Hope Amidst Deadness Isaiah 11 1 5 1st Sunday After Xpmas
Series: Christmas Sermons - Old Testament
December 29, 2024
Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
The First Sunday After Christmas 29-December-2024 Sermon Text: Isaiah 11:1-5 Sermon Theme: “Hope Amidst Deadness!” I. From The Ruins God’s Promise Is Fulfilled! (Vs.1). II. He Breathes Forth Life In The Spirit! (Vs.2) III. He Exalts The Lowly! (Vs.3-5) IV. He Triumphs For You! (Vs.5) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
Episode Notes
The First Sunday After Christmas 29-December-2024
Sermon Text: Isaiah 11:1-5
Sermon Theme: “Hope Amidst Deadness!” I. From The Ruins God’s Promise Is Fulfilled! (Vs.1). II. He Breathes Forth Life In The Spirit! (Vs.2) III. He Exalts The Lowly! (Vs.3-5) IV. He Triumphs For You! (Vs.5) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Has Christmas prepared you to die? Not dreading the bills coming due in January, the clean up after family visits, or the un-decorating of the house after the twelfth day of Christmas on January 5th. Has Christmas prepared you to die?
Words matter! Always pay close attention to the word spoken by Christ Jesus through His Church. It was a lying word preached by a fallen angel in God’s sanctuary in Eden that tempted our first parents to rebel against their Creator. Their rebellion didn’t prepare us to die - it sentenced us all to death. God the Holy Spirit testifies, Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—“ And again, Eze 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.
The twelve days of Christmas celebrating the incarnation or the in - flesh-ment of the eternal only begotten Son of God into our skin and bones by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word spoken to the Virgin Mary - hardly seems enough time to prepare to die. Pay close attention to the words. The song of the angels has been restored - we again sing the “Gloria in Excelsis” echoing the victory song of God’s Holy angel army rejoicing in the victory won for humanity in Jesus’ birth. Listen closely to the words - this song of the Church echos the preaching of John the Baptist - pointing to Jesus alone as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Sin pays the wages of death. If sin is paid in full by another - your True Brother. The Baby Boy born of the Virgin Mary in a cave stable in Bethlehem of Judea is our Redeemer. What does this mean? He who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to
righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.
Words matter! The proper preface - the table setting - for the Lord’s Supper during Christmas says, “For in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory, that, seeing You in the Person of Your Son, we may be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen.” As the Holy Spirit writes through St. Paul, “2Co 4:16-5:1 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (5:1) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Jesus is the eternal Word of God made flesh. He Tabernacles - Tents among us. Christmas prepares us to die! Therefore this fifth day of Christmas rejoice in Jesus! Baby Jesus brings: “Hope Amidst Deadness!” I. From The Ruins God’s Promise Is Fulfilled! (Vs.1). II. He Breathes Forth Life In The Spirit! (Vs.2) III. He Exalts The Lowly! (Vs.3-5) IV. He Triumphs For You! (Vs.5)
I. The prophet Isaiah is an historical person. He was called by the Lord God to be His prophet after the death of good King Uzziah in the southern kingdom of Judah. From extra Biblical sources and the historical Biblical documents Uzziah dies in 740B.C.. Uzziah was a descendent of King David. The Davidic line of kings vacillated between good and evil kings. Study the books of Kings and Chronicles. After Uzziah his son Ahaz was an idolater who ignored God’s Word preached by Isaiah. Ahaz led his nation into false worship of idols who can’t save. Hope was reignited by his son Hezekiah. Hezekiah was faithful, but the nation of Judah had corrupted itself and God moved to judge it through the nation of Babylon. Interestingly in Isaiah 39 after Hezekiah had shown the treasures of the kingdom of Judah to emissaries from Babylon and Isaiah preached that now all those treasures and the people of Judah would be carried away captive to that nation. King Hezekiah replied, Isa 39:8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days." Hezekiah’s son wicked Manasseh would turn the heart of the nation back to idolatry. According to tradition King Manasseh will martyr Isaiah by sawing him in two while he was alive.
After 70 years of Babylonian captivity - a remnant - about 50,000 Judeans return to Judah, while over a million choose to stay in Babylon. A descendant of David will again rule for a few centuries. Then Alexander the Great will conquer the land imposing his own rulers. After the Greeks are conquered by the Romans - the Davidic line seems chopped down to its very roots. The tree of David’s rule over Judea is chopped down to its roots. Finally Herod the Great, an Idumean - a descendant of Esau - is placed by Rome to rule over Judea. Davidic kingship appears dead and lost.
