Rev’d Phil Zamagias, Christ Church Anglican, Echuca
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A few years ago, my wife and I had the privilege of visiting Olympia in Greece, the birthplace of the Olympic Games.
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It was a surreal experience given that I could actually walk down the tunnel that leads to the running track and then run around it while imagining the crowds cheering on the stands.
It caused me to ponder what the world looked like in those days, around 750BC. What did the world look like back then? What was in the news?
Across the Mediterranean Sea in Jerusalem, an important historical figure walked the Earth at that same time.
His name was Isaiah.
He has become known for being the prophet who had the most to say about the coming Messiah of the Jewish people.
My church is currently working its way through some key chapters in the book of Isaiah because they are timeless and apply to all people regardless of race.
Isaiah’s words have made their way into Christmas cards and carols because they had a lot to say about this Messiah’s miraculous birth and his special mission to rescue God’s people from their sins.
Isaiah wasn’t just dreaming of things he thought would be nice.
He wasn’t gazing into some kind of crystal ball to get inspirational stories.
He spoke God’s words under the direction of God’s Holy Spirit.
When God wanted a spokesman, he asked: “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” Isaiah responds, saying: “Here am I. Send me!”
Isaiah chapter 6 records what we call ‘The call of Isaiah’ where God cleanses him of his sin and equips him to be a herald of Good News about the coming Messiah. Isaiah wasn’t a fortune-teller predicting the future. He was forth-teller of God’s plan for the salvation of the world.
The miraculous birth of Jesus was announced in the very next chapter. ‘Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’
In chapter 9, the picture is filled out even further. ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’
History confirms that the events Isaiah spoke of did actually occur.
He was given the task of announcing them to the world, a world that was groaning under tyrannical governments and oppressive regimes.
God’s message to the world was that He knew their predicament and was doing something about it.
Perhaps some of the most comforting words in all of scripture can be found in Isaiah chapter 40.
God is aware of the pain and suffering of His people, and he tells Isaiah to give them these words of comfort:
Visit a local church this Sunday to learn more about how Jesus is the fulfilment of the Jewish scriptures for all of humanity.
‘Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.’
As we look around our community and our world, we can easily become disheartened by the injustices we see.
Sometimes, we wonder where it is leading us.
However, God knew exactly what would happen when the selfishness of humans ran unchecked.
That’s why He was able to tell Isaiah about the rescuer, Jesus Christ, who would come and set things right.
‘Immanuel’ means ‘God with us’ and that is what happened some 2000 years ago.
God became a human in order to fix the mess that human selfishness had created.
When He rescues us, we too have the privilege of announcing God’s salvation through Jesus.
Visit a local church this Sunday to learn more about how Jesus is the fulfilment of the Jewish scriptures for all of humanity.
Rev’d Phil Zamagias, Christ Church Anglican, Echuca
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