Advent

The prophesies of the coming of the Messiah run through the Old Testament Scriptures proclaiming the hope of "God with us." Isaiah 11 declares "A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a branch will bear fruit." Not very majestic and not much glamour in that pronouncement! But for we who know Him, the reality grips our hearts and fills us with hope and anticipation.

Isaiah 11 reminds us that Jesus came to bring us hope. He reigns in our hearts as King and Lord. One look around us reveals that everything has not been fulfilled that is recorded in this passage. The lion and bear are still predators and no parent will allow their child to play where a cobra dwells. We still live in a world filled with pain, sorrow, grief and toil. Some teach the Christ rescues us from all the pain and sorrow in life. Many have found that He keeps them in the midst of the problems of life. Historically, the greatest appeal of Christ has been that the cross reveals that Jesus understands our pain and because he endured the agony of death on the tree. Yes, He is a miracle working God. Nothing is too difficult for the Lord.

Still, we live in this world where sickness, death, and sorrow still exist and followers of Jesus are not exempt from those realities. There is a hope for the believer that far surpasses even the hope for deliverance in the here and now. Yes we can and should trust God for his intervention in our sickness, pain, and problems. The greater hope is in the promise of the King. Not just the manger baby, but also the coming King who will be the fulfillment of Isaiah 11. He has come to be the Branch that will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon Him. He will judge righteously! He will slay the wicked! The nations will rally to him! "for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea." (vs. 9).

The celebration of Christmas is not just about the baby. It is about the hope we all have in Him!