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Sunday Sermons
Sermon: 12-9-07, Advent 2
Pastor Phil Lee
Title: "Who’s It Gonna Be?"
Text: Isaiah 11:1-10
Theme: In the power of the Spirit, Christ has come and will come again.
Introduction
It’s coming – the Presidential election, that is. We’ve got a little less than a year to figure out who we think is the best person for the job. A Democrat, or a Republican? John Edwards, Barak Obama, or Hillary Rodham-Clinton? Rudy Giuliani, Mike Huckabee, Mitt Romney, or John McCain? Or maybe it will be someone who isn’t making the headline news right now.
Yes, it’s coming! That we know for sure. Speeches, debates, kissing babies, shaking hand after hand. Yes, it’s coming! Accusations and defensive reactions, lies, suggestions, half-truths, and self-promotion on a grand scale. And surely, by the time it’s all said and done, the American people and the world at large will be pretty tired of the whole thing and ready to move forward with a new Administration.
But, for now, we are left wondering: Who’s it gonna be?
Point
That’s a question that also grows out of today’s OT lesson from the prophet Isaiah (ch.11). And it’s a question with a context. It was the 8th century B.C. and the northern kingdom of Israel had fallen to the Assyrians. Then, the southern kingdom of Judah was left wondering what would become of them. Would God keep his promise to preserve them through the dynasty of Jesse’s son, the great King David? And how would that work?
Into that historical context, with all of its anxiety and questions, stepped the prophet of God, Isaiah, who brought a word of promise to God’s people, a vision of a coming ideal king. Isaiah said, “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots. The Spirit of the LORD shall rest on him…”
This vision of a coming ideal king was probably realized historically in King Hezekiah of Judah, who walked in the way of the Lord. But, Isaiah’s vision of a coming ideal king was also understood to be the long-promised coming Messiah, Jesus.
It was Jesus, the Christ, on whom the Spirit of the Lord rested, the Spirit of wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, and knowledge. It was Jesus, the Christ, who embodied the righteousness and faithfulness of God. It was Jesus, the Christ, who ushered in God’s eternal reign of peace.
Problem
Let’s take a moment to make this prophecy of Isaiah a little more real. Think for a moment about the most recent political dynasties here in America – the Bush and Clinton families. Collectively, those two families have produced three out of the last four Presidents, occupying the last twenty years in the White House. And who knows, the Clinton dynasty may produce a President for the next four or eight years to come! (No cheering or jeering, please!)
Now, take a moment to compare Isaiah’s vision of the ideal king to recent American “kings” (presidents, and potential presidents) – Bush (H.W. – 41 and W. – 43), or Clinton (Bill – 42). Isaiah spoke of Spirit-given wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, righteousness and faithfulness. In this election year, as we ponder the question – “Who’s it gonna be?” – would we apply these Spirit-given attributes to our presidential candidates or nominees, or eventually, to the president elect? Even though these qualities are too often sadly lacking in our leaders, in the midst of our doubts and skepticism we continue to pray for them.
And to take it ever further, ponder this question: Would we apply these Spirit-given attributes to ourselves? (wisdom, understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, righteousness and faithfulness) Sadly, too often we see also within ourselves a lack of wisdom and understanding, a rejection of the Spirit’s guidance, weakness, and ignorance!
And so, on the day we Baptize children here in this place, and on the day we Confirm our youth when they publicly Affirm their Baptism, we pray that God would “pour out [His] Holy Spirit upon them: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord, the spirit of joy in [God’s] presence.” (LBW, p.125/201). Let’s continue to pray!
Power
Isaiah spoke God’s promise to His people: “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.”
(Illustration – “Nurse Log”) Deep in the forests of Washington, many a Douglas Fir or Cedar tree has fallen to the ground and begun to decompose, only to give birth to a new tree whose seed sprouts out of the fertile decay of the old tree. Yes, “a shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse…” But, who’s it gonna be?
(Illustration – “Jesse Tree”) In Christian art down through the centuries, the so-called “Jesse Tree” has been depicted in beautiful stained-glass windows, wood cuts, embroidery, and paintings. The “Jesse Tree” shows Jesse, King David’s father, lying on his back or side, with a tree growing out of his stomach or side with spreading branches representing a genealogy that culminates in Jesus, the Christ.
The ideal king is the Messiah, Jesus, who ushered in the kingdom of God. The Spirit of the Lord rests upon him - the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. He, alone, has the authority and power to establish lasting peace in this world and into eternity.
These days, when we envision the future, too often we can only see global warming, international terrorism, and conflict of all kinds. But the “shoot from the stump of Jesse” will introduce us to a peace that this world cannot give, where: “The wolf shall live with the lamb…the calf and the lion…together, and a little child shall lead them…They will not hurt or destroy…for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord.”
Conclusion
(Ref. Mary Hinkle, Luther Sem. – “Jesus And The Peaceable Kingdom”): “I’m pretty sure that if I were preaching, I would begin with Isaiah’s peaceable kingdom. Just painting that picture for people might be enough. Everybody lives, and no one needs to devour anyone else in order to do it. That is the dream.
I think that was the dream Jesus lived. He did not come breathing fire, even though both the OT and Gospel readings this week might lead us to expect that. Isaiah says about the one raised up from the stump of Jesse, ‘he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked,’ and John the Baptist concurs: ‘The chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ (Mt.3:11). But never in his ministry does Jesus burn anything. He does get angry…