"God's Plan Fulfilled" (Matthew 1:18-25)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

 

For many Christians, even myself, I don’t like just rushing into Christmas. Afterall, it’s still the Advent season. But in today’s Gospel reading, those who crafted the lectionary with the Holy Spirit’s help gets us as close as we can to Christmas Day without actually being there. 

 

But of course, today’s Gospel text does have an Advent feeling about it, as the bulk of today’s reading is about Joseph and Mary and the key pieces of God’s salvation plan dropping in place ahead of the Messiah’s arrival. 

 

But today’s text is more about Joseph than anything else. And although Joseph does not even say a recorded word, he is certainly at the center as he confronts a problem, a big problem: his betrothed is pregnant with child.

 

After St. Matthew devotes 17 verses to Jesus’ human genealogy from Abraham to Joseph, he now records Jesus’ divine genealogy in a single verse: Mary “was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

 

This states a fact even without attempting to explain how it took place. This verse reports a birth that was unique in all of human history. This tells us that the eternal Son of God, who “was in the beginning with God” (John 1:2) and “all things were made through Him” (John 1:3), assumed human flesh and blood in the womb of the Virgin Mary. He is true God from eternity, and He is also true man since He was conceived and born of a human mother some two thousand years ago.

 

But there was a problem. A big problem. Mary, who was with child, was only “betrothed to Joseph”(Matthew 1:18) at the time. That betrothal was more than what we commonly call an engagement. It wasn’t something that was easy to get yourself out of. To be betrothed meant that the couple had already spoken vows of marriage in the presence of witnesses, and they were regarded as husband and wife. 

However, according to the custom of the time, the marriage celebration would not be until some months later, and only then would the bride and groom consummate their marriage together as one flesh.

 

Being pregnant before the marriage celebration was scandalous!

 

Just imagine the shock and hurt Joseph felt when he was made aware of Mary’s pregnancy! A woman can only hide her pregnant belly for so long. Eventually people will notice! And in time, Joseph noticed! 

 

And Joseph concluded that Mary had been unfaithful to him. And if that is true, which he was certain, then he could not take her home to be his wife. So, he begins planning.

 

If this pregnancy becomes public, Joseph knew the Law. If she was found guilty of adultery, she would be stoned to death – along with the other guilty party (Deuteronomy 22:23-24). 

 

Sometimes we are surprised by a crisis. It could be an unplanned pregnancy. It could be a sudden loss of a job. It could be a financial crisis.

 

More often, we are forced to simply grind through life and face the routine challenges and difficulties as we live in this broken world. So often, we do the same techniques as Joseph. We begin planning our next move in order to remove the crisis.

 

But Joseph did not seek revenge as he was a just man unwilling to put Mary to shame, so he resolved to find another way to dissolve this relationship. He decided to dissolve their marriage contract as quietly as possible.

 

But then comes another twist! God intervenes. He sent an angel, likely Gabriel, to Joseph in a dream. Now Joseph did not just dream about an angel bringing him a message; a real angel came to him and spoke to him. He told Joseph, “That which is conceived in [Mary] is from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20).

 

Now, how could Joseph be sure it was God’s Word that he heard? He had faith. This angel connected the dots. He struck the lottery! He was betrothed to the one-in-a-millions kind of woman. For inside Mary’s womb was the fulfillment of Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel.”

 

Now, God’s plan would be challenging. It meant dealing with the complications of a pregnant fiancé. God’s plan is often challenging, and His plan frequently goes against what we would like to do, or what makes sense, or even what may seem right to us. But it is God’s plan, so we do it. God’s plan is always right.

 

In the dream, Joseph was told to name the child “Jesus.” Now, Jesus was a common name among the Jews. You may have heard of the names “Joshua” or “Yeshua,” which are other names for “Jesus.” The name means “Yahweh saves.” When that name was given to an ordinary child, it served as a reminder of God’s promise of a Savior. But in this Child’s case, it identified the One and only Savior of the world. Jesus’ name tells who He is – God – and what He does and will do – save His people from their sins. 

