comfort and preparation
OBSERVATION:
As we light the second candle, representing Jesus, the Light of the Word, we are reminded of a familiar prophecy from Isaiah. In the final section of the book of Isaiah, the theme is consolation. Glorious promises of truth surround our verse today.
Imagine, if you will, a menorah with seven candles.
Isaiah 40:1-2 NKJV - "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all her sins."
As we light the second candle, representing Jesus, the Light of the Word, we are reminded of a familiar prophecy from Isaiah. In the final section of the book of Isaiah, the theme is consolation. Glorious promises of truth surround our verse today.
Imagine, if you will, a menorah with seven candles.
Isaiah 40:1-2 NKJV - "Comfort, yes, comfort My people!" Says your God. "Speak comfort to Jerusalem, and cry out to her, That her warfare is ended, That her iniquity is pardoned; For she has received from the LORD's hand Double for all her sins."
The nation’s sin had been revealed, judgment had been pronounced, and even future captivity was to come, yet God would tell his people that He was going to do something only God could do: “Comfort”. Not just any comfort, but comfort that would come in the form of the remission of sin. “Her warfare is ended, and her iniquity is pardoned.” Isaiah goes on to say, “She has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” Yes, the nation had been through a lot for its sin, but Jesus would pay the ultimate price, not just to pardon but to forgive and remove our sin. God would place it on Jesus. For He made Him who knew no sin into sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (2 Corinthians 5:21). The plan of redemption was prophesied and was about to be born in the form of a little child, the Savior of the World, the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
This news of “comfort” needed a herald, a forerunner, to proclaim it and prepare the way for hearts to receive what Jesus was about to do – save His people!
Isaiah 40:3 is fulfilled in Luke 1:1-25, where John the Baptist, born to Elizabeth and Zechariah, is prophesied to prepare the way for the Messiah.
In this account in Luke 1, we see that Elizabeth and Zachariah were “advanced in years” and that Elizabeth had been barren, unable to have children. Yet even in their disappointment and sadness, they continued to serve the Lord. While Zachariah was serving as a priest in the temple, burning incense to the Lord, something amazing happened. God spoke! You may think, “Why is that amazing?” Because it had been 400 years since God last spoke. The prophet Malachi was the last one through whom the Lord spoke. What were these words that God said? Comfort!
Luke 1:13-15 NKJV - But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
This news of “comfort” needed a herald, a forerunner, to proclaim it and prepare the way for hearts to receive what Jesus was about to do – save His people!
Isaiah 40:3 is fulfilled in Luke 1:1-25, where John the Baptist, born to Elizabeth and Zechariah, is prophesied to prepare the way for the Messiah.
In this account in Luke 1, we see that Elizabeth and Zachariah were “advanced in years” and that Elizabeth had been barren, unable to have children. Yet even in their disappointment and sadness, they continued to serve the Lord. While Zachariah was serving as a priest in the temple, burning incense to the Lord, something amazing happened. God spoke! You may think, “Why is that amazing?” Because it had been 400 years since God last spoke. The prophet Malachi was the last one through whom the Lord spoke. What were these words that God said? Comfort!
Luke 1:13-15 NKJV - But the angel said to him, "Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. "And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. "For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother's womb.
The first words spoken in 400 years were, “Do not be afraid.”
Words of comfort for one who would witness a miracle, one they had given up on many years ago.
The birth of a son. He would not just be any son, but the forerunner of the Messiah. Zachariah was told of the mission of this promised son.
Words of comfort for one who would witness a miracle, one they had given up on many years ago.
The birth of a son. He would not just be any son, but the forerunner of the Messiah. Zachariah was told of the mission of this promised son.
Luke 1:16-17 NKJV - "And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. "He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, 'to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,' and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord."
We see not only God’s first words to his people in 400 years, but also a fulfillment of God’s last words spoken through Malachi, which began the 400 years of silence.
Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), and his mission was to turn people to the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
We see not only God’s first words to his people in 400 years, but also a fulfillment of God’s last words spoken through Malachi, which began the 400 years of silence.
Malachi 4:5-6 NKJV - Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse."
John would come in the spirit and power of Elijah (Luke 1:17), and his mission was to turn people to the Messiah – Jesus Christ.
APPLICATON:
As the account in Luke reaches a climax, Zechariah, still in the temple listening to the Angel Gabriel, says what you and I would. “How?” This is often the response of those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time. “It sounds too good to be true!” Yet we who have come to know it well say, “It is so good that it is true!”
Luke 1:18-20 NKJV - And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."
We hear the words of Zachariah ring out in our own hearts. “How, Lord, will You do this”? Maybe it’s a promise that has been delayed, a calling that is waiting to be fulfilled, a child promised, or a loved one who is still lost. God would reply – Comfort! God took most of Elizabeth and Zachariah’s lives to finish the “preparation” in their hearts so their son would be born to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
May we also say, as Elizabeth did, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (Luke 1:25) God is faithful, even if it seems like it's been 400 years. He keeps His promises!
As the account in Luke reaches a climax, Zechariah, still in the temple listening to the Angel Gabriel, says what you and I would. “How?” This is often the response of those who hear the Good News of Jesus Christ for the first time. “It sounds too good to be true!” Yet we who have come to know it well say, “It is so good that it is true!”
Luke 1:18-20 NKJV - And Zacharias said to the angel, "How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years." And the angel answered and said to him, "I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. "But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time."
We hear the words of Zachariah ring out in our own hearts. “How, Lord, will You do this”? Maybe it’s a promise that has been delayed, a calling that is waiting to be fulfilled, a child promised, or a loved one who is still lost. God would reply – Comfort! God took most of Elizabeth and Zachariah’s lives to finish the “preparation” in their hearts so their son would be born to “prepare the way of the Lord.”
May we also say, as Elizabeth did, “Thus the Lord has dealt with me, in the days when He looked on me, to take away my reproach among people.” (Luke 1:25) God is faithful, even if it seems like it's been 400 years. He keeps His promises!
PRAYER:
Jesus, thank You for the comfort and joy You bring through the promises fulfilled in Your Word. May You prepare my heart for what You have for me and help me comfort others as we prepare the way for You to come into their hearts.
Jesus, thank You for the comfort and joy You bring through the promises fulfilled in Your Word. May You prepare my heart for what You have for me and help me comfort others as we prepare the way for You to come into their hearts.
Do not be afraid! Comfort and Salvation have come.