Christmas - Week 3
We are in the midst of a Christmas Series called “The Weary World Rejoices.” Foundationally, we can all agree that we live in a weary world. There is death and decay in all of creation. So much so, that creation groans for the return of its Creator. We see this in nature, as natural disasters wreak havoc on this world. We see this in humanity, a brokenness that seems to become daily news even now in our own communities. It isn’t new, however, and we saw last week Mary rejoicing in the truth of a certain revolution her child would bring. We’ll continue this morning as we look to the future and final redemption, when the Creator returns to bring ultimate victory and peace.
Peace has become such a cliche idea in our culture. Just ask the Miss America contestants what they want most in the world, and what is one of the most popular answers? World Peace. We all want it, but we need to understand that we won’t get it until Jesus comes back. Wars are raging across the world. Countries up in arms against one another, destroying whole cities and killing anyone who stands in the way. While our eyes are focused on the Middle East and Eastern Europe, did you know that the Geneva Academy is monitoring more than 110 armed conflicts across the world? They define an “armed conflict” as a “situation of armed violence that amounts to armed conflict under international humanitarian law.”
Middle East and North Africa - More then 45 armed conflicts
The rest of Africa - More than 35 armed conflicts
Asia - 21 armed conflicts
Europe - 7 armed conflicts
Latin America - 6 armed conflicts
I tell you this to emphasize the fact that this world is broken and in need of peace. There are 2 different ways in which peace will come. First, it has already come for those who place their faith in Jesus, because of the indwelling Holy Spirit. It’s a peace that Scripture says is beyond our ability to understand. And second, it will come in fullness when Jesus returns. A future and eternal peace promised throughout Scripture.
Read Isaiah 11:1-9
Peace will come, and it comes through a ruler who is perfect and just.
1.. Jesus Will Bring About Justice (1-6)
We cannot miss the hope found in these first few verses. In them, we have a contrast between the imperfect and fallen monarchical line of David, and the perfect rule of a future King. The metaphor of a stump tells the story of a kingdom that has been cut down and left to almost nothing. The monarchy of David began a long line of kings that would come to an end in 586 BC. King Nebuchadnezzar led Babylon in taking Judah captive, and this conquest effectively ended the rule of the kings. David’s royal line had been chopped down to almost nothing. Out of the rubble a “shoot” would grow, a “branch would bear fruit.”
Jeremiah 23:5 says, “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.” And we see in Isaiah 6 characteristics of this future ruling King. Don’t miss also that it’s the gifting of the Holy Spirit in His life. Incredible theological truth. Jesus, fully God, yet empowered by the Holy Spirit. Wow.
1.. Wisdom
This is the knowledge that comes with the ability to rightly apply that knowledge. It’s not just knowing, but having good judgment based on that knowledge.
2.. Understanding
There is an interesting meaning behind this Hebrew word. It carries the idea of “a sharp sense of smell.” One commentator said it is a “Sharpness of judgment in smelling out a hypocrite… His sharp nose easily discerns and is offended with the stinking breath of the hypocrite’s rotten lungs.”
3.. Counsel
In that wisdom and understanding, He is able to provide perfect counsel for every situation. No matter what we go through in life, Jesus knows exactly how to guide and help us.
4.. Might
Might or strength. Jesus has the power to do anything that He wants to do. Jesus is not powerless. The kings that ruled the Jewish people were not powerless. The kingdom fell. But Jesus will establish a Kingdom that will never fall. As He rules in perfect power, He will do so with…
5.. Knowledge
Probably could have started with this one, but this is the idea that Jesus knows everything. This leads into His wisdom and understanding. He is wise in His decision making, discerning in His understanding, and it comes from that fact that He has complete knowledge.
6.. Fear of the Lord
Jesus is not scared of God, but has a proper respect for His Father. It’s another interesting theological discussion, because of the equality of the Trinity. However, Jesus willingly submits to the authority and will of the Father. “Not my will, but yours be done,” He says.
So here is the picture of the King that is coming. Here is the character and nature of the Messiah that will come with the power of the Holy Spirit. His rule will be unlike any other king that has ever lived. His kingdom will never fall. And how will He judge?
Not by what He sees, nor by what He hears, but by looking at the condition of the heart. The poor in spirit, the broken-hearted, the meek and dejected, He will judge rightly based on the state of their hearts. On the other side, He will bring judgment on the wicked, those who, contextually, had trampled on the poor in spirit, the broken-hearted, the meek and the dejected.
A great judgment is coming in which Jesus will separate the sheep from the goats, the righteous from the wicked, and after that great day of judgment, He will usher in the peace that all of creation has been groaning for.
2.. Jesus Will Bring About Peace (7-9)
In Isaiah we have a future peace that is promised, and we’ll get to that in just a few minutes. But, we have an interesting contrast in Scripture, because it would appear that peace in the present tense is promised, but also not promised; while at the same time there is a final peace that will be complete. Let me explain.
Present Context
In Luke 2:14 the choir of angels shouted “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Peace has come in Jesus! Finally! As my friend Lee Corso likes to day, “not so fast!” In Matthew 10:34, Jesus Himself says, “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.” Wait a minute, the Prince of Peace hasn’t come to bring peace? Well then what do I do with Paul’s encouragement in Philippians 4:6-7? Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus knew that choosing to follow Him would potentially cause tension in relationships. It still does today. And while present peace may not be experienced in relationships by some believers across the world, we are promised a present peace in a few different ways.
The most important way that Jesus brought about peace was between God and humanity. Romans 5:10 says that we were “enemies of God.” Jesus stepped in and provided reconciliation for us. In Romans 5:1, Paul says Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Also in Romans, chapter 8, we say that Paul is “sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” We have a present and eternal peace with God.
We are also promised a present peace through the Holy Spirit. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” When anxiety ramps up, when fears cloud our minds, when doubts arise, it is the Holy Spirit that sets our minds and hearts at ease. There is a calming peace that are given that is beyond explanation. We have a present ability to find peace through the Holy Spirit.
There is also a future implication to this peace, and that’s what we see in our passage in Isaiah. The predators shall dwell with and lie down next to their natural prey. The instinct to kill will be gone. The lion will eat straw, not the flesh of his latest hunt. A nursing baby can play next to the most deadly of snakes, even the toddler can play with them. I mean, the illustration of peace that we have here is incredible. The effect of sin that has caused death and a natural urge to kill will be eradicated. The impulse felt deep inside these animals will be one of peace and harmony, so much so that babies can hold the once-deadliest snakes. No one will be hurt. No one will be destroyed. And this pictures carries over into the realm of nations.
Micah 4:2-4 - and many nations shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, and shall decide disputes for strong nations far away; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore; but they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree, and no one shall make them afraid, for the mouth of the Lord of hosts has spoken.”
Global peace is coming. And all the wars that are being fought, and all the hate, and destruction, and the desire to annihilate whole groups of people, it will be no longer. And the tragedies we see and hear about that are rolling through our media feeds will cease. Nation shall not lift up sword against nation. Harmony and unity will be realized.
Revelation 21:3-4 - “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.””
