
Read Isaiah 9:6-7
How do you know when the Christmas season has begun?
Answer: Not until you hear, sing, or hum, “Silent Night.” True? The sweet lullaby swells up in us all those warm feelings that signals the season has arrived.
Now, that’s not wrong, it’s just not close to the real story behind that not-so-silent-night.
On that holy night Jesus arrived on earth, the angels spilled out over heaven’s doorway and filled the night sky with shouts and cheers. Literally, Scripture said “they let loose.”
Perhaps they had been perched on the edge of heaven, waiting, too long. Long ago in the Garden of Eden God had promised a plan that would ransom man back from evil. Perhaps since then, rumors in the halls of heaven had whispered of a heavenly invasion, hell-bent on destroying evil in the world. And when it finally had begun, all heaven broke loose.
To us, it’s sweet baby Jesus lying in a manger. To them, it was God Himself, wrapped in flesh. Mystery personified in humanity. Come to wage war. Come to buy back a hijacked creation.
A baby’s cry from the manger signaled the beginning. A Child was born. A Son was given. And the metanarrative of history turned.
Sometimes wonder is in the mystery; other times wonder is in the understanding. The angels understood what was happening.
This Child—this Son—was God Himself. Deliverer of mankind. “Unto you is born this day, a Savior.” How wonder-full.
This year, let’s reclaim that wonder for ourselves. Together for these days leading to Christmas, we will explore what the prophet Isaiah whispered on the pages of prophecy about this promised Messiah—about the Jesus that God revealed to him to be: Wonderful counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.
Pause and let the wonder in. Explore it in your head. Let it comfort your heart. Bow to His majesty.
Written by Barb Peil