"what Is Christmas Really All About?"

“Wishing and Hoping”

Isaiah 9:6-7a

Several years ago, I wrote and published my first book. The entire process took about two and a half years. The Bible was written over a period of 1500 years. And rather than one author, there were approximately 40. With very different backgrounds; sheep herders, fishermen, a tax collector and even a doctor. The final book, the book of Revelation was written around 90AD. Most of these were written continuously with some gaps of course but none like the gap between the Old Testament and the New Testament.

The people had become accustomed to hearing from the prophets, 17 of them – but suddenly it stopped. There are only three possibilities as to what was happening. (1) God stopped speaking. (2) People stopped listening or (3) God was saying I just need you to wait. And that’s the theory I believe. He was saying I just want you to learn to wait. It was not the time. You need time to reflect on what has already been said.

We looked at the topic of waiting last week and one thing and I just want to add one thing to what I said - - waiting doesn’t always mean we are idle -- sitting around and doing nothing. This is what I see in scripture.

Waiting can bring anticipation and anticipation can offer hope.

So, for a stretch of 400 years, four centuries, there was no word from God. They must have asked questions --- like,

• Where is God?

• Where have all the prophets gone?

• Where is God when we need Him?

• After all, we need God now as much as ever.

And for 400 years this happened. No doubt their focus was on a spark of hope found in Isaiah chapter 9. Isaiah 9:6-7a.

This was the hope of the Israelites for 4000 years, that a Messiah would come and rescue them from slavery, from war, from conflict and offer them eternal life. The one Isaiah was speaking of would arrive on the scene. In fact, at least 300 Old Testament prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus. People claim today to know the future. Psychics claim they know. I was driving through this area a few years back and saw a sign that said, “psychic meetings cancelled for today.” I thought, if you’re really a psychic, didn’t you know when you were scheduling them that they would be cancelled?” Right? The prophets prophesied as to what God had to say. The difference in the psychics and the prophets is that the prophets actually did know. And it’s hard to imagine they knew so much. I mean, how could anyone tell us what is going to happen 1000 years later and be 100 per cent right…. as to….

• How the event will take place

• When the exact time would be right

• The city and place where it would take place

All 300 of these prophecies merged together--- all to point to the wonderful counselor-- the Prince of Peace--- all pointing to our Messiah Jesus! But all this time, God’s people had to wait. And in their waiting, they began to anticipate. Children can start their Christmas list early - - they mention something in February they want and they want it right then. Parents learn to say, not now, but maybe you should put that on your Christmas list and the child is thinking wow ---10 months ---that’s a long time to wait! The parents say, well it will be here soon enough. As one senior adult man told me years ago, David when I was a child it seemed like forever until Christmas would arrive. Now it seems like it’s every other day. But for children all they can do is anticipate.

Waiting brings anticipation.

Anticipation is when we actually believe that what was promised is actually going to take place. After all, God’s people had been through, slavery, conflict, war, it’s hard to imagine how they must have reacted the first time they heard this prophecy. 😊A child will be born. The government will rest on his shoulders. He will carry the weight and in the future; He will reign over all of it and be Lord. In charge! And what a relief. In their waiting, they began to anticipate. “Anticipation” is similar to a “prediction.” As you know predictions depend on who the predictor. Have they been right before? In fact, have they ever been right. Because let’s face it, there are prophets and there are false prophets. And at times it is hard to know which ones to listen to.

So, we have to consider what would cause them to anticipate something that could happen --- 1000 years later ---- if no prophecy was being fulfilled in their own lifetime? But listen. OT prophecies were actually fulfilled at three different times. They are being fulfilled today-----happening all around us, they were also fulfilled in the 1st century – but some of the Old Testament prophecies were also fulfilled during Old Testament times. I’ve listed in your notes over 10 of these. Now, a couple of thousand years later, prophecies are still being fulfilled. So, their waiting, that turned to anticipation, has now turned to hope.