Isaiah 9:6 (To Us a Child is Born)

Isaiah 9:6

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 Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The greatest of all kings has come to us.

He has not come as a high ruler, but as a lowly baby born in a manger.

He has not come as part of a condition, but as a free gift for all mankind.

The weight of the world is on His shoulders, and He bears it well for our sake.

He is the wisest above all, and He has knowledge of all things.

He is the God who performed miracles for Moses and Elijah.

He is a man which all can call Abba, and He will never cease to be.

He is a bringer of peace, so that He may overcome all the world's chaos.

He is the Messiah, our Savior, the one whom the prophets foretold.

He is God with us.

He is Jesus.

"Glory to God in the highest heaven,

    and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests" (Luke 2:14)

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Jeremy Camp: Joy to the World
• The Nativity Story (2006)

Can Christians Celebrate Christmas?

There are some Christians who are adamantly opposed to celebrating Christmas; anything doing with Christmas. If you don't believe me, you can read this in full and you will understand. (these words do not come from the Holy Bible). In addition to this, there are other men and women who speak in God's name on YouTube and do not celebrate Christmas. These people believe the celebration of Christmas has become desecrated. Perhaps the biggest reason as to why some Christians do not celebrate Christmas is because it is a "pagan" holiday, though there is much evidence to the contrary. For argument's sake, though, I am going to address Christmas as if it were originally a pagan holiday. In this context, can a Christian celebrate Christmas?

When it comes to Christians celebrating Christmas...they can AND God's Word gives them permission to do so.

My reasoning is primarily founded on the writings of Paul. He wrote to Christ's followers in Collosi that because they have spiritual fullness in Christ they should "not let anyone judge [them] by what [they] eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day" (Collosians 2:16). As Christmas, based on its supposed pagan origins, was originally a celebration held on the Earth's darkest day of the year, the winter solstice, Paul would have likely considered it a religious festival surrounding a phase of the night sky, so it would have applied to what Paul was describing. Paul further writes that any celebration having to do with paganism has no power over a follower of Christ, because "since you [Christ's followers] died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world [those from pagan belief], why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules 'Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!'? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings" (Collosians 2:20-22). Here Paul is writing that when people of this world tell you, as a follower of Christ, "Stay away from that, because it's origins are wicked and detestable," you do not have to follow what they say, because these are merely human commands not from God. Nothing from this world, no object nor any celebration, has the power to make anyone saved by Chirst unclean or unrighteous in God's eyes. As Paul writes, "I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39). We can celebrate Christmas, knowing nothing about it will be able to keep us from God's love; the love He gave on the first Christmas.

As to the way people can celebrate Chistmas, Jesus Himself says that this too cannot defile a person. Taking one of the most common and long lasting Christmas traditions, the eating of the Christmas turkey, Jesus says that eating what can be considered unclean food will not desecrate a follower of Christ. In Matthew chapter 15 Jesus spoke with a group of Pharisees who asked Him, "Why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders? They don’t wash their hands before they eat!" which was to say the Desciples were eating uncleanly (Matthew 15:2). Jesus responded to them, "You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. They worship Me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.'" (Matthew 15:7-9). Jesus then called the attention of everyone who was there listening, and He said to them, "Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them" (Matthew 15:10-11). Therefore it is not what we eat, such as Christmas cookies, that can desecrate us, but it is what we say that can defile us. This is why it is written "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved," for it is what is spoken from the body that matters more than what goes into it (Romans 10:13).

The greeting of tomorrow is Merry Christmas, which roughly translates to Joyfully Celebrate Jesus' life, and many people will speak this proudly to their family and their neighbors and even to everyone they meet. Anyone who speaks this knowing that Christ's coming is the reason for their salvation, is a follower of Christ. No one need feel condemned for celebrating Christmas. It was on that first Christmas night, on whatever day it may have been, that angels came down to lowly sheppherds and gave them good news for all people (Luke 2:10). From a Biblical perspective, all people in Christ have received His permission and the liberty to celebrate Christmas however they please. With this freedom, though, comes a caution, because some forms of celebration yield good fruit and some forms yield bad fruit. As it is with people, "every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit" (Matthew 7:17-18). Celebrate Christmas one and all, if you please, and may I request that you do so focusing on who it is that gives us reason to celebrate anything good and pleasing.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Regarding the Celebration of Christmas
• Wretched: Sell-out Pastors
• Why Some Christians Don't Celebrate Christmas
• PureFlix Insiders: Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?
• OpenBibleInfo: Celebrating Christmas
• OpenBibleInfo: Celebrating Pagan Holidays

Isaiah 9:4-5 (You have Shattered the Burden)

Isaiah 9:4-5

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.

