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Promise!

December 24, 2022

Isaiah 35:1-10 | Revelation 22:12-17,21 | Luke 1:67-80

So . . .  it is finally Christmas Eve! 

It is full of promise of Who is to come. We read and remember that God has promised to lead His people, to protect them.  To free them. 

“Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, 
   and the ears of the deaf unstopped;  
then the lame shall leap like a deer, 
   and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. 
For waters shall break forth in the wilderness, 
   and streams in the desert;  
the burning sand shall become a pool, 
   and the thirsty ground springs of water; 
the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp, 
   the grass shall become reeds and rushes. “ 

God’s people have waited (and waited!). 

And we hear the prophecy of Zechariah, John the Baptist’s father, the Promise of the coming child. 

“He has raised up a mighty saviour for us 
   in the house of his servant David,” 

And later, regarding what John the Baptist will do … 

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; 
   for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways,  
to give knowledge of salvation to his people 
   by the forgiveness of their sins.  
 

We think of the calmness of the nativity scenes countless artists have envisioned and shared. But we know that in reality, there had to be at least some chaos in the stable, with animals and their voices, varieties of smells, shepherds, angels singing, a crying baby, new inexperienced parents in an unfamiliar and unsuspected setting!  What anticipation, probably some nervousness, excitement, hope, and joy! 

Help us to reflect on these experiences as we prepare for Christ’s birth! 

Pat and Roger Cichy