 

Now, we don’t have to be told in a dream to know what God wants us to do. He has revealed that to us through His written Word, the Bible. God has the plan. Instead of relying on ourselves, let us rely on God and His plan as He sent us the Savior who came to be the atonement between God and man as He would save His people from their sins through Him being nailed to His throne, the cross, and giving all who trust in Him: forgiveness, life and salvation. Amen.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Crèche" (Advent Midweek 3)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:18).

 

People throughout the world decorate this Advent season – and even last month – with Christmas trees, evergreens, and electric lights. Even non-Christians decorate. But there is a decoration that is distinctively Christian. There is a decoration that captures the true story and true message of Christmas. Tonight, we will look at how the creche, a model of the nativity scene, helps us prepare for the coming of Christ.

 

The creche is an explicitly Christian symbol because it presents the people involved in the birth of Christ, such as Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, and even the angels and some farm animals. Prince of Peace is blessed to have so many nativity scenes. In fact, we use the creche as a witness to define the real reason for the season. 

 

The word “creche” derives from Latin and means “nursery.” In fact, even today, it is the French word for nursery or childhood center. And in many other European countries, “creche” refers to a nursery school where infants and other young children are cared for during the day while their parents are at work.

 

This word “creche” has been transferred from this context of baby care to the scene which the greatest Baby in history was attended by His mother and guardian as well as the shepherds and in most cases, the Magi. But, here in America, the creche is most associated with the Biblical nativity scene in which figures are arranged to depict the event of Jesus’ birth.

 

The creche has been a decoration for Advent and Christmas for centuries. It has been depicted in frescos, paintings and reliefs. It has been reenacted with living people and animals since at least the 1300s. 

 

But it is most common to see plaster statues or wooden figures of the Holy Family and their guests.

 

By the 1800s, many Christian churches, including Lutherans, began embracing the use of creches in their churches. Eventually, Christians began using them at their homes.

 

The creche is a visible representation of the people who attended the birth of Jesus as depicted in the accounts of Matthew 2 and Luke 2. The creche provides us with a visible and tangible representation of the setting and event of Christ’s birth. It enables us to see with our eyes and touch with our hands the scenario in which Christ’s first advent occurred. Since God has created us with multiple senses, the creche engages our abilities to see and touch to support the hearing of His Word, the events of the birth of the Messiah.

 

You see, the advent of our Lord didn’t happen in a spiritual fantasy land but in real time among real people in this very real creation. St. John affirms the reality of the incarnate Christ, writing: “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life … that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:1, 3).

 

But I will admit that I have an issue with the creche, or nativity scene. Many of you may know what I am going to say. Take a look at our creche under the Christmas tree. Who is missing? The Magi. But I am kind enough to have the Magi on the outskirts of the sanctuary. Why do you think the Magi are over there and not with the rest of the scene?

 

Well, it’s because the Magi did not arrive in Bethlehem at the birth of the Christ Child. They actually arrived some months later. So, that’s why I have them make their arrival on the day of Epiphany. And when they did finally arrive, they didn’t see Jesus wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:12), but saw Jesus being held in Mary’s arms inside a house (Matthew 2:11). 

 

However, the creche reveals that the very Son of God was born in a very earthly setting, laid in a manger, with livestock surrounding and hay abounding. He was laid in a feeding trough. God entered this world as a small and helpless infant, dependent upon His mother for food and protection. The creche attests to the reality that “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). This humble setting displays the One “who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7).

 

The creche points us to the ongoing humiliation of Jesus for our salvation that He being fully God became man in order to die for us. “And being found in human form, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross” (Philippians 2:8). 

 

Remember, Jesus did not remain in the manger. He would grow up to be “despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. … But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His wounds we are healed” (Isaiah 53:3, 5).

 

Jesus came in humble circumstances to share our humanity and become the Savior for sinners. The creche reminds us of His humble beginnings on earth.