I'm publishing a series of post on the prophecy about Christ's coming from Isaiah chapter 9, and this is my third post in this series. Isaiah wrote this prophecy during a seemingly hopeless time in Israel's history. The Israelites were surrounded by their enemies and they were about to be taken into captivity, as the LORD told them would happen. During this desperate time, Isaiah wrote a prophecy about the coming Messiah; a King who would save His people from darkness and bring them into light.

God did not only prophecy to the Israelites that He would overcome the darkness in the world and bring Israel great joy, but He also reminded Israel of a day when He did exactly this on a smaller scale. Through this prophecy God reminds His people about the day of "Midian's defeat," which refers to a story from Judges chapter 7. Long ago before Isaiah was born there was a man named Gideon, and he was not a brave man. God found him hiding from his enemies in a winepress when He called Gideon to fight for Him (Judges 6:11-12). God took Gideon and told him he would be a mighty man who would defeat the oppresive vast army of the Midianites. There seemed to be no possible way for Gideon and his small army of three hundred to wipe out an army as numerous as a plague of locusts, but God "caused the [Midianites] throughout the camp to turn on each other with their swords," so God made the Midianites destroy themselves (Judges 7:22). After this, Gideon and his men ran into the valley where the Midianites were and they defeated every last one of them. In the days that followed Israel rejoiced, because the Midianites who burdened them, oppressed them and battled them in bloody combat were defeated and gone.

In this prophecy God is reminding His people about this day of Midian's defeat, and He is telling them how He will do this all once again for His people on a cosmic scale. By coming into the world as a child, God will defeat His people's true worst enemy, sin. Jesus was born as the last sacrificial lamb; the last offering that had to die to purify the unrighteous. God came to Earth "in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise partook of the same things [we have in life], that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14). God has come in flesh and blood as a single soldier of His Heavenly army, so that He could give His life for all mankind. In so doing, Jesus made the sword of death turn on itself, as the swords of the Midianites were turned against them. God has won the war against the devil, and He has set us, as believers, "free from the law of sin and death" (Romans 8:2). For on Christmas day, God came as a gift to the world, and that is the free gift of "eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23).

One day we, as believers, shall all join Jesus' winning life giving battle in the valley as Gideon and his men did. In the end of days, there will be an army of God's enemies and they will "wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because He is Lord of lords and King of kings - and with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers" (Revelation 17:14). One day we, as children of God and followers of the Messiah, shall fight alongside the Lamb of God, Jesus, and God will win the day as He did against the Midianites and against sin. In this battle we shall not fear as Gideon did, but we will go into battle with great hope. We know God will be victorious. God has prophesied to us that "the accuser of our brothers [will be] thrown down" (Revelation 12:10). God will fight, God will win, and all who follow Him will be free from all of their oppressors.

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• DesiringGod: Isaiah 9:1-7 Part 2
• Grace to You: Gideon a Weak Man Made Strong
• OpenBibleInfo: Defeated Sin
• The BEAT: The Battle of Armageddon Explained

How can Santa Claus be used to Illustrate the Gospel?

Santa Claus is a ficticious character, but he can represent something that is very real. Now, some Christian parents believe that anything having to do with Santa Claus can greatly detract from the true meaning of Christmas. They flee from the image of this jolly old man the way John tells his followers "Dear children, keep yourselves from idols" (John 5:21). While it is understandable for some parents to want to keep their children away from Santa so that they do not idolize him, it is possible for the character of Sant Claus to be used to illustrate the gospel and the Christmas message. In much the same way that some of the characters from Jesus' parables were used to represent God, the ficticious character of Santa Claus can be used to represent the true spirit of Christmas.

