This weekend, Bill taught from Isaiah 11, asserting the prophet’s promise of a redeeming Savior as the foundation of the Christmas celebration. Isaiah’s prophecies were issued around 700 BC, after the northern kingdom of Israel had been conquered and taken into exile. Therefore, his prophecies are meant to give hope to exiled Jews, who had been cut off from their homeland. However, the prophecies also contain Messianic expectations that foretell the coming of Jesus, the ultimate King and Redeemer.
Chapter 11 begins, “Out of the stump of David’s family will grow a shoot – yes, a new Branch bearing fruit from the old root.” God had promised David that he would always have a descendant on the throne of Israel (2 Samuel 7:16), but the disobedience of the people and their subsequent punishment had hewn the strong tree of David’s house into a derelict stump. From this stump, however, God promises to raise up a Savior.
This promise is a personal one, fulfilled in an individual. Verses 2-5 go on to highlight the characteristics of this righteous person. He will be wise, understanding, fair, just, powerful, and true. He is the type of king that transcends earthly political systems – not a cruel, oppressive dictator nor the corrupt and greedy representatives of a democracy. Instead, He is a righteous king exercising His power in justice and love.
Peace and flourishing will characterize His reign. Brokenness and danger will be eradicated (vv. 6-9). Gentiles will be included in the peaceful kingdom as well as Jews (v. 10). The exiles will return and the kingdom of Israel will again be united (vv. 13-14). All obstacles to God’s kingdom will be removed, and God will again act in favor of His people, as He did in the Exodus (vv. 15-16).
These promises of prosperity create tension for us, however. Are these promises reality, or are they mere sentiment? How can we look around at the suffering and brokenness in the world, in our own lives, and believe that these promises are true?
Bill used a story from Matthew 11 to answer these questions. In this passage, John the Baptist is in prison. He was the first to recognize the truth about Jesus and His ministry; before he was even born he leaped within his mother’s womb at the presence of Jesus (Luke 1:41). However, even John had his doubts. Jesus’ ministry looked nothing like the promises of Isaiah and the other prophets. His kingdom was a spiritual one, not the political one that the Jews had expected. For this reason, John sent a messenger to Jesus, asking, “Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?” (v. 3). Wrapped up in John’s question are his doubts – if Jesus is the Messiah, why is John in prison? Why do Jesus’ followers suffer? Why has Jesus not restored the world and ended suffering?
The last sentence of Jesus’ answer is startling, yet comforting: “God blesses those who do not turn away because of me” (v. 6). God’s solution is not to fix the suffering in the world. His answer is not found in remedies, but in the person of Jesus. The blessing of God is found in trusting the King of Isaiah 11, not in the earthly benefits that He brings.
The Scriptures do not ignore the doubts and questions that we have. They are expressed by John the Baptist, one of the first followers of Jesus. However, he does not receive a solution to his earthly suffering – he ends up decapitated on the whim of an immature princess (Matthew 14:1-12). His story illustrates that our present problems may not be solved. We will not understand the world and its brokenness. However, we must choose to personally trust in the prophesied King, Jesus Christ. In Him lies the eternal hope of the world’s redemption and restoration.
Bill gave three ideas to take away from these passages:
1. Our struggles don’t mean that the promises of God aren’t true. God works through brokenness and evil. Christ had to die in order to rise again – in doing so, He worked through the power of death to overcome death itself.
2. Jesus does not give us solutions. He is the solution. He cannot be manipulated as some sort of magical provider; we must accept Him as He offers Himself to us.
3. Some of us need to take steps to move towards Jesus. Some of our lives are broken, crushed, and hopeless. We can take comfort in the knowledge of God’s sovereignty and move towards Jesus in hope.
-Nate Emery
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Worship Songs from the Weekend
The Name of Jesus Christ: Philippians 2:6-11, Isaiah 45:22-23
Angels We Have Heard On High: Luke 2:8-18
Hallelujah What A Savior (Christmas Version): Isaiah 53:3, Psalm 13:5, Isaiah 63:9
The Greatness of Our God: Deuteronomy 32:1-3, Romans 8:38-39, Isaiah 40:26-31
Man of Sorrows: Isaiah 53, 1 Timothy 2:5-6