Third
Sunday in Advent
December
11, 2016
Isaiah
35:1-10
Christ’s
Coming Blossoms Deserts
In
the name of the Father and of the ☩
Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
The
prophet John was in jail. He was the man sent by Jesus to prepare the
world for His coming advent. John had spoken truth to power and jail
was his reward. And so John sent some of His followers to make sure
Jesus was really the One for whom they had been getting ready.
2When
John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent a message by
his disciples 3and asked Him, “Are You the One who is to
come, or should we expect someone else?” 4Jesus replied
to them, “Go and report to John what you hear and see: 5the
blind see, the lame walk, those with skin diseases are healed, the
deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor are told the good news.
6And if anyone is not offended because of Me, he is
blessed.”
MATTHEW
11:2-6 HCSB
Jesus'
reply is basically, “I do impossible things. Yes, I am the One.”
Using
striking images, another prophet of God, Isaiah, pictured a future
where impossible things took place. Isaiah prophesied:
1The
wilderness and the dry land will be glad;
the
desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose.
2It
will blossom abundantly
and
will also rejoice with joy and singing.
The
glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the
splendor of Carmel and Sharon.
They
will see the glory of the Lord,
the
splendor of our God.
ISAIAH
35:1-2 HCSB
Speaking
in images that we would understand, Isaiah tells of deserts being
transformed into fertile land. Roses blossom and cedar trees grow
big. Lebanon is where you go for cedar; King Solomon went to Lebanon
to get beautiful cedar timbers for the Temple in Jerusalem. Carmel
was a range of hills with lush vegetation; Sharon was on the coast of
the Mediterranean Sea and was famous for its flowers.
This
transformation from dry desert to lush gardens of plants, trees, and
roses is a good way to think about your conversion.
Before
Jesus blessed you, you belonged to yourself. And you had nothing. You
tried to create artificial green in your desert, but it was fake.
Think Las Vegas. Like Vegas, the only thing we can think to do is to
take pride in being fake.
Faking
is the sinner’s
way of life. We pretend to be good when others are watching, but when
we think no one is watching . . . Just think about your Google
searches during this past month.
We
usually try to put up a good front, but on our own it's fake. It
isn't real. Even kids are fake: If you are led to believe that a Kit
Kat bar is in your near future, you will be very good, until said
candy bar is or is not delivered.
We
are deserts, who try to look green. Let us say what this is: Sin,
trying to save ourselves. Repent, stop faking, and turn to Jesus.
Jesus
is the One who has the water of life and He gladly waters you. Isaiah
described Jesus taking a desert and making it into a lush
garden. That's you! Psalm 1 described Christians like trees drinking
up water, which is the Word of God.
1How
happy is the man
who
does not follow the advice of the wicked
or
take the path of sinners
or
join a group of mockers!
2Instead,
his delight is in the Lord’s instruction,
and
he meditates on it day and night.
3He
is like a tree planted beside streams of water
that
bears its fruit in season
and
whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever
he does prospers.
PSALM
1:1-3 HCSB
Out
in the wilderness John was free. John preached in the desert and
baptized fakers of all ages in the River Jordan. He boldly preached
that we are sinners who needed the Savior. But when he was in jail,
it must have like being put out into the desert. But then the words
of Jesus came back to him and these promises poured out over John
like rich clean beautiful water. Jesus is the One.
3Strengthen
the weak hands,
steady
the shaking knees!
4Say
to the cowardly:
“Be
strong; do not fear!
Here
is your God; vengeance is coming.
God’s
retribution is coming; He will save you.”
5Then
the eyes of the blind will be opened,
and
the ears of the deaf unstopped.
6Then
the lame will leap like a deer,
and
the tongue of the mute will sing for joy,
for
water will gush in the wilderness,
and
streams in the desert;
7the
parched ground will become a pool of water,
and
the thirsty land springs of water.
ISAIAH
35:3-7a HCSB
For
even the
Son of Man did not come to be Served, but to Serve, and to Give His
Life as a Ransom for Many. Amen.
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