For us believers, the spirit of Christmas is expressed best through the words the angels sang long ago on that first Christmas night, "on earth peace to those on whom [God's] favor rests" (Luke 2:14). In the hearts or children who believe that Jesus Christ has come, there is peace. Similarily in some works of fiction, those who are on Santa's "nice" list can rest in peace on Christmas Eve knowing that Santa Claus will come down their chimney and give them great gifts. The ficticious stories of Santa Claus can be used to show God is seeking to give everyone a great gift, like Santa does, but only those who have His favor will receive this gift with peace. Similar to Santa, God, too, has a list and anyone whose name is not written on His list will suffer a fate worse than that of a smoldering coal in a blazing furnace (Revelation 20:15). Only those who humble themselves before the LORD receive God's gift of salvation and become children of God. As Mary observed, God's "mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation" (Luke 1:50).

While Santa Claus can be used to illustrate the Gospel, most stories about him are not used to show how Santa Claus can represent the true spirit of Christmas. In spite of this, there is a song that does state the gospel message of Christmas throug the use of referring to Santa Claus. (You might even know this song.) In Gene Autry's Christmas classic "Here Comes Santa Claus" in the third verse, Autry sings, "Santa Claus knows we're [as believers] all God's children, that makes everything right. So fill your hearts with Christmas cheer, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight." In this verse, Autry compares how children who know they will get a present from Santa Claus are similar to Christians who know that Jesus has made them righteous in the eyes of God. In addition to this, Autry sings these words of Biblical wisdom in the fourth verse, "Peace on Earth will come to all if we just follow the light. So let's give thanks to the lord above, 'cause Santa Claus comes tonight." The light to which Autry is refering is likely the same light that the wise men from Anne Murray's song "We Three Kings" call a "perfect light;" a light to which the star above Bethlehem was guiding them. This light is Jesus Christ, who says, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). Life with Christ is a life of true peace.

Along with what I have written, please bare in mind that Santa Claus is a ficiticious character, and not in any way a replacement for Jesus Christ. If Santa Claus is shown as something worth more than the true meaning of Christmas, then he can easily become the idol and the danger that some parents fear. This can occur when Santa Claus is presented to audiences as a truly real person who exists. John Piper states, "If Christ cannot compete with Santa in the hearts of our kids, we don’t know the real Christ or there is no real Christ." Yes, Santa Claus can be used to illustrate the good news of the coming of Jesus Christ, but Santa can't come anywhere close in excellence to the person who is Jesus Christ. Santa might wear a big red suit, but Jesus is dressed in splendor and "on His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: king of kings and lord of lords" (Revelation 19:16). We, as believers, do not worship a jolly old man in the north pole who only visits the rest of the world once a year. We worship the one true King who is with us always even to the end of the world (Matthew 28:20).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• A Visit from St. Nicholas (Full Text)
• Bible Study Tools: Light of the World
• Gene Autry: Here Comes Santa Claus
• Desiring God: What Should I tell my kids about Santa
• Odyssey: The Santa Claus I believe in (One of my old Articles)

Isaiah 9:3 (They Rejoice before You)

Isaiah 9:3

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.

It's one of the most chaotic moments in Israel's history, and it's only getting worse, as Isaiah writes down this next verse in his prophecy to the people of Israel. God's chosen people are on the verge of entering exile into the northern kingdom of Babylon, a land full of wicked sorcerers and idol worshippers. Still, in the midst of this Isaiah writes of the people of Isareal that they rejoice before the LORD. How can this be? How can a nation engulfed by despair rejoice and sing songs of joy, when everything around them seems to made up of nothing but sorrows?

