Something new

Psalm 80:1-7
Isaiah 42:10-18
Hebrews 10:32-35

If there is one thing that Jesus' birth is, it is God doing something new. It was so new that even though there are as many as 400 prophesies pointing toward Jesus, it still caught everyone of guard. A baby, born to average parents, laid in a manger because the inn was full, was to become the long awaited Messiah, the savior of God's people. Yet, He didn't come with armies. He didn't overthrow the Roman government. Heck, He didn't even suggest overthrowing the government. Instead, He did the opposite. He talked about loving your neighbor... and your enemy, being forgiving, being generous, and returning to God, so that the father who waits for you can run and welcome you home with open arms. Jesus was a man, yet also God.

Turn to God, follow Jesus, and you will be saved. A result of that is God will write His law on your heart and mind, and you will be able to do the crazy kind of loving that Jesus calls us to do. This is the Gospel.

And here, in these three passages, we see parts of the Gospel. In Psalm 80, is the heartfelt cry of a people who know they cannot measure up. They know that God is their only hope of salvation. Our only hope.

Isaiah tells us something about God and His plans. People from all over the earth will praise God. God is a God of diversity; He brings people from all parts of the world together. God is powerful, and able to fight for us. God is patient and is willing to wait for things to fall into place. God says He will do something new. He is going to change the world to help His people. God will lead them and take care of them, His people, the ones from all over. You and me. He is a real being, capable and powerful... not like those gods made of wood or metal. God is not imaginary.

Hebrews reminds us that all is not finished. God is still holding back, waiting for the right time. In the meantime, we wait. Things may even be hard, but they are far from hopeless. God is still in control, and will make all things right. God will honor our faith, and give us the power to hang on. God will not allow us to be destroyed.

And why does God do this? Why did Jesus come? I'm going to cheat just a bit and jump ahead a chapter in Isaiah. The answer is very simple...

God says, "Because you are precious in my eyes, and honored, and I love you," (Isaiah 43:4a, ESV)

This is why we celebrate Christmas, because God loves us. It's that simple.

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