 

The creche attests to what Christmas is all about. It presents in visible and tangible form the people and events of Jesus’ birth described in Matthew and Luke. This decoration of the nativity scene prepares us to celebrate the advent of the Baby who was born to save His people from their sins.

 

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"Where is the Joy?" (Matthew 11:2-15)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ: 

“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to [Jesus], ‘Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Matthew 11:2-3).

 

On this Third Sunday in Advent, we are moving increasingly closer to Christmas Day. We have passed the halfway point on the Advent wreath. Today, three candles are lit, including that oddly colored pink candle. Pink doesn’t exactly match the other candles. So, what is with this color pink this day?

 

Well, traditionally, the Third Sunday in Advent has been called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for “rejoice.” And that pink candle reminds us that the Third Sunday in Advent is about joy.

 

Now, we certainly hear about joy today. We spoke together about joy beginning in the Introit’s antiphon from Philippians 4:4 saying: “Rejoice in the Lord aways; again I will say rejoice.” Then in the Introit itself from Psalm 71, we spoke of the great joy we have in the righteous acts of the triune God. You know, those things God accomplished to save us.

 

In our Old Testament lesson from Isaiah 35, we heard joy proclaimed in that reading: “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing” (Isaiah 35:1-2).

 

But following that reading, there was a shift. Our Epistle from James 5 speaks of patience in suffering. And then it gets worse. Today’s Gospel lesson from Matthew 11 begins by saying, “Now when John heard in prison …” (Matthew 11:2a). And what does a person do in prison? He waits.

 

Who enjoys waiting? Now, there are different kinds of waiting. There’s the kind of waiting that is limited by agonizing that you have to wait at the post office or at the license office. It may be less than an hour, but often, that short waiting feels like an eternity. The end will certainly come, but it feels so far away.

Or what is it like when you are expecting something, but you can’t control when it arrives? What if you are waiting for the cable guy? Or a package? An important phone call, or email?

 

Or what about if you are figuratively “hitting the wall”? Let’s say you are working on a project, and you need an idea, and you are coming up with nothing. You are waiting for an insight, or an epiphany. That can be nerve racking, especially, if you are working with a deadline. There are so many kinds of waiting. Some are easier and some are more difficult than others.

 

Now, waiting is not inherently bad, but waiting can come with some real difficulties – and sometimes waiting can lead to big problems, like wondering what exactly it is that you are waiting for.

 

And waiting can lead to second guessing.

 

“Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of the Christ, he sent word by his disciples and said to [Jesus], “Are you the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?’” (Matthew 11:2-3).

 

After baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, seeing the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus in the form of a dove, and hearing the voice of God the Father saying, “This is My beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:7), John the Baptist now waits in Herod’s prison after he preached against Herod’s affair with his brother’s wife.

 

Now, while we are not physically imprisoned, yours and my circumstances could lead us to second-guess Jesus’ place in our lives. Daily, we face many personal challenges regarding our health, our wealth, and our relationships. And daily, we contend with a culture that is increasingly at odds with the Christian confession. Daily, it often doesn’t feel like God’s kingdom has come. Our daily challenges can lead us to wonder if Jesus is the real deal, if Jesus is truly the Savior from sin, death and the devil.

 

Could all the waiting in a prison cell have caused John to doubt?

 

A short answer to that question is “no.” John the Baptist could not doubt what he has witnessed regarding Jesus of Nazareth. He literally saw the Holy Spirit come upon Jesus. He literally heard the voice of God the Father. John had no doubts. John knew. He trusts in Jesus.

But why is John asking this question? Well, John isn’t asking the question for his own sake, but for the sake of his disciples. You see, John’s disciples believed that the Messiah would be none other than their master John. Now, they certainly heard about Jesus, and they thought of Jesus as a possible prophet, but they did not have faith in Jesus as the Messiah.

 

Certainly, John’s disciples had heard their master speak highly of Jesus, but they had not heard the preaching or seen the miraculous signs of Jesus. So, John’s disciples persisted with the idea that John was the promised Messiah.

 

But why couldn’t John have left it at that? Why couldn’t John have left his disciples to their own opinion?

