Join us for an enlightening journey as we read from the prophecies of Isaiah, depicting promises of peace and justice. Isaiah’s message of hope resounds with themes of redemption and restoration that echo throughout time, providing a backdrop to the advent of the Messiah. Let these powerful scriptures guide your understanding of the festive season’s true essence and inspire a deeper connection with your faith.
Yes, Christmas week, and so during this week we’re going to be reading, or we are reading, special messages, readings from the Scriptures to express who Jesus Christ is, what it’s all about, and I’m reading from today’s English version, titled in the publication, The Good News Bible. And I’m reading from the book of John. In the beginning, the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. From the very beginning, the Word was with God. Through Him, God made all things. Not one thing in all creation was made without Him. The Word was the source of all life, and this life brought light to people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has never put it out. God sent his messenger, a man named John, who came to tell people about the light so that all should hear the message and believe. He himself was not the light. He came to tell about the light. This was the real light, the light that comes into the world and shines on all people. The Word was in the world, and though God made the world through him, yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own country, but his own people did not believe him. Some, however, did receive him and believed in him, so he gave them the right to become God’s children. They did not become God’s children by natural means, that is, by being born as children of a human father. God himself was their father. The Word became a human being, and full of grace and truth, lived among us. We saw his glory, the glory which he received as the Father’s only Son. John spoke about him. He cried out, This is the one I was talking about when I said, He comes after me, but he is greater than I am, because he existed before I was born. Out of the fullness of his grace, he has blessed us all, giving us one blessing after another. God gave the law through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The only Son, who is the same as God and is at the Father’s side, he has made him known. The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem sent some priests and Levites to John to ask him, Who are you? John did not refuse to answer, but spoke out openly and clearly, saying, I am not the Messiah. Who are you then, they asked. Are you Elijah? No, I am not, John answered. Are you the prophet, they asked. No, he replied. Then tell us who you are, they said. We have to take an answer back to those who sent us. What do you say about yourself? John answered by quoting the prophet Isaiah, I am the voice of someone shouting in the desert, make a straight path for the Lord to travel. The messengers, who had been sent by the Pharisees, then asked John, if you are not the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet, why do you baptize? John answered, I baptize with water. But among you stands the one you do not know. He is coming after me, but I am not good enough even to untie his sandals. And this happened in Bethany on the east side of the Jordan River where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming to him and said, There is the Lamb of God which takes away the sin of the world. This is the one I was talking about when I said, a man is coming after me but is greater than I am because he existed before I was born. I did not know who he would be, but I came baptizing with water in order to make him known to the people of Israel. And John gave this testimony. I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from heaven and stay on him. I still do not know that he was the one. But God who sent me to baptize with water had said to me, You will see the Spirit come down and stay on a man. He is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. I have seen it, said John, and I tell you that he is the Son of God. The next day John was standing there again with two of his disciples when he saw Jesus walking by. “‘There is the Lamb of God,’ he said. The two disciples heard him say this and went with Jesus. Jesus turned, saw them following him, and asked, “‘What are you looking for?’ They answered, Where do you live, Rabbi? This word means teacher. Come and see, he answered. It was then about four o’clock in the afternoon. So they went with him and saw where he lived and spent the rest of that day with him. One of them was Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother. At once he found his brother Simon and told him, We have found the Messiah. This word means Christ. Then he took Simon to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, Your name is Simon, son of John, but you will be called Cephas. This is the name as Peter and means a rock. The next day, Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, Come with me. Philip was from Bethsaida, the town where Andrew and Peter lived. Philip found Nathanael and told him, We have found the one whom Moses wrote about in the book of the law, and whom the prophets also wrote about. He is Jesus, son of Joseph from Nazareth. Can anything good come from Nazareth? Nathanael asked. Come and see, answered Philip. When Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, He said about him, Here is a real Israelite. There is nothing false in him. Nathanael asked him, How do you know me? Jesus answered, I saw you when you were under the fig tree before Philip called you. Teacher, answered Nathanael, you are the Son of God, you are the King of Israel. Jesus said, Do you believe just because I told you I saw you when you were under the fig tree? You will see much greater things than this. And he said to him, I am telling you the truth. You will see heaven open and God’s angels coming and going up and down on the Son of Man. Isaiah 9, verses 1 through 9. The land of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali was once disgraced, but the future will bring honor to this region, from the Mediterranean eastward to the land on the other side of the Jordan, and even to Galilee itself, where the foreigners lived. