The Sign Will Be! Series

The words came like the sound of wind in distant shady trees, gently floating, rustling remote, just heard, like a lark singing out of sight as it hovers in the light blue of summer skies leaving those who heard the tuneful song wondering, if they really did hear, if the sound was but a figment of their minds blurred in the bustle of the day, like paint somehow smudged into the backdrop of the set in which they lived.

These people had travelled much, they had moaned and groaned to one another, too and about the God they served the one who called himself their God, the One True God, Most High, the God of Israel.

These were words of promise, of forecast, but was it reality, was it a dream, and then they saw them written down by the prophet, that holy man of God: “Hear now, you house of David! Is it not enough to try the patience of men? Will you try the patience of my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.”

What was it Isaiah was saying? (Isaiah 7:13-14)

The words sat paused on the page as if by some strangeness they had a real life, words waiting to burst into the dawn of a new day. Were they words about the prophets own betrothed; how could they be and why would she name her son, ‘God with us, Immanuel’?

Paused in time held still in the breeze of life, occasionally leaping forth from a page, quoted by a Rabbi, drawing awareness to those who would listen, those generations of the recipients of the word who were left for seven hundred years wondering!

“The virgins name was Mary; the angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you are highly favoured! The Lord is with you.” Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting might this be but the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favour with God. You will be with Child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He will be called son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:27b-33).

“The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.” (John 1:9).

As we gather let us consider this Christmas eve The Word who was and is and is to come, who now lives with us by His Holy Spirit, the Lord Jesus, who came as a child born of a virgin, the only begotten son of God, who is now seated having conquered death, at the right hand of God the Father, Jesus our Saviour and the Saviour of all who would call on His name.