 

Well, what was the calling of John the Baptist? God called John to be the forerunner to the Messiah. John was called to prepare the way for the Lord by leading people to repentance and the forgiveness of sins. John was called to confront sinners with the mirror of God’s Law, so that they may see and discern the state of their lives toward God and their neighbor. John was called to direct all people from themselves to Jesus, the true Messiah and Savior of the world.

 

And for John’s preaching, he received disdain, persecution, imprisonment, cross and death. This is the reward that all true prophets and faithful preachers receive. The fallen world gives no other payment. This is why John was Herod’s prisoner.

 

So, while in prison, John the Baptist calls his disciples to seek Jesus out and calls them to ask this question to Jesus: “Are You the One who is to come, or shall we look for another?” (Matthew 11:3).

 

And as good disciples of John, they fulfill their calling. They go to Jesus and ask Him that question. But clearly, when they came to Jesus, they were offended by what they saw and heard. They knew their master John sent them to Jesus because John proclaimed Jesus to be the Messiah, the very Lamb of God, the One who has come to take away the sin of the world (John 1:29).

 

But they were not convinced. Yes, they thought John could have been the Messiah even with his quirkiness in wearing camel’s hair and eating locusts and wild honey. But if John isn’t the man, they naturally expected a kingly figure – a man wrapped in gold and purple cloth, a man found in a royal palace. 

Instead, they found a Man surrounded by sick and miserable people, a Man in the midst of the blind, the lame, the deaf, the mute. A Man among lepers. They see a Man in such a lowly form that He could be mistaken for a hospital attendant or a physician of the sick rather than regarded as the King of Israel. As John’s disciples witness this, they are reminded that their master John spoke so very highly of Jesus. Jesus speaks to John’s disciples: “Blessed is the one who is not offended by Me”(Matthew 11:6).

 

The world is filled with people who are offended by Jesus. The world sees a lowly Person in a lowly place. The world takes offense and stumbles at this rock of stumbling. Yet, if Jesus only displayed an ounce of His divine power, the world would rush to Him.

 

On this Third Sunday in Advent, where is the joy in our Gospel lesson? Trust me, it’s there. John the Baptist sees the joy even though he is awaiting his very death in a prison cell. And eventually, John’s disciples will see the joy in Jesus.

 

We are often tempted to trust only in things we see – things that fit our expectations of what God should do. That’s only natural. It is sinful. But again, that is natural. It is natural to expect that when we are faithful to God that He’ll bless us in ways that are immediate and tangible and visible. And the most visible, tangible evidence that time was that John was in prison and likely to face death. It is certainly easy to be offended with Jesus when God chooses to work that way. It is easy to give up on any idea of joy in the Lord when our circumstances seem to count up on the deficit side.

 

St. Paul was inspired to write today’s Introit antiphon – “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice” (Philippians 4:4) – from guess where? Prison! He rejoiced knowing that Jesus is the Christ, the promised Messiah. Jesus proved to be the Messiah by healing, cleansing, forgiving, raising and teaching. 

 

Jesus is the answer to our struggles and doubts. He gave us our identity and destiny in Holy Baptism. He speaks His forgiveness to us in the Absolution. He comes to heal us in the Sacrament of the Altar. He proclaims the Gospel of restoration into our ears.

 

Joy is fulfilled in Jesus Christ alone! Through His perfect work done at the cross and through the empty tomb and now delivered to us in the Means of Grace, His kingdom has come! On this Gaudete Sunday, we have so much joy: Christ took upon Himself our sin, He died for us sinners, and He gave us forgiveness of sins, eternal life and salvation in return. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say rejoice”! Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

 

"Lights" (Advent Midweek 2)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. … The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:5, 9).

 

We prepare for Christmas with decorations, such as candles and electric lights. Tonight, we are continuing our series on how common decorations used for Advent and Christmas also prepare us for the coming of Christ. Tonight, during this second midweek in Advent, we will focus on how lights help us prepare for the coming of Christ.