Words matter! The Lord God promised David that a Son of his lineage would have an eternal kingdom and rule. The Lord preaches through Isaiah (vs.1) When David’s line appears destroyed, the Lord God will raise up a new David from the very dead stem and lifeless root of Jesse. From the ruins of David’s sinful sons - God will fulfill His promise. Where death reigns, life springs forth anew. A Rod of divine power arises from the lifeless stem of Jesse. From dead buried and long forgotten roots the Branch grows! He is Jesus! He comes to restore life to our deadness!
Words matter! Not your promises to God, but His promise to you in Christ Jesus! Salvation is never purchased on a lay away program - you cannot work your way from the grave and ruins of your sinful life to earn God’s favor. He favors you in His Son! In the fullness of time- the exact right time in history - He sent forth His Son born of a woman, born in your place under the Law - redeeming you and adopting you as His beloved son! Here is pure gift - grace - not earned given through His Word of adoption sealed upon you with water, “I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit!” “You are Mine - I save you!”
II. Words matter! God the Holy Spirit is present in Jesus’ Word proclaimed! He is the Lord and Giver of Life! Apart from Him you cannot know or believe the Truth!
Today’s Gospel lesson fast forwards us to 40 days after Jesus’ birth. It takes us from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. From a humble stable to the glorious Temple built by Herod the Great. In it we find an aged man Simeon, whom God the Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Joseph and Mary brought their firstborn Son to redeem Him and purify Mary. Their poverty is evident in all they can afford is a pair of turtle doves for the sacrifice. In Luke’s historic narrative of Simeon we hear of the Holy Spirit upon him, promising him, guiding him into the Lord’s House at the exact right time to behold his Savior and God - the infant Jesus!
From the moment of His conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary through God’s promise preached through the angel Gabriel - the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus. Listen! (Vs.2) As Jesus breathes His first infant breath and cries - He is breathing out the Lord and Giver of Life - the Holy Spirit into this world. Luke records that as a 12 year old the doctors in the Temple are astonished at Jesus’ wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures. When He is baptized around 30 years old - the Holy Spirit descends visibly and remains upon Him.
Apart from Jesus in our flesh you cannot receive the Holy Spirit. You cannot know wisdom, have understanding, knowledge, counsel, might, or the true fear of the Lord - the Triune God!
God the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. Jesus testifies of God the Father - He preaches the Word given from the Father. A Word of adoption to reconcile us through His Son breathing us alive by His Holy Spirit.
Beware of false spirits. 1Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. Satan loves to masquerade as a white devil - a spiritual devil - offering you life apart from Jesus in our skin and bones and apart from His written Word. Don’t allow him to suffocate you with his spiritual lies. Hear only Jesus! Read, mark, learn, inwardly digest His Word!
III. Words Matter! They cut to the heart! God’s Word is living and active! It pierces us to the core of our being! (Vs. 3-4) The world judges by outward appearances. The devil promises us the world if we forget Jesus! Our fallen flesh loves to have its itching ears scratched by lies - lies that we are basically good and can find our own path to God. Repent!
Humbly embrace infant Jesus! He sees you to your core! He knows your sin! He takes what you deserve into His innocent flesh. Fulfills God’s will perfectly for you! Suffers your hell and death upon the cross! He takes your sin into His innocence that He might shower you with His perfect life - His righteousness! The poor in heart - those who confess they are poor miserable sinners - He cloaks with His righteousness. The meek who realize that they have no goodness apart from Him - He balances the scales of Divine Justice with His Holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death - given and shed for you! You!
Those who reject His Word of peace - forgiveness - life! Will be struck with the rod of His mouth, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!”
IV. Today is the day of your salvation! (Vs.5) Infant Jesus marches into His Temple carried in the arms of His Virgin Mother - He comes as the Warrior King! To win for the sinner David an eternal Kingdom! To win for you sinner - the eternal Kingdom! His righteousness alone wins you the victory over sin, death, and Satan. His faithfulness stands - His Word of promise will never be broken! Not even as you face the last enemy death.
Has Christmas prepared you to die? Holding baby Jesus aged Simeon was ready to die! “Lord, now You are letting your servant die in peace, according to Your Word!” “I’ve seen your salvation - Jesus’ flesh and blood!” Like Simeon and Anna - today the Lord Jesus is present at His altar. His Word breathes forth the Life Giving Holy Spirit and places upon your lips His living body and blood swaddled in the humble clothes of bread and wine. He knits His life into you! Holding Him you can sing with Simeon - Lord, now let me die in peace! Then like Anna tell everyone Redemption is here a real Savior for real sinners. Amen.
