BEHOLD THE SON OF GOD
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.1
Broken and historically marred versions of grace abound within Christianity. Many times they are portraits painted with brushes of fear. But not healthy, biblical, awe-focused fear, but debilitating, soul- crushing, life-ending fear.
We all know the caricature of the Baptist pastor pounding on the pulpit, spit flying from his mouth, and angrily calling the sinners in the room to salvation, effectively using guilt better than anyone’s mama ever did.
The teenager who seems to continually rush down the aisle at every youth camp, every discipleship weekend, every emotionally-driven worship service, to “get saved” again...and again...and again... even in churches that declare loudly that once you truly are saved you never are lost again.
But they do this. They “rededicate” ad nauseum.
And it is not just younger people. There are the senior adults who have been in the church for many decades who come regularly, wondering, fearfully wondering if they are truly saved.
There is the wife and mother who fears that because she cannot remember the actual words she prayed as a young girl that perhaps she truly isn’t saved.
There is the man who lives with the guilt of all that he did in years past that has left him with broken relationships that he vacillates between coming to church to get his act together and disappearing from any Christian connections for months...until he does something “really bad” again...wondering why this Christianity just doesn’t take.
There is the hard-hearted, legalist who is proud that she is not like everyone else in her neighborhood who votes wrongly, acts immorally, parties loudly, and affirms ungodly behavior in the local schools and community.
Or the good old boy who claims to be a Christian because Jesus fits well into the list of things that matter to him, America, country music, good beer, fishing, and...anyway, his grandpa was a preacher. Amen?
I wish these were made up examples, but these are real people. People I know. People you know.
What causes this? What makes Christianity into the shell that it truly is and blinds people to the reality of hope?
Ray Ortlund said:
Too often what passes for Christianity today is a life legislated by the good example of Jesus and frightened by the threat of divine punishment. But the person who is afraid of sinning because of hellfire isn’t really afraid of sinning; he’s only afraid of burning. He has no love for salvation. He has no stimulus for action except fear and pride.
And for the Christians here today and watching online, many of you came to Jesus just like I did...just like this.
Many people come to Christ because of what they do not want.
• They do not want to feel lonely
• They do not want to feel guilty
• They do not want to go to hell
• They do not want to burn
And yet, Christianity as a device of divine avoidance seems to be missing the very life and love that stands as it’s foundation. Surely, it is good news that the redeemed have life, but Jesus as little more than a spiritual escape pod seems to be minimizing the reality of who he truly is.
For many Christ has been offered as little more than a choice between good and evil. I can hear the parent of the small child saying “Make good choices” now. Perhaps it’s more like Morpheus offering Neo the red pill or the blue pill in the film “The Matrix”? A choice. Choose wisely.
But when we float here, between making the right pick, we only reveal how empty our religion is. True faith is not the capacity to make winning picks or victorious choices when faced with two compelling options. Yet, this passes for Christianity in many churches today. To the detriment of the people and ultimately to the church.
And yet...people have been wrestling with this reality of faith for millennia.
Isaiah 7 is about 200 years into a journey of dysfunction that overwhelmed the people of God and left them empty, religiously routine, self-actualized, and seeking to realize where they line up among the fast-growing nation-states of the Fertile Crescent. The Assyrian Empire is upon them and the tiny nation of God is no match (especially in their current state.)
So Israel makes a treaty with Syria. The enemy of my enemy is my friend they say. Judah is the southern kingdom after Israel split upon the death of Solomon. The northern kingdom retained the name Israel and
while they have aligned with the pagan Syrians, the nation of Judah has not. King Ahaz is over Judah (he’s the grandson of Uzziah who has recently died) and the pressure from all surrounding nations, even Israel is strong for him to join the alliance.
Yet, the prophet has declared these earthly plans are doomed. God has not abandoned his people and in 7:1 it states
Isaiah 7:1
In the days of Ahaz the son of Jotham, son of Uzziah, king of Judah, Rezin the king of Syria and Pekah the son of Remaliah the king of Israel came up to Jerusalem to wage war against it, but could not yet mount an attack against it. 2
This should excite the king and give him confidence. The fact that God is protecting his people is a good thing. But Ahaz won’t believe it. He is a pessimist. He is not faithful to God. He will not trust God. He’s too anxious to sign a treaty. Too fearful to give in. Too proud to trust God. Hi heart is hard.
Throughout chapters 7 and 9 there is so much to dwell upon. Questions like “Will we trust God when difficulty comes, or simply ourselves?”