 

As you make your way around this Advent season, you likely see sparkling lights everywhere. Some strings of lights cover the spectrum of colors; others are clear white. Many of us decorate our homes with lights not just on the inside, but on the outside. Some neighborhoods hold competitions for the best exterior light display. Communities string lights on their streets and poles. Businesses decorate buildings with dazzling displays of lights. 

 

Here in the chancel, we see lights displayed for the season. During Advent, we display the Advent wreath, which holds five candles that we progressively light as we approach Christmas. The Christmas tree has been wrapped with strings of electric lights that shine.

 

Why do we decorate with lights for Advent and Christmas? What value is in the lights? Could there be a deeper significance to these lights? To answer these questions, let’s consider when lights were first used for Advent and Christmas and what their original meaning and purpose were.

 

Last Wednesday, we learned that the use of the Christmas tree began in Germany in the Middle Ages. And the practice of attaching candles to Christmas trees began in the 1500s. You also learned that the first Christmas tree placed in a church in America caused quite a stir. Leave it for a Lutheran to do such a thing! In fact, it is believed that it was Martin Luther himself who first placed an evergreen tree in a church.

 

Over time, the practice of including an evergreen tree caught on and it became more common. In time, candles were attached to the tree branches by pins, then holders, then by lanterns. These lights reminded Christians of the lights that accompanied Christ’s birth, including the Bethlehem star and the angels who lit up the night sky with the glory of God. Candles reminded people that Christ is the Light of the World.

 

And this tradition came by the way of German Lutheran immigrants in the 18^th and 19^th centuries. And again, over time, this practice of decorating evergreen trees with lights was culturally adopted by Americans.

 

Thanks be to God that He inspired Thomas Edison to invent the light bulb in 1880. For since the invention of the light bulb, the risk of fires has significantly decreased. At first lamps were extremely expensive, but by the 1930s, strings of lights have become more affordable, and by the 1950s, they became standard decorations at American homes.

 

Christmas lights are certainly beautiful. But for Christians, they hold a much deeper meaning. In the Bible, darkness is the symbol for sin and light is the symbol for righteousness. So, lights at Advent and Christmas point us to the purpose of Christ’s advent: to remove sin and restore us to righteousness.

 

The Fall into sin brought spiritual darkness to man. People lived in the darkness of evil and deception. But God promised a light to break the darkness of sin. That Light would appear with the advent of the Messiah. The prophet Isaiah foretold the coming Christ this way: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone” (Isaiah 9:2). Isaiah went on to announce this Light breaking in through the birth of a child, the Son of God: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6).

 

Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled in the advent of Christ into the world. Jesus’ birth was signaled by the light of a special star that guided the Magi (Matthew 2:1-2, 9-10); this brilliant astronomical beacon led them to the Christ Child. His birth was also heralded by the luminous glory of the Lord that shone around the shepherds (Luke 2:9).

 

John’s Gospel does not narrate the events of Jesus’ birth, but it does describe the impact of His birth. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, John wrote: “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world” (John 1:9). You see, Jesus came to enlighten everyone with His own righteousness and glory. 

Later, Jesus announced: “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).

 

By grace through faith in Christ alone, we, who were once caught in the darkness of sin and death, now receive Christ’s light of righteousness and glory.

 

Those candles of the Advent wreath and the lights on the Christmas tree celebrate the first coming of Christ “who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10).

 

These lights also point us to the final advent of Christ on the Last Day. You see, Jesus’ return will inaugurate a new creation in which the darkness of sin ends and the light of righteousness endures forever. We who are made righteous through faith in Christ will abide in that eternal righteous realm.

 

The Word of God uses the symbolism of light to reveal the brilliant future Christ will inaugurate for us at His final advent saying, “And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk” (Revelation 21:23-24).

 

Tonight, we still see the darkness of sin in our fallen world and in our own sinful nature. But through the work of the Holy Spirit, we disavow that sin and repent of the darkness in us. Because of the righteousness of Christ given to us by faith in Him, we no longer fear a dark future. Instead, we anticipate His final advent in which Jesus will disperse the darkness forever and bring us to dwell in His glorious light forever.