As it is written, the nation of Israel rejoices, because God has "increased their joy" (Isaiah 9:3). God has "enlarged their nation" (Isaiah 9:3). In this moment the Israelites could see that their nation was apparently diwindling not enlarging, but they also knew that God promised them that they would come out of exile and captivity and their nation would grow. God promised His people that "a shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse [the father of King David]; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit" (Isaiah 11:1). Jeremiah tells those living in Jerusalem during this time that "The days are coming,' declares the Lord, 'when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In His days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety" (Jeremiah 23:5-6). These are strong and powerful promises, and they are from God, the maker of heaven and earth. This is why Israel is rejoicing, because they are trusting that what God says shall come to pass. A savior from the line of King David shall come to them. He will free them from captivity and His reign shall never end.

Israel believes on faith that "not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled" and all of them will be fulfilled (Joshua 21:45). God also gave the people of Israel signs that they could look forward to, so they could know who God's son, the savior of all mankind, would be. One of these signs given to the people of Israel was that "the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call Him Immanuel [God with us]" (Isaiah 7:14). Most of us can read today in Luke chapters 1 and 2 that this sign of a virgin birth did come true, but the Israelites in the past could not read the gospel of Luke because it was not yet written. They could only trust that what God said would happen, as what He has promised in the past has also happened. These promised signs gave great joy to the people of Israel, as they waited on the LORD to fulfil what He has promised them. They waited on this promise "more than watchmen wait for the morning" (Psalm 130:6).

This is the joy Christmas brings; it was the day the wating stopped and God's promises were fulifilled. In much the same way children look forward to Christmas day hoping that they will get everything on their Christmas list, the people of Israel looked ahead to the day their savior would come praying that He would be everything God told them He would be. As God is a man of His word, everything He told Israel (every sign He gave them to look forward to and every promise He made to them) came true, and on that day God's people rejoiced. An angel of the LORD came before shepherds in Bethlehem, and he sang out to them, "I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger" (Luke 2:10-12).

When the shepherds saw the baby Jesus, their long awaited Messiah, they were filled with joy as the angel said they would be, and "they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them" (Luke 2:17-18). The joy of Christmas is so powerful that it cannot be contained. It must burst forth from us, God's children. Our joy of Christ's coming erupts from us when we gather together to sing songs of praises; rejoicing before the LORD who has increased our joy. Christ has come, just as the LORD promised.

Joy to the world, the Lord is come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And Heaven and nature sing

-Isaac Watts

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• JewsforJesus.org: The Messiah would be from David
• Biblicalmissiology.org: Son of God in the Old Testament
• Knowing Jesus: 19 Bible verse about God's Promises
• Hymnary.org: Joy to the World

What is Biblical about Saint Lucy's Day?

Saint Lucy's Day (otherwise known as Saint Lucia Day) is a celebration that occurs in many countries across Europe, though it is primarily celebrated in Sweden. The celebration of Saint Lucy's Day happens every year on December 13th. The first part of the celebration takes place inside a local church, where a young woman adorns a wreath with candles, a white gown and a red sash. She then processes out of the church followed by many other young women wearing white robes. The young woman in the red sash then walks all throughout the town handing out food to local charity organizations and less fortunate families. This celebration is one of many that signifies the coming of Christmastime.

Saint Lucy's Day is primarily celebrated to honor the life and martyr of Saint Lucy of Sicily. She was born in about the year 283 A.D. and she was martyred in around the year 310 A.D. when she was approxiamately 27 years old. Though not much is known for certain about Saint Lucy, there are several legends about her that are likely founded on her true history. One of these legends tells of how she risked her life to give food and drink to Christians living in the catacombs of Rome. These Christians were in hiding because the Roman government was persecuting them. Their crime was proclaiming that there was one God and no other gods were before Him (this would remain an offense punishable by death, until the reign of Emperor Constantine in late 310 A.D.). According to legend, Saint Lucy needed to keep both of her hands free in order to carry as much food and drink as possible, so she made a wreath with candles so that she could wear it on her head to light her way through the catacombs. This legend inspires many aspects of Saint Lucy's Day celebration, including the traditional outfit worn by the young woman who leads the procession. The wreath on the young woman's head is worn in accordance with the legend, the white robes represent a Christian's purity through Christ and the red sash represents Saint Lucy's martyrdom.

