Today's Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10

Daily Lectionary: Isaiah 11:1-12:6; 2 Peter 2:1-22

“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…” (Isaiah 11:3b-4a)

In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. As we prepare for the Nativity of Jesus, as we prepare for the celebration of our Lord coming into creation, we also look ahead to our Lord’s Second Coming. What does that mean for us? What will happen? Isaiah gives us a glimpse as to what that will look like for us.

As God looks at creation, what does He see? He sees a people who have sinned, not just once, but over and over again. In fact, we are people who are sinners to our very core. It is because of that sin that God can and should destroy us, and yet He doesn’t do that. By what His eyes see and His ears hear, there should be every reason for God to exact His wrath upon us. Because of Jesus, He judges the poor with righteousness. We are the poor, the poor in spirit, the poor due to sin. 

God does not choose to exercise His wrath upon us because Jesus intercedes for us. Jesus comes into creation to plead on our behalf. His life, His death, His resurrection do what is expected of us because we cannot do it. He keeps God’s Law in our place. He makes us His holy people by His shed blood which washes over us.

When Jesus judges us, He judges us with righteousness and faithfulness, except it’s not our righteousness and faithfulness; it is Jesus’ righteousness and faithfulness. Jesus is righteous because He is without sin. Jesus is faithful to God’s Law in its entirety. By what Jesus does for us, He makes us righteous before God. 

Instead of God exercising His wrath upon us, He exercises it upon Jesus, the sinless one. Jesus takes our place in this great exchange, where we put on His holiness and righteousness and He puts on our sin. We are judged innocent before God, while Jesus is judged guilty. He takes on everything that would keep us from God and it is purged from us. By Christ’s actions, we are declared righteous. 

Jesus does this because it is the Father’s will, that all would be saved. God was not content with sin and so He sends Jesus. As Jesus comes into the world, He seems insignificant by others, looked at as a heretic. Despite what people thought of Jesus, He came to save even them. He comes to give His life as a ransom for all people. Even more, Jesus comes to give His life for you. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.

O come, Thou Dayspring from on high, And cheer us by Thy drawing nigh; Disperse the gloomy clouds of night, And death’s dark shadows put to flight. Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel Shall come to thee, O Israel! (O Come, O Come, Emmanuel, LSB 357:6)

- Pastor Jared Tucher serves the dual-parish of St. John – Farmer’s Retreat in Dillsboro and St. Paul, Cross Plains, Indiana.

Audio Reflections Speaker: Rev. Duane Bamsch

Study Christ's words on the cross to see how you can show more Christlike grace in your life. Perfect for group or individual study, each chapter has a Q&A at the end, and the back of the book includes a leader guide. Available now from Concordia Publishing House.