The Great Event Foretold.

We talked about the “Three Wise Man” who followed a star to find the new king. They were inspired to do it because they knew the ancient writings predicting a star would appear to signal the birth of a special new king.  Around 740 years before that first Christmas a man named Isaiah wrote a prophecy of the future, about what the new king would mean to the people of Israel and the World.

The book of ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭chapter 9‬ verse ‭1‬-‭7‬ ‭says:-

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honour Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

The land of Zebulun and Naphtali, both sons of Jacob, both humbled by God, places of gloom and distress, darkness and deep darkness. You could call them, God forsaken places. But things are going to change. According to the prophet, a baby born, will literally change the World. 

Notice how many of the terms Isaiah used to describe the future king, are the same terms we use to describe Jesus. Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. What a different kind of leadership that is! Out of the World leaders today, who would you call “prince of peace”, for example? 

Some people fight against poverty, injustice and immorality, driven by their faith. Using their skills and talent to change what they can. Influenced by that 1st coming of Jesus, the messiah.

Sometimes imparting your faith to another person means you are changing the World for just that one. But God loved the World so much that he sent His only son, Jesus, so that no one should perish, but everyone can have eternal life. That’s why the birth of Jesus was so special, and predicted in so many ways. In fact hundreds of predictions came to fruition at the birth and during the life of Jesus.  And there are many predictions about Jesus that have yet to be fulfilled, but will be when, as Christians believe, He returns. His 2nd coming. Then we’ll know him as Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness. Can you imagine a leader and a government like that? It’s not easy when you look at the World’s leaders and governments, but change can come, and we can be part of the change. If we model our lives around biblical principles like loving our neighbours, upholding justice and righteousness, and standing up for truth and honesty, we can influence others and make a difference to the World. 

Imagine, God came to Earth as a little baby, and the World has never been the same. It was a great event for humanity, and when one person turns to faith, it's a great event in that one heart.

As Christmas approaches, bear in mind the influence you have, on changing the World for the better, by your kindness, your faith and your good example, this Christmas time. 

2:1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:

6 

“‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,

    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;

for out of you will come a ruler

    who will shepherd my people Israel.”

7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

9 After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11 On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

This story is often referred to as the Three Wise Men. Singing “We Three Kings of Orientar”, gives a special Christmassy sense of mystery, adventure,  and the exotic. But where were the Three Kings from?  Well, many Chinese Christians believe that one of the magi came from China. And various traditions of the Church name the three members, Melchior, Caspar and Balthazar.

After visiting the Christ Child St. Matthew’s gospel tells us that the three wise men, “being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, departed to their own country by another way” (Matthew 2:12).

One tradition claims that after leaving Bethlehem, they travelled to India and built a chapel on the Hill of Vaus. Each year they returned to this chapel and prayed to God that they would be baptised before they died.

One year they heard of a disciple of Jesus preaching in India. It was St. Thomas, and they went to find him. After telling him the story of their visit to the baby Jesus, Thomas told them the Gospel message. Then he baptised them and later ordained them priests and bishops. 

The three wise men, or Magi, travelled a great distance when they saw the “Star”. The Jews believed that a heavenly sign announced the birth of a new king. 

Many Christians believe the star was a miraculous sign and fulfilled a prophecy, known as the Star Prophecy, and Astronomers have made several attempts to link the star to a celestial event, such as a comet. 

Whatever it was, it caused the three travellers to go on a significant journey, and at the end of it, they found Jesus. What journey are you on? Do you know what to follow or how to find a way in life? Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life. And you are freely invited to follow him. 

The apostle,Paul liked his lists. Listen, because you are God’s chosen people, clothe yourselves with or have a kind of character that shows:-

1. Compassion

Seven things. But then Paul adds another, which he actually says is over all the rest. 

He says, “put on love, which binds them all together in perfect harmony”.

In another part of the Bible, Paul writes a list of what love is, and what love isn’t. 

1. Love is patient, 

Sixteen in that list. Double the previous passage! And finishes with that statement, Love never fails. Now I think, love never fails to be the most important thing.

Did you know, you can be amazing at lots of things, you could be a brilliant cook, or great mechanic. Or the best musician or even a great preacher, but actually if you don’t have love, you are nothing and what you accomplish is pointless. A Black Eyed Peas song title is “Where is the Love?”, and if you have to ask that question, there’s probably a problem!

A proverb goes like this  - A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate. (P15:17)

This passage in Colossians is also about relationships. It’s about all the virtuous things in Paul’s list being bound together by one thing, which is love.

It talks about unity. It talks about peace ruling in your hearts, that’s all of us. It uses the analogy of us all being parts of a body, in other words, we are dependent on one another. 

And we are called to peace. 

There’s an image of community, the family community, and the community that we can have with God, this relationship with Christ. That’s why Paul writes “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”

The “message of Christ is a message that runs throughout the Bible. Christ said, all the commandments, including the laws and rules, can be summed up like this - Love God and love your neighbour. If we do that, everything else falls into place.

In 1 Corinthians 13 Paul writes about having various gifts, (tongues of angels, prophecy, knowledge, faith to move mountains) but without love, they are nothing and he gains nothing.

Then, from verse 4, he gives a list of what love is and what love is not: - 

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails, paraphrasing, but everything else will fail, because we only know part of the story, but one day we will know it all! 

I always thought i could add a few things to Pauls “love list”, like: -

Love makes you strong, but it can also make you weak.

Love makes you brave, but it can also make you scared.

It motivates but can also hold you back. 

It’s hard to live with or live without. Without it we would never know true happiness, or the deep loneliness of love lost. It sets a standard for life, but it’s very hard to get over, if we lose it. 

The group Nazareth had a song called Love hurts. These are the lyrics: - 

Love hurts, love scars

Love wounds and marks

Any heart

Not tough or strong enough

To take a lot of pain, take a lot of pain

Love is like a cloud

Holds a lot of rain

Love hurts

Ooh, ooh, love hurts

And the fact is, however, blissful love is, one day it will hurt. But God knows, and He will make you ready, promises that you can face that hardship, if you hold on to Him.