There are multiple Biblical values shown within the celebration of Saint Lucy's Day. The virtue of charity through charitable giving is demonstrated most prominently in both the celebration of Saint Lucy Day and the life of Saint Lucy. Jesus Himself said truly"it is more blessed to give than to receive" (Acts 20:35). God commands His children to give charitably to the less fortunate, the way Saint Lucy did. God tells His children, "spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday" (Isaiah 58:10). In the same way the candles of the processors on Saint Lucy's Day light up the dark night, so too does a Christian's charitable giving light up the darkness in this world. 

Our giving, however, does not have to be done on display like it is on Saint Lucy's Day. On the contrary, Jesus tells His followers, "when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you" (Matthew 6:3-4). We know that the reward in store for us, as believers, is greater than anything we could receive on earth. Our reward is this; that one day Jesus will say to His children, "Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink," (Matthew 25:34-35). Jesus says, "whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me" just as Saint Lucy did (Matthew 25:40).

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Wikipedia: Saint Lucy's Day
• 25 Important Bible Verses about Charity

Isaiah 9:2 (A Light has Dawned)

Isaiah 9:2

The people walking in darkness

    have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness

    a light has dawned.

It's the most wonderful time of the year...and also the darkest. In many parts of the United States, the sun can set as early or earlier than 5:00 p.m. in the month of December. The darkest day of the year is the winter solstice, and it is on this day that the celebration of Christmas used to occur (this changed because the first people who made the calendar were a bit off in their estimates of how long it takes the Earth to go around the sun, so the calendar was rectified in the late 1700s keeping the celebration of Christmas on the same day while moving the winter solstice to the 21. Ask an astronomy professor about it). It seems it should be ironic that we, as believers, celebrate our savior's birth on the darkest day of the year, but from a Biblical perspective it makes perfect sense The children of God celebrate Christ' coming in the midst of darkness, because Christ entered our world in the midst of darkness.

Christ's coming did not happen without earlier notice. Throughout the Old Testament there are many prophecies about Jesus's coming, but there is one that I will examine this December. In the book of Isaiah there is a prophecy about the coming Messiah and it is recorded in chapter 9 from verses 2 to 7. I'll start my examination of this prophecy by looking at its opening declaration, "The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned" (Isaiah 9:2). 

Now, the world of the Old Testament could easily have been considered a land of deep darkness, much like today's world. When this prophecy was written, Israel, God's chosen people, were about to be cast into the darkness of exile and into the city of Babylon. To the people of Israel, whose life seemed nothing but darkness, God gave this prophecy that a light would come into the world and save them from deep darkness.

In the Bible it is clear that this coming light is Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament it is written that "[God's] word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path" and in the gospel of John Jesus is described as God's word in human form, for it is written, "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (Psalm 119:105, John 1:14). John also writes that in Jesus "was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it" (John 1:4-5). John even writes that Jesus described Himself as a great light, when Jesus said "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life" (John 8:12). 

Yes, the light of Jesus has come into the world, but it is also written, "Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed" (John 3:19-20). The people of this world fear the Light. They fear that He will expose them, but Jesus Himself says "there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open," so all of the wicked and evil deeds of everyone who lives in this world will be made known to Him (Luke 8:17). 

But Light has not come into this world not that He should condemn the world. He has come so that He may save His followers from darkness. Jesus said, "Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light" (John 12:35-36). We, as believers, have nothing to fear of the darkness in this world and we have been saved from it. For it is written, "The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Psalm 27:1). The LORD has come in flesh to save us from the darkness of this world, and He calls us to shine like lights for His namesake. John writes to his followers, "God is light; in Him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin" (1 John 5-7). God came in flesh as a light for the world, so that He could give His life to remove all the darkness of sin from within us. The good news of Christmas is that for all who sin, Light has come so that we may live in God's light.

I want to be in the Light

As You are in the Light

I want to shine like the stars in the heavens

Oh, Lord be my Light and be my salvation

Cause all I want is to be in the Light

All I want is to be in the Light

- DC Talk

Sources

• The Bible (New International Version)
• Bible Study Tools: Verses about Light
• DC Talk: In the Light