An important message from the prophet Isaiah
(From Isaiah, chapter 11, verses 1-10; adapted from The Message)
About 2700 years ago the prophet Isaiah came so close to God and God came so close to him that Isaiah knew that God wanted to tell God's people to live together in peace. And so, Isaiah began to speak in public to the people living around him in the Holy Land. Many people listened carefully to Isaiah and remembered what they'd heard him say. They told their children, and their children told their children, and so on, and so on, and so on
When Jesus was a young boy, his parents and the people in his faith community told him about God's message of peace spoken through Isaiah. As Jesus grew up, he felt a strong connection between himself and Isaiah. When he began his ministry as a grown up, one of the first things he did was preach about Isaiah.
Each Sunday during the season of Advent, as we look forward to celebrating Jesus' birthday at Christmas, we hear a little bit of God's message spoken through the prophet Isaiah. And we pray that God's message of peace will continue to show in the way we live our lives today.
From the prophet Isaiah:
"Someday God's Chosen One will be able to trace his family tree all the way back to Jesse, the father of the great King David.
"The spirit of God will rest upon this special person, making him wise and understanding. God's Spirit will direct and guide him, giving him strength and knowledge to do what God wants. He will happily stand in awe of God.
"God's Chosen One will not make quick decisions based on what he sees or hears. No, he will judge carefully and fairly, giving special favor to those who are poor and humble, and putting those who are mean in their place. Every morning he'll put on sturdy work clothes and boots and build righteousness and faithfulness in the land.
"In the time of God's Chosen One, you'll see things you'd never expect! Wolves and lambs, leopards and goats, lions and calves, bears and cows will all live together. Young children will be able to play near dangerous snakes without worry. Neither animal nor humans will hurt or kill one another. The whole earth will know God!
"Jesse's off spring shall stand head and shoulders above all people. Wherever he is will be glorious!"
Questions to think about:
Who are your ancestors? How far back can you trace your family tree?
Who was God’s Chosen One?
What do you think God’s peaceable kingdom will be like?