Prayer: Come Holy Spirit, come.  Take my lips and speak with them.  Take our minds and think with them.  Take our hearts and set them on fire with love for you.  In Christ’s name, we ask it.  Amen

Many, many years ago, at the beginning of the sixth century BC, the nation of Israel, including the city of Jerusalem, was utterly destroyed by the Babylonian Empire. With the exception of a small remnant of people, those Israelites not killed in battle were exiled to a life of slavery in a distant country a long, long way from home.

In today’s Old Testament lesson, we encounter the people of Israel on the eve of redemption. After fifty plus years of captivity and exile in Babylon, the political tide was turning for the Israelites. Cyrus, the Persian king of the little principality of Elam, succeeded in overpowering the two great near eastern kingdoms of Median and Babylon. Cyrus was now the leader of the great Persian Empire. His vast kingdom included both the devastated nation of Israel and all the Israelites living in captivity exiled from their beloved homeland. Along with Cyrus’ ascent to the throne of the Persian Empire came a hope that the fortunes of the people of Israel might change. Perhaps Cyrus would deal more graciously with the Israelites than the Babylonians had?

It was in this intense but hope filled period of Israel’s history that a prophet would rise up. This prophet interpreted the political events of his time in the context of God’s broader work in world history. The prophet saw in the events of his own day the coming redemption of Israel and the restoration of Jerusalem. But that’s not all he saw. God’s redemption of Israel had far greater implications. The unnamed prophet that most of us call Isaiah proclaimed that the Lord God was about to redeem his people, that Babylon would fall, and that Cyrus, a pagan king, would be used by God to return the Israelites to their homes.

But above and beyond all of these miraculous accomplishments, Isaiah’s majestic prophecy makes the proclamation that God’s redemption of Israel is the means by which God will offer salvation to every nation, tribe, language, and people—for all time—including you and me. Isaiah cries out, “Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you people far away! The Lord called me before I was born, while I was in my mother’s womb he named me…And he said to me, ‘You are my servant, Israel, in whom I will be glorified…It is [not enough] a thing that you should be my servant to raise up Jacob and to restore the survivors of Israel; I [God] will give you as a light to the nations, that my salvation shall reach to the end of the earth.”

You see God says through his prophet it is not good enough for Israel to be restored for itself alone. Instead, God is restoring Israel as a nation and a people in order to bring light and life to every person who ever was or will be. Israel’s redemption is ours as well, and not ours alone, but the redemption of the whole world. Israel’s hope in God’s salvation becomes our hope as well.

Historically speaking, it would not be long before Isaiah’s words became a reality. The people of Israel, in a matter of a few years, returned home from their long exile just as Isaiah prophesied. However, it would be quite a while before Isaiah’s prophecy would be realized in full. Yes, Israel was restored and the survivors of the Babylonian captivity returned home, but it would be some time before Israel would become a light to the nations and the means by which God’s salvation reaches the ends of the earth.

In fact, it would be roughly five hundred years or so after the exile ends and the Israelites return home that Isaiah’s words would find the fulfillment of their meaning. You see at about that time a child of the nation of Israel is born in the city of David a Savior—who is the Messiah—the Lord. In the birth of this child—this Israelite child—Isaiah’s words finally find completion. You see the light to the nations—the means of the world’s salvation is none other than Jesus Christ—a child of Israel and our Lord and Savior.

As I mentioned last week, the church is currently celebrating the season of Epiphany which directly follows the twelve days of Christmas. The word Epiphany is derived from a Greek word that means manifestation or appearing. Epiphany is described as “The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.”  The Gentiles referred to in this title are the three Wise Men—the three astrologists who saw the appearing of a sign in the heavens—a star that led them to the child Jesus. You see the Jewish people both in Jesus’ day and the Israelites to whom Isaiah prophesied in the sixth century BC understood themselves as God’s only chosen people. Salvation—that is living in God’s presence and with God’s blessing—was reserved for one nation of people alone who shared both a religion and bloodline—the Israelites.

This was a religion for the particular. As for the rest of the world, the gentiles, they lived a Godless existence—a life of judgment and no hope. And yet Isaiah declared that Israel would be given as light to the nations so that God’s salvation can reach the ends of the earth. That doesn’t sound like a God who desires to be in relationship with a particular people—but a God who desires nothing less than to bring the whole world in its entirety within His loving embrace.  The fact that God revealed the birth of the Christ Child, through the appearing of a star, to three pagan astrologers living in some distant near eastern country is a sign and symbol of the inclusiveness of God’s love.  No longer was God’s love reserved for one nation, but God’s love was now poured out on the whole world, just as one day Jesus’ blood would be poured out on the cross for the sins of us all.  In the Christ Child—God was and is offering the whole world light and life.  In the Christ Child— Israel has become a light to the nations.  In the Christ Child—God’s salvation has come to the ends of the earth.  Just as God redeemed and restored the nation of Israel following their long exile in Babylon, so to has God redeemed and restored the whole world through this Israelites child’s, Jesus’, death and resurrection.  Jesus is our world’s hope. Jesus is our world’s hope.

In spite of the present darkness that often seems to consume our world, and at times it seems very dark—full of war and death and disease, God has already opened for us they way of light and life through His Son our Lord Jesus Christ.  Just as the Israelites restoration from exile and captivity became a historical reality, so will the coming kingdom of our Lord Jesus become a historical reality.  And, here me now, on that day their will no longer be pain or crying—only life and love both of which will be everlasting. Amen.

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