5 The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. 6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: “The Lord is our righteousness.”
Jeremiah 23: 5-6
The faith of the prophets is stunning. Although they lived centuries before the time of Jesus, they perceived that one day, Jesus would come to save His people.
On the eve of Christmas, when we will celebrate the birth of Jesus, Jeremiah reminds us all of what “He” will bring us:
Wisdom: In a time of confusion, the promise of divine wisdom is welcomed. While we may not always perceive the wisest path, we know the one who is Wisdom personified: Jesus Christ. Jesus said, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” Following the Christ child is the wisest way forward…
Justice: Our world is filled with many injustices. Sometimes, people who commit crimes escape any consequences. Other times, we see individuals punished unjustly for offenses they never committed. In the history of the world, people have never created for themselves a perfect system of justice. Sin, and corruption, and injustice go along with being human. Yet with Christ, we claim His reassuring promise that His justice is divine. He will judge with perfect clarity. Christ promises to bring us perfect justice!
Righteousness: How many times do we observe events and news in our world and say to ourselves, “That is just not right!” Some people arrogantly feel their behavior is morally justified. Therefore, they believe they are exempt from any criticism for their behavior, or their personal choices. Our social fabric has been torn by hypocrisy on all sides. Our world is filled with so many wrongs, and so much sin. We long for the coming of One who will straighten every crooked pathway: the One who will right every wrong. The coming of Christ is the beginning of the reign of Righteousness.
Salvation: Here, Jeremiah promises His people that “Judah will be saved, and Israel will live in safety.” With the benefit of hindsight, and the shared testimony of other prophets, we know that the salvation Christ brings extends beyond Israel. The Lord’s salvation encompasses all of the nations, and all the world. The redemption or salvation we have comes through the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We Christians believe His death on a cross saves us from our many sins. Jesus is called many things, but Savior is one of the most descriptive. Jesus saves us from all our sins.
As the One who brings wisdom, justice, righteousness, and salvation, Christ reigns as the King of Kings, and Lord of lords. Tonight on Christmas Eve, may we all remember that the greatest gift we will ever open. Jesus is offered to us not just one single day, but every day, all year long. May we welcome Him into our world, and in our hearts. Hallelujah! and Amen.
Prayer
Thank You, Lord, for the amazing gifts You offer me freely. I know the gift of Your Son came at a tremendous cost to You. Tomorrow, as I celebrate that gift of Your amazing and precious child, may I realize that this sacrificially-given gift is eternal. Through Your Son, I have eternal life! Help me, Lord, to be worthy of accepting this gift. May my life reflect the honor bestowed upon me to receive such a priceless gift.
With a thankful and joyful heart, I pray this prayer in the name of Your Son, and My Savior, Jesus Christ, Amen.
Amen
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