The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1945-12-14

A:26-33.
GOLDEN TEXT: For unto US child IL
born, unto US a son is given: and the
governm snt shall be upon His shoulder:
and His name shall be called Wonderful.
Counsellor. the Mighty God the Everlast-
ing Father. the Prince Of Peace.-lsaiah
o:6. sD . W.
Christmas is comingl It should
be a blessed and delightful time this
year. But do not fail to ask your
self, What is its true meaning?
Why did Christ come? So that we
| could feast and celebrate? Surely
not. He came first of all to be a
Saviour; but do not forget that the
Saviour is also the King of kings.
When Jesus came, His people Is
rael were practically without a gov
eminent. They were subject peo-
pie under the rule of Rome. Their
national life was in ruins; dark
ness had settled over their land, and
there was both national and spiritual
| darkness. Christ came as their King,
as well as the Light Of the world.
True, they rejected Him, and His
kingdom is now in allegiance until He
4
days He will come!
| I. Darkness-but the Light Is Com
ing! lisa. go, 81.
When Jesus came there was deep
darkness in Israel; there was no
king. National honor and glory were
at low ebb. Religious leaders had
lost their spiritual vision and zeal.
They were going through the form
OF goodness but denying its power.
Read the book of Malachi for
picture of their desolation.
Then Jesus came, and the great
est Light Of all time shone forth in
the darkness. He was and is "the
light Of the world" (John 8:12).
They that followed Him did not
stumble In darkness (John 9:5; II:
81. How sad that they received Him
not (John 1:11)! The reason? They
loved darkness rather than light
(John 3:17-2l).
There is much darkness in our
world today. We need the light Of
Jesus in national life, as well as in
individual life. When will the ma
tons Of the earth recognize Him
as the only One who can truly lead
them through the darkness?
| Military leaders, educators, and
scientists are saying in our day that
there must be a spiritual rebirth
Of the peoples of the earth If we
are not to have another war which
will destroy everything. No mere re-
vival Of religion" will do it. We
must have Jesus, the Saviour and
the Light!
| III. Chaos-but a King Is Com
ing lisa. 9:6, y.
We have already suggested that
Isaiah's prophecy came at time of
chaos in the affairs of the nation.
Would they ever have the order and
dignity of nation again? Who was
to be their king? What kind of lead
er would He be? Our verses give
the answer.
Seven hundred years before Christ
came, the prophet presented a glor-
ious, detailed picture Of the coming
One. He was to be born as Babe
Ia Son-but the government shall
be upon his shoulder"
What kind Of King is He? His
names reveal Him.
Wonderful word has been
so misused that it means compare
lively little to us. It really fulfills its
true meaning in Christ. He is unique,
remarkable, yes, truly wonderful.
"Counsellor" in every detail Of life,
great or small, an infallible Guide.
mighty God"-not just like God. or
representing God; Christ Is God.
Everlasting Father'-the tender
and loving, unfailing One to whom
time brings no change, for He is the
Father of eternity" prince Of
Peace"-He is not yet the Ruler Of
the nations of the world, hence we
hear not only Of wars but Of runors
Of wars. Mark it well that there will
be no enduring peace until He comes
to reign whose right it is to reign,
the divine Prince Of Peace.
III. Jesus Christine Light and
the King luke 1:26-33).
If Christ is to be honored in the
life OF any nation, yes, Of our ma
ton, He must first be recognized as
the Son Of God, the Lord of glory,
the everlasting King of kings.
We need to emphasize that fact
now when both military and politi-
cal leaders are talking about the
need Of spiritual revival to save the
world. Let us be sure that they mean
more than just to pay formal recog-
milton to great man and a distin-
guished moral teacher. He is the
Saviour, and there is none other
(Acts 4:12).
Note the marvellous fulfllment Of
prophecy which actually took place
in the coming Of Jesus. Isaiah e.:
14) said He was to be born Of q
virgin. He was ". 27)i He was to be
the Son of God Cps. AID. He was
". 32)l And so on through all the
detailed prophecies Of His birth.