When people rebel against and reject God, judgment comes. Would we rather be judged by man or God?
Ahaz is a self-righteous sinner who refuses to trust God, and yet God is gracious. He is offering hope. He desires to help, but awaits the turn of sinful man, the repentant heart.
God sends Isaiah to Ahaz and God offers an opportunity.
Isaiah 7:10-11
10 Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz: 11 “Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven.”3
“Ahaz – ask for a sign. I’m giving you permission to ask. So that you will see. So that you will know that I am God. So that you will trust me and lead well. Because I LOVE YOU!” is what God is saying here.
In a time of despair, when it is clear the walls are crashing in upon him and his people, as nations are gathering to overrun them. As it is obvious that God’s people need hope, help, and life, the king is given this incredible, amazing, undeserved chance.
But...sin is a crazy thing. It makes us skeptical, unable to trust, unable to love, pessimistic, negative, self-focused, self-reliant, people-fearing, image-focused, and more.
12 But Ahaz said, “I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test.”4
You say, “But what is wrong with that response?” Didn’t Jesus say that too? Isn’t that in Leviticus? Is not that the right thing to say?
Nope.
Because here it is simply a religious, pious, sound-good, quick thinking diplomatic hypocrisy.
There will be strings attached. What strings? Total surrender to God and he does not want to give God control. This means that when the victory is won Ahaz will not get the credit, but God will. Sin refuses to allow anyone else, even God, to get the glory.
Notice in verse 11 Isaiah tells Ahaz that “your God” wants to save you. Ahaz rejects.
Then in verse 13, Isaiah says “my God” when he clarifies that God is not on the side of Ahaz as Ahaz’s opportunity has passed.
And then...the promise. The promise to God’s people. A sign would be given.
Isaiah 7:14
14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.5
And there’s more to this passage than first seen. It’s not an easy passage to understand, despite the fact that it has been emblazoned on Christmas cards and kitsch for years.
As with many messianic prophecies, there are dual meanings. In this case, the promise is in the context of the troubles coming to the people of Judah and the hope only found in God. The prophecy came true as it predicted the birth of Maher-shalal-hashbaz, Isaiah’s own son. The word transliterated as “virgin” meant young woman, an ordinary young woman, who had not yet been with a man. In Isaiah’s case, the mother of his son had not yet been with him until after the prophecy was spoken. That may confuse you, but the birth of Maher-shalal-hashbaz was not a virgin birth in the sense we think, but his mother was a virgin prior to his conception.
In Isaiah 8 the birth of this boy is tied to the fall of the Syro-Ephraimite alliance. The strange name of the child literally means “The spoil speeds, the prey hastens” which is a cool name, but ominous. The message of this name was that God was with his people. God with us. Immanuel.
But...even more importantly this passage foretold the birth of another.
Matthew, the apostle, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit is brought back to this Old Testament prophecy.
Matthew 1:21-23
21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will
save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel”
(which means, God with us). 6
God with us. Immanuel.
The God who loves. The God who saves. The God who reaches down and rescues the undeserving. The God who is gracious. The God who is with us.
Christ the Lord is born. He is the Son of God, God the Son, Second Person of the Trinity...and the plan all along. He is the Way, Truth, and Life.
He is Immanuel.
And through him...simple image-bearing creations of God can become children of God.
Jonathan Edwards described a true Christian this way:
“As he has more holy boldness, so he has less self-confidence...As he is more sure than others of deliverance from hell, so he has a greater sense that he deserves it. He is less apt than others to be shaken in faith, but more apt than others to be moved by solemn warnings, God’s frowns and the calamities of others. He has the firmest comfort, but the softest heart; richer than others, but poorest of all in spirit. He is the tallest and strongest saint, but the least and tenderest child among them.”
God’s people are not defined by all that brokenness and messed up reactionary religious stuff I mentioned at the beginning. Fear of burning is not the characteristic of a child of God nor is it the true reason we serve. In Isaiah’s day there would be a remnant of true believers. Those who love the Lord, seek to glorify him, live their lives as offerings to him. And there is an understanding that God is sovereign...over all. It was promised. It was true. It is true.
Behold the Son, the Lamb of God. GOD WITH US. Come let us adore him.
John 1:29
29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!7
And today for some of you, the invitation is similar to the one offered Ahaz. And you are given this gift. Life. Hope. Meaning. Grace.
What will you do?
Footnotes
1 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
2 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:1). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
3 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:10–11). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
4 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:12). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
5 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Is 7:14). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
6 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Mt 1:21–23). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
7 The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 1:29). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
