Advent with the Fifth Gospel - November 29, 2020 - Pastor Jim - Sermon

November 29, 2020

Pastor Jim Keck

The early church fathers (there were surely mothers too :) called the Old Testament book of Isaiah the "fifth gospel" because it became so central in how the church understood the 'Christ-event. This Advent at First-Plymouth we will be giving special spiritual focus to the poetry and prophecy of the book of Isaiah. As N.T Wright put it: When you think of scriptural passages which point to a coming king, Isaiah chapters 9 and 11 come to mind. When you imagine the inclusion of gentiles in God's promise Isaiah chapter 2 is highlighted. When you think of a royal figure who will suffer to bring about God’s long-planned redemption, the ‘servant songs’ in Isaiah 40–55, climaxing in chapter 53, are the obvious places to go. And when you reflect that the New Testament celebrates the strange victory of God, through his anointed one, over all the dark forces in the world, all with the aim of bringing about the new heavens and new earth, then Isaiah 56–66 are the natural place to look."  This year, let's celebrate the majesty and poetry of the arrival of Jesus with this ancient book of poems. It is the Book of Isaiah that helps us know "Love looks like this."