Sermon Text: Isaiah 11:1-5
Sermon Theme: “Hope Amidst Deadness!” I. From The Ruins God’s Promise Is Fulfilled! (Vs.1). II. He Breathes Forth Life In The Spirit! (Vs.2) III. He Exalts The Lowly! (Vs.3-5) IV. He Triumphs For You! (Vs.5) by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert
I.N.R.I. Has Christmas prepared you to die? Not dreading the bills coming due in January, the clean up after family visits, or the un-decorating of the house after the twelfth day of Christmas on January 5th. Has Christmas prepared you to die?
Words matter! Always pay close attention to the word spoken by Christ Jesus through His Church. It was a lying word preached by a fallen angel in God’s sanctuary in Eden that tempted our first parents to rebel against their Creator. Their rebellion didn’t prepare us to die - it sentenced us all to death. God the Holy Spirit testifies, Rom 5:12 Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned—“ And again, Eze 18:4 "Behold, all souls are Mine; The soul of the father As well as the soul of the son is Mine; The soul who sins shall die.
The twelve days of Christmas celebrating the incarnation or the in - flesh-ment of the eternal only begotten Son of God into our skin and bones by the Holy Spirit through God’s Word spoken to the Virgin Mary - hardly seems enough time to prepare to die. Pay close attention to the words. The song of the angels has been restored - we again sing the “Gloria in Excelsis” echoing the victory song of God’s Holy angel army rejoicing in the victory won for humanity in Jesus’ birth. Listen closely to the words - this song of the Church echos the preaching of John the Baptist - pointing to Jesus alone as the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Sin pays the wages of death. If sin is paid in full by another - your True Brother. The Baby Boy born of the Virgin Mary in a cave stable in Bethlehem of Judea is our Redeemer. What does this mean? He who has brought us from Satan to God, from death to life, from sin to
righteousness, and who preserves us in the same.
Words matter! The proper preface - the table setting - for the Lord’s Supper during Christmas says, “For in the mystery of the Word made flesh You have given us a new revelation of Your glory, that, seeing You in the Person of Your Son, we may be drawn to the love of those things which are not seen.” As the Holy Spirit writes through St. Paul, “2Co 4:16-5:1 Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. (17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, (18) while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (5:1) For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.” Jesus is the eternal Word of God made flesh. He Tabernacles - Tents among us. Christmas prepares us to die! Therefore this fifth day of Christmas rejoice in Jesus! Baby Jesus brings: “Hope Amidst Deadness!” I. From The Ruins God’s Promise Is Fulfilled! (Vs.1). II. He Breathes Forth Life In The Spirit! (Vs.2) III. He Exalts The Lowly! (Vs.3-5) IV. He Triumphs For You! (Vs.5)
I. The prophet Isaiah is an historical person. He was called by the Lord God to be His prophet after the death of good King Uzziah in the southern kingdom of Judah. From extra Biblical sources and the historical Biblical documents Uzziah dies in 740B.C.. Uzziah was a descendent of King David. The Davidic line of kings vacillated between good and evil kings. Study the books of Kings and Chronicles. After Uzziah his son Ahaz was an idolater who ignored God’s Word preached by Isaiah. Ahaz led his nation into false worship of idols who can’t save. Hope was reignited by his son Hezekiah. Hezekiah was faithful, but the nation of Judah had corrupted itself and God moved to judge it through the nation of Babylon. Interestingly in Isaiah 39 after Hezekiah had shown the treasures of the kingdom of Judah to emissaries from Babylon and Isaiah preached that now all those treasures and the people of Judah would be carried away captive to that nation. King Hezekiah replied, Isa 39:8 So Hezekiah said to Isaiah, "The word of the LORD which you have spoken is good!" For he said, "At least there will be peace and truth in my days." Hezekiah’s son wicked Manasseh would turn the heart of the nation back to idolatry. According to tradition King Manasseh will martyr Isaiah by sawing him in two while he was alive.
After 70 years of Babylonian captivity - a remnant - about 50,000 Judeans return to Judah, while over a million choose to stay in Babylon. A descendant of David will again rule for a few centuries. Then Alexander the Great will conquer the land imposing his own rulers. After the Greeks are conquered by the Romans - the Davidic line seems chopped down to its very roots. The tree of David’s rule over Judea is chopped down to its roots. Finally Herod the Great, an Idumean - a descendant of Esau - is placed by Rome to rule over Judea. Davidic kingship appears dead and lost.
