. READ Isaiah 8:19-22

It is about consulting mediums and spiritists. Consulting mediums and spiritists is an insult to God. It is a turning away from God. As Isaiah says, “Should not a people enquire of their God?” Why go and listen to people who whisper and mutter? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Why consult the dead when you can consult the living God?

Isaiah says, “Consult God’s instruction” but people don’t want to. People would rather turn to some other oracle than listen to God. Often people don’t want to hear what God has to say but they will listen to all sorts of other nonsense.

We are free to do that. We are free to not listen to God but the result is confusion and darkness. Isaiah says that if a person doesn’t speak in accordance with God’s instruction, they have no light of dawn. People who speak but not in accordance with God’s word, spread only more and more confusion. People who listen to them live in deception. They don’t know the truth and so they stumble around in darkness and move further and further away from God. Listen to the description Isaiah gives: these people are distressed and hungry; they roam through the land, famished; they are enraged and they look up and curse both their king and their God. These are poor tormented souls. They look towards the earth and they see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom.

It is a terrible picture of lostness and darkness and anger and distress and it finishes with “they will be thrust into outer darkness” which is a reference to eternal punishment.

In our advanced western culture people still consult mediums and spiritists for personal guidance or to supposedly solve crimes. We make TV programmes about it and people are enthralled. People read their horoscopes and some go to séances or tarot readings or palm readers.

You can go any bookshop and buy books written by all sorts of gurus offering spiritual wisdom. These are the modern-day priests and prophets and oracles of spiritual truth – which is not truth.

Should not a people enquire of their God?

The result is as Isaiah described it: darkness and spiritual confusion. This so-called wisdom only increases the darkness. We are a nation that doesn’t consult God, and look at the results: the drunkenness, violence, crime, abuse, distress; spiritual darkness and confusion. People are going into a dark eternity every day because of refusing to consult God’s instruction.

It is no surprise. The apostle Paul talked about a coming time when people would listen to myths rather than listen to God.

2 Timothy 4:2-5
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction. 3 For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. 4 They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

As Isaiah described, the result is “darkness and distress and fearful gloom”.

Nevertheless. Isaiah 9 starts with “Nevertheless there will be no more gloom for those who were in darkness.” God prophesies a complete change. There was terrible darkness but... Let’s see how the passage moves on. Listen to the transformation and the rejoicing. READ Isaiah 9:1-7.

Those in darkness have seen a great light. They rejoice like people rejoice at the harvest, like soldiers after a victory. The yoke that had burdened them was shattered. The rod of the oppressor, shattered. The things of warfare will be burned in the fire. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom. Torment becomes peace. What started as a really, really gloomy passage becomes a passage of freedom and joy.

How? What makes the difference?

For unto us a child is born. Darkness becomes light. Oppression and captivity become freedom, for unto us a child is born. Not just any child. This child will rule the earth. He is the wise guide, God Himself, eternal Father, one who brings peace. He will reign on David’s throne, with justice and righteousness, forever.

There is no doubt this is Jesus. There is no doubt that the world is a different place because of Jesus.

Two of the most important words in this passage are the “Nevertheless” in 9:1 and the “For” in 9:6. Look at the structure of this passage. There is as section talking about the lostness of people who turn away from God. Then it says “Nevertheless” and it describes how God brings light and joy that dispel the darkness. So we have two very contrasting descriptions: one of lostness and darkness; one of light and joy. Then it gives the reason for the change: “for unto us a child is born.”

That is like a testimony, isn’t it? “My life was like this. Now it is like this, because of Jesus.” We have the bad news; the good news and the reason.

That is why we celebrate Christmas. A child has been born who has changed everything. The lost world has a Saviour.

Do you have a testimony, a personal story, like that? “I was lost but now I’m found because of Jesus. I was far from God but my life has been changed by Jesus.” Is that your story? If so, you will have no problem celebrating Christmas. For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son so that whoever believes in Him might not perish but have everlasting life.

And you will be eager to celebrate Communion, knowing that it was through His self-sacrifice that the world was changed and your personal destiny was turned around. Isaiah will in later chapters talk about the suffering of the Messiah: He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.

Or, would you like a story like that? Does there need to be light in your darkness? Have you been following the ways of other people but not consulting God? Are you walking in darkness? God has a different option: the people walking in darkness have seen a great light, because a child was born. Jesus is the Saviour who can turn our worlds around.

Let us all readily receive God’s gift: the Messiah who will rule the world with justice and righteousness. Let us all turn again, in humility, to Jesus. Even if we’ve done it before, let us say, “Jesus, I need You.”