Are we preaching this message at Christmas?

When the famous hymn writer Isaac Watts composed his well-known hymn "Joy to the World the Lord is Come," he drew the inspiration directly from Psalm 98.

The hymn and the psalm from which it derived its inspiration speak of the Lord's coming as the righteous king to extend his kingdom and to judge the earth with righteousness when he comes again.

Recently I was reading a Christmas-based sermon by one of the most widely respected preachers of this generation and in his opening remarks, he makes the observation that in much of our society today it is easier for people to embrace the message of Christmas in the nativity story and the baby Jesus whilst altogether ignoring the message of his promise to return.

Have we sentimentalized Christmas he rhetorically asks?

I think that this is a valid question.

During the years of pastoral ministry, I cannot recall the number of times I heard the wonderful passage from Isaiah chapter 9 read out as a regular part of the nativity readings for Christmas.

"For unto us, a child is born,

Unto us, a son is given,

And the government will be upon His shoulder, And His name will be called wonderful, counselor, mighty God, Everlasting Father prince of peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace, there will be no end.

Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom to order and establish it with judgment and justice, From that time forward even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this." Isaiah 9 vs 6-7

This very familiar passage of scripture speaks to us of the birth of Christ as that helpless babe when he became incarnate in Bethlehem two thousand years ago.

"Unto us, a child is born unto us a son is given"(this was spoken 700 years before Christ's actual birth in Israel)

However, the same prophecy of Isaiah also says that this child who is going to be born and this Son who will be given will carry the government of God upon his shoulders and sit upon the throne of David to order and establish his kingdom with judgment and justice.

What is this speaking about and how does this fit in with the promise of Christ's birth?

In Psalm 89 we find a fascinating promise God speaks to David and his posterity

"Once I have sworn by my holiness; I will not lie to David; His seed shall endure forever, and his throne as the sun before me, it shall be established forever like the moon, Even like the faithful witness in the sky". Psalm 89 v35-37

How could David's seed and throne be established forever like the sun and the moon?

We know that David is dead and his tomb is present in Israel today and that his dynasty has long since perished from exercising kingly power in Israel.

Unless this promise is being spoken by the Father to Christ the Son as one who as to his human nature came from the line of descent of King David.

Therefore this promise of an enduring throne and rule and reign that will not cease is promised to Christ as the greater Son and the great king who will one day sit on David's throne from Jerusalem and reign over all the nations of the earth.

And if this concept of Christ seated upon David's throne from the city of Jerusalem to rule de facto as king over all the earth, (not from some ethereal throne in the heavens), may be a new thought to you, have you considered that it was a theme central to the preaching of the apostles and is highlighted in the very first sermon preached in the early church.?

"Men and brethren let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day;

Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him(psalm 89) that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, he would raise up the Christ to sit on His throne.

He foreseeing this spoke concerning the resurrection of Christ." Acts 2 v29-31

Both Isaiah and Peter have one thing in common they both preached Christ's first and second coming. His first coming was as the child born in a manger in Bethlehem, the city of David, to die on the cross as a sin-bearing sacrifice, thirty-three years later, to take away our sins.

They also proclaimed his return as the promised ruler to sit upon David's throne to rule over the nations with a rod of iron in perfect justice and righteousness and peace.

We need both visions, both aspects of the salvation he came to bring and more than ever a real urgency to preach the nearness of his coming when we preach his birth as a baby two thousand years ago.

The book of Romans tells us that all of creation is groaning and crying out in travail for the manifestation of the sons of God. (Romans chapter 8)

All of this natural order of creation is crying out for the return of Christ the king(what a moment of joy that will be for creation)should not we as God's children, as those who have been redeemed by Christ's precious blood, also be possessed with a Maranatha cry "Lord come back come back soon, come quickly Lord Jesus" amen.?

As we preach the Christmas message of the the birth of Christ as our savior may God grant ten thousand voices who will cry out this great message of hope, the Lord is coming soon, the bridegroom is returning for His bride.

The question that remains and is most compelling for us, and one we need to be continuously asking ourselves, must be, are we ready for that momentous Day?