 

Light decorations are visible everywhere we go this season and for us, they do convey a powerful message: the light of Christ’s righteousness has come to disperse the darkness of sin. That is what Advent is all about – the eternal glory that Jesus won for us at His first advent and that we will fully experience when He comes again. 

 

So, every time you look at Advent and Christmas decorations emanating light, remember their message: Jesus has come, and He will come again to bring you the light of His righteousness and His glory! Amen. Come Lord Jesus!

 

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +

"A Shoot from the Stump of Jesse" (Isaiah 11:1-10)

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Grace, mercy, and peace be to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! Amen! Dear brothers and sisters in Christ:

“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from His roots shall bear fruit” (Isaiah 11:1).

 

Today’s Old Testament lesson from Isaiah 11 pictures life rising from death and destruction. 

 

Through the Prophet Isaiah, God promised that He would deliver His people from all their enemies. Yet, as Isaiah proclaims this great news, the Assyrians are about to inflict God’s judgment upon God’s people for their wickedness. And over the centuries, God’s people would be cut down and reduced to virtually nothing. And over time, the Assyrian Empire would be cut down and reduced to nothing. Every enemy of God’s people, as well as God’s people themselves, would become stumps of their former greatness.

 

But in today’s reading, Isaiah tells of a difference, a great difference. You see, all the other stumps would remain dead and lifeless, but not this stump of Jesse. He says a shoot would come from the stump of Jesse. 

 

Yes, the house of David would be reduced to its humble beginnings in Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesse and of his son David, but from these humble beginnings would come a new King, who is not only of the lineage of David, but a new and greater David.

 

It was unexpected that a boy who tended his father’s sheep would become a great king. It was also from an unexpected source that the new and greater King would come.

 

Just as Immanuel would come from a virgin, so He also would come from the dead stump of Jesse. Here, we see a humble entrance of the Christ into the world – as a child, a shoot. He would come by the miracle of a virgin birth and would come from the dead stump of the royal line of David. The small green branch would shoot out and grow because God had given His promise. It would be so. The appearance of this shoot is a miracle of God’s grace and power.

How beautiful Isaiah pictures the coming Messiah. When the shoot becomes a branch at the appointed time, He was born in Bethlehem, the hometown of both Jesse and David. And although Mary and Joseph were both descendants of David, Jesus would not have His first bed in a palace but in a manger. 

 

At the time of Christ’s birth, Romans occupied Palestine. There was no descendant of David ruling Judah. Mary was just a humble woman. Joseph a carpenter. Nazareth, where Mary and Joseph lived was a forgotten town in Judea. What good could come from Nazareth, let alone Bethlehem? The royal line of David was a dead stump without power, influence or wealth.

 

Yet, from this seemingly insignificant beginning, great and wonderful blessings would come. This new and greater King would succeed where all other kings and leaders have failed. Really, all earthly rulers would ultimately fail. But where all other earthly rulers have failed, this Branch will succeed. You see, where all other earthly rulers have fallen, this Branch will not fail because He will be what God desires, and He will fully do what God desires.

 

Of this Branch, the Spirit of the Lord rests. Isaiah writes: “And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord” (Isaiah 11:2).

 

Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, and the son of David, went forth “full of the Spirit” (Luke 4:1) and manifested Himself before all Israel. At His Baptism, the Spirit of God descended on Him like a dove and came to rest on Him.

 

Upon Jesus rests God’s own Spirit and this Spirit gives Him everything He needs to rule.

 

And what does this Spirit give Jesus? Isaiah here identifies three pairs of gifts. The first pair is wisdom and understanding. You see, during His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated a wisdom which had been hidden from the beginning of the world and He spoke and gave insight into heavenly things which only He knows. With His wisdom, Jesus has the ability to look into the very essence of things. He has the understanding to distinguish and perceive differences. With wisdom and understanding, He gives insight into all things that His people will need to know and understand, including the depths of God’s nature and His grace.