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light. They lived in a land of shadows, but now light is shining on them. You have given them great joy, Lord. You have made them happy. They rejoice in what you have done. A people rejoice when they have harvest rain. or when they divide captured wealth. For you have broken the yoke that burdened them and the rod that beat their shoulders. You have defeated the nation that oppressed and exploited your people, just as you defeated the army of Midian long ago. The boots of the invading army and all their blood-stained clothing will be destroyed by fire. A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and he will be our ruler. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father. Prince of Peace. His royal power will continue to grow. His kingdom will always be at peace. He will rule as King David’s successor, basing his power on right and justice. From now until the end of time, the Lord Almighty is determined to do all this. Isaiah 11 verses 1 through 9 The royal line of David is like a tree that has been cut down, but just as new branches sprout from a stump, so a new king will arise from among David’s descendants. The Spirit of the Lord will give him wisdom and the knowledge and skill to rule the people. He will know the Lord’s will and honour him and find pleasure in obeying him. He will not judge by appearance or hearsay. He will judge the poor fairly and defend the rights of the helpless. At his command the people will be punished and evil persons will die. He will rule his people with justice and integrity. Wolves and sheep will live together in peace, and leopards will lie down with young goats. Calves and lion cubs will feed together, and little children will take care of them. Cows and bears will eat together, and their calves and cubs will lie down in peace. Lions will eat straw as cattle do. Even a baby will not be harmed if it plays near a poisonous snake. On Zion, God’s sacred hill, there will be nothing harmful or evil. The land will be as full of knowledge of the Lord as the seas are full of water. Isaiah 12 verses 1 through 6 A day is coming when people will sing, I praise you, Lord. You were angry with me, but now you comfort me and are angry no longer. God is my Savior. I will trust him and not be afraid. The Lord gives me power and strength. He is my Savior. As fresh water brings joy to the thirsty, so God’s people rejoice when he saves them. A day is coming when people will sing, Give thanks to the Lord. Call for Him to help you. Tell all the nations what He has done. Tell them how great He is. Sing to the Lord because of the great things He has done. Let the whole world hear the news. Let everyone who lives in Zion shout and sing. Israel’s holy God is great, and He lives among His people. Isaiah 52, verse 13 through 53. The Lord says, My servant will succeed in his task. He will be highly honored. Many people were shocked when they saw him. He was so disfigured that he hardly looked human. But now many nations will marvel at him, and kings will be speechless with amazement. They will see and understand something they had never known. The people reply, Who would have believed what we now report? Who could have seen the Lord’s hand in this? It was the will of the Lord that his servant grow like a plant taking root in dry ground. He had no dignity or beauty to make us take notice of him. There was nothing attractive about him, nothing that would draw us to him. We despised him and rejected him. He endured suffering and pain. No one would even look at him. We ignored him as if he were nothing. But he endured the suffering that should be ours, the pain that we should have borne. All the while we thought that his suffering was punishment sent by God, but because of our sins he was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did. We are all healed by the punishment he suffered, made whole by the blows he received. Thank you for listening today. This is Colin Cook, and you’ve been listening to How It Happens. It’s a program which travels through the book of Romans and explores the gospel in that way. But this week, we’re enjoying some scripture readings on Jesus and what he is all about and why we celebrate Christmas. So thank you for joining me. If you have been planning to make a donation but just haven’t got to it, it’s not too late. You can make your donation online at faithquestradio.com. Thank you for all your support this year. Thank you for supporting this ministry now in its, I think, 28th year. So I’ll see you next time. Cheerio and God bless and Merry Christmas.
Join us for an enlightening journey as we read from the prophecies of Isaiah, depicting promises of peace and justice. Isaiah’s message of hope resounds with themes of redemption and restoration that echo throughout time, providing a backdrop to the advent of the Messiah. Let these powerful scriptures guide your understanding of the festive season’s true essence and inspire a deeper connection with your faith.
