At Christmas, we receive gifts that often disappoint us. They aren't what we expected, and they don't work like we thought they would.
Isaiah foretold that God would give us a Son to reign forever over His people.
The first explicit promise in the Scriptures that a son would be given to anybody was God's promise of Isaac to Abraham and Sarah.
Next was God's promise to David to give him a son to rule upon his throne.
Then came Isaiah's prophecy of a Son Who would be Deity and yet born a child. He would bring fire and judgment and an eternal reign of ever-increasing righteousness and judgment.
But who could survive such a kingdom? All God's people are sinners, yet the Son would have a kingdom of ever-increasing righteousness. "Who may abide the day of His coming, for He is like a refiners fire!" Wouldn't the Righteousness of the Son sooner or later judge even the best of God's people?
The promise of the Son, looked at in that light, was not a happy promise.
That is why it is so startling and joyous that when the Son appeared at the Incarnation, He brought peace and salvation to His people! Indeed, He would save His people from their sin!
And that was the solution - Christ's redemption of His people is what sweetens the promise of a Son Who reigns in perfect Righteousness.
For if He takes away our sin, then we are fitted to live forever under His perfect rule.
Indeed, Christ announces that the Son was given to give everlasting life to whoever trusts in Him.
The Jews disregarded the gift of the Son, because they saw no kingdom rule. They weren't prepared for that rule, but the Cross made us ready, for it took away our sin.
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John Pittman Hey was born in 1961 in Jackson, Mississippi, to Godly parents who from the beginning raised him in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. With child-like faith he came to Christ on his fourth birthday at his mother's knee. He received his education at church...
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