 

Upon Jesus also rests the Spirit of counsel and might. These two gifts also echo the names given to the promised Messiah back in Isaiah chapter 9, where he wrote that the Christ Child’s name shall be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God” (Isaiah 9:6). This means that He knows what His people need and gives them what they need. He gives His people His Word and in His Word, He shares with His people the plan for our redemption. By His suffering and death, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, loosed the bonds which held people captive and overcame our enemies: sin, death, and the devil.

 

Upon Jesus also rests the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. During His earthly ministry, Jesus was obedient to His Father’s will, even unto death, to lead us – His lost children – back to God. Now, through the Holy Spirit, the Lord plants the knowledge of God, true love and true fear of God, back into the hearts of men.

 

Now with His work finished, Jesus, the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the new and greater David, now sits on the throne of His Father. “And His delight shall be in fear of the Lord. He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but with righteousness He shall judge the poor, and decide with equity for the meek of the earth; and He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked. Righteousness shall be the belt of His waist, and faithfulness the belt of His loins” (Isaiah 11:3-5).

 

With the Spirit of the Lord resting upon Him, when Jesus makes decisions, He penetrates beyond what He can see and hear. And as careful as any human judge or ruler may be, appearances and rhetoric can still distort the truth and frustrate justice. But not for the shoot from the stump of Jesse, the new and greater David. For Jesus, He exercises absolute justice based on absolute knowledge.

 

Jesus bears the scepter of peace. Again, He doesn’t judge by what His eyes see or decide disputes by what His ears hear, but He judges with righteousness, deciding with equity the interests of the meek. To troubled sinners, Jesus gives justice. He makes us poor, miserable sinners right with God by covering our sin with His robe of righteousness and preserving us blameless to God the Father.

 

But at the very same time, those who reject the shoot from the stump of Jesse, those who reject His peace and His grace, those people are put to shame. Isaiah says: “He shall strike the earth with the rod of His mouth, and with the breath of His lips He shall kill the wicked” (Isaiah 11:4).

 

Jesus has come as the Prince of Peace, but many reject His peace. Not everyone will believe. Not everyone will come to faith in Christ Jesus. As Simeon said to Mary, “This Child has been appointed for the fall … of many” (Luke 2:34). But, through the working of the Holy Spirit, many more will come and kneel before the crucified and risen Christ.

 

And for everyone who clings to Christ as their King, they will see the image of creation restored. Animals that were once prey – the lamb, young goat and fattened calf – will dwell safely together with their former predators – the wolf, leopard and lion – without fear. In fact, as believers in Christ, we already enjoy the benefits of His wise rule, having received His Spirit with wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, and knowledge and fear of the Lord. 

 

You see, for those who are in the kingdom of God, there is no malice. For everyone who acknowledge Jesus as Lord also renounce the works of the devil. And although we are still sinners, in Christ, there remains an ever-flowing fountain of mercy. Day in and day out, we receive from Jesus His grace, as well as peace and strength in loving God and serving our neighbor.

 

Isaiah pictures paradise as the wolf dwells with the lamb, but this paradise isn’t just the future; this is the present reality. This is what the Church of Christ looks like now. This is the peace that the one true Christian Church has at this very moment.

 

As fellow redeemed in Christ, we are united with the One who alone is holy by nature but who shares His holiness with us. God has granted us new hearts that, while sin still clings to us, we truly want to please God and serve our neighbor. This is completely unnatural from the perspective of our old sinful and prideful selves. We have been transformed by Christ’s peace through His suffering, death, resurrection and ascension! We have been transformed by the Holy Spirit’s intervening in your life to be the kind of person you would never be without Him.

 

Yes, we are still not perfect, the Church does have her spots and wrinkles, but we are made clean through the blood of the Lamb, which makes us new. With the help of the Holy Spirit, may we grow in wisdom and understanding, counsel and might, knowledge and fear of the Lord, for we are all one in Christ Jesus, who is Peace and brings peace. Amen.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

 keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus, our Lord. Amen.  

+ SOLI DEO GLORIA +