Words matter! The Lord God promised David that a Son of his lineage would have an eternal kingdom and rule. The Lord preaches through Isaiah (vs.1) When David’s line appears destroyed, the Lord God will raise up a new David from the very dead stem and lifeless root of Jesse. From the ruins of David’s sinful sons - God will fulfill His promise. Where death reigns, life springs forth anew. A Rod of divine power arises from the lifeless stem of Jesse. From dead buried and long forgotten roots the Branch grows! He is Jesus! He comes to restore life to our deadness!
Words matter! Not your promises to God, but His promise to you in Christ Jesus! Salvation is never purchased on a lay away program - you cannot work your way from the grave and ruins of your sinful life to earn God’s favor. He favors you in His Son! In the fullness of time- the exact right time in history - He sent forth His Son born of a woman, born in your place under the Law - redeeming you and adopting you as His beloved son! Here is pure gift - grace - not earned given through His Word of adoption sealed upon you with water, “I baptize you, in the Name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit!” “You are Mine - I save you!”
II. Words matter! God the Holy Spirit is present in Jesus’ Word proclaimed! He is the Lord and Giver of Life! Apart from Him you cannot know or believe the Truth!
Today’s Gospel lesson fast forwards us to 40 days after Jesus’ birth. It takes us from Bethlehem to Jerusalem. From a humble stable to the glorious Temple built by Herod the Great. In it we find an aged man Simeon, whom God the Holy Spirit had revealed that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Christ. Joseph and Mary brought their firstborn Son to redeem Him and purify Mary. Their poverty is evident in all they can afford is a pair of turtle doves for the sacrifice. In Luke’s historic narrative of Simeon we hear of the Holy Spirit upon him, promising him, guiding him into the Lord’s House at the exact right time to behold his Savior and God - the infant Jesus!
From the moment of His conception by the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary through God’s promise preached through the angel Gabriel - the Holy Spirit rested upon Jesus. Listen! (Vs.2) As Jesus breathes His first infant breath and cries - He is breathing out the Lord and Giver of Life - the Holy Spirit into this world. Luke records that as a 12 year old the doctors in the Temple are astonished at Jesus’ wisdom and knowledge of the Scriptures. When He is baptized around 30 years old - the Holy Spirit descends visibly and remains upon Him.
Apart from Jesus in our flesh you cannot receive the Holy Spirit. You cannot know wisdom, have understanding, knowledge, counsel, might, or the true fear of the Lord - the Triune God!
God the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus. Jesus testifies of God the Father - He preaches the Word given from the Father. A Word of adoption to reconcile us through His Son breathing us alive by His Holy Spirit.
Beware of false spirits. 1Jn 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. Satan loves to masquerade as a white devil - a spiritual devil - offering you life apart from Jesus in our skin and bones and apart from His written Word. Don’t allow him to suffocate you with his spiritual lies. Hear only Jesus! Read, mark, learn, inwardly digest His Word!
III. Words Matter! They cut to the heart! God’s Word is living and active! It pierces us to the core of our being! (Vs. 3-4) The world judges by outward appearances. The devil promises us the world if we forget Jesus! Our fallen flesh loves to have its itching ears scratched by lies - lies that we are basically good and can find our own path to God. Repent!
Humbly embrace infant Jesus! He sees you to your core! He knows your sin! He takes what you deserve into His innocent flesh. Fulfills God’s will perfectly for you! Suffers your hell and death upon the cross! He takes your sin into His innocence that He might shower you with His perfect life - His righteousness! The poor in heart - those who confess they are poor miserable sinners - He cloaks with His righteousness. The meek who realize that they have no goodness apart from Him - He balances the scales of Divine Justice with His Holy precious blood and innocent suffering and death - given and shed for you! You!
Those who reject His Word of peace - forgiveness - life! Will be struck with the rod of His mouth, “Depart from Me, I never knew you!”
IV. Today is the day of your salvation! (Vs.5) Infant Jesus marches into His Temple carried in the arms of His Virgin Mother - He comes as the Warrior King! To win for the sinner David an eternal Kingdom! To win for you sinner - the eternal Kingdom! His righteousness alone wins you the victory over sin, death, and Satan. His faithfulness stands - His Word of promise will never be broken! Not even as you face the last enemy death.
Has Christmas prepared you to die? Holding baby Jesus aged Simeon was ready to die! “Lord, now You are letting your servant die in peace, according to Your Word!” “I’ve seen your salvation - Jesus’ flesh and blood!” Like Simeon and Anna - today the Lord Jesus is present at His altar. His Word breathes forth the Life Giving Holy Spirit and places upon your lips His living body and blood swaddled in the humble clothes of bread and wine. He knits His life into you! Holding Him you can sing with Simeon - Lord, now let me die in peace! Then like Anna tell everyone Redemption is here a real Savior for real sinners. Amen.
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