Jesus came into the darkness. And He didn\u2019t come as a king or warrior or prince. He didn\u2019t come to the big city, the palaces, or the triumphal places. No! \u00a0He comes to the forgotten places. He comes to the abandoned places. He shines His light into the darkest and most forgotten places. \u00a0It is here His light shines brightly and unashamedly. This unwed mother bears a son in an animal\u2019s feed trough. \u00a0The only people invited to His first birthday party were Shepherds. \u00a0They were the worthless, abandoned, hopeless people in society.\u00a0 A shepherd was not qualified to testify in a court of law – that\u2019s how shunned they were. \u00a0But Angels announce into the darkness of the fields to shepherds…\u201cGod is here.\u201d \u00a0The light has come. \u00a0\u00a0And though the society says, \u201cPower, Money, Status\u201d are the things that make a difference. \u00a0Christmas says that power, money, status and influence can never fix the darkness of the world. The only thing that can really fix the world is the light was humble, poor, broke, and yet… Jesus\u2019s feeding trough and old rugged cross is more famous that Pharaoh\u2019s cities, treasures, and king’s palaces. There is Glory of Cheering in the Highest knowing the Hero has arrived.<\/p>\n
Isaiah, who wrote this book, notes that people look to the earth and see trouble and darkness. \u00a0They look at the problems and can\u2019t find a solution. Their solutions don\u2019t work and drive them into darkness. \u00a0This has been true historically. The Greeks thought we could solve the problems of the world with education and wisdom. They thought the mind and intellect would produce a \u201cprofound and great theory\u201d and rescue us all from our darkness. \u00a0\u00a0The Hebrews thought we could fix our issues with religion and politics. \u00a0\u00a0They weren\u2019t waiting for education and elites to solve it. In Jesus\u2019s time, they believed in politics, and leaders who they hoped could rally the forces, set the vision, and fix what was broken. \u00a0\u00a0The people who Isaiah was writing to tried to look within themselves for hope and strength. They consulted their horoscopes through mediums and spiritualists to find their God of consciousness. \u00a0\u00a0If you read Op-Ed\u2019s about how to fix our country, our economy, and other problems, you basically have the same 5 \u201csolutions\u201d that haven\u2019t worked but have been regurgitated over and over again the past 5,000+ years pretty soon, you become aware that we are surrounded my darkness. \u00a0We need to be rescued from our world and ourselves.<\/p>\n
The Message of Christmas says that a light has come into the dark place. There is a God. That God came into this world. He promised that He will fix the darkness. He will make all things right. He will reward you for right doing. He will judge the wrong doers. A Christian sees the hope of Christmas says, \u201cThis life is NOT all there is. \u00a0No matter what I lose in this life, my real treasures are safe with God. \u00a0\u00a0No matter how uncertain the economy seems, I put my trust in someone who is bigger and unchanging. I rest knowing that the one things that really matters. \u00a0I can also know that the darkness will eventually be conquered by the light. \u00a0The Prince of Peace. The Mighty God. Emmanuel will come to fix everything one day.<\/p>\n
When you watch a movie for the second or third time, do you get as scared or nervous? \u00a0\u00a0No. \u00a0Why? You know what will happen. \u00a0When the hero is backed into a corner. \u00a0When there seems to be no way out. \u00a0When the bad guys seem to be getting away with it. \u00a0You know what will happen. \u00a0As strong as the bad guys are…their evil and power will only show us just how gallant your hero is. In fact, the more evil the bad guys are and the more dire the circumstances are, the more you jump up from your seat in gratitude when he comes to save the day. When \u00a0our hero beats back the foes that no one else could beat.\u00a0 This is true with Christmas. \u00a0\u00a0We are living in the middle of the story. \u00a0\u00a0But Christmas offers us a peak at the final chapter. \u00a0\u00a0Christmas offers us a chance to stand to our feet and shout when the baby returns as the king…. \u00a0He defeats death, cancer, evil, pain… All the problems of life… His life pierces the darkness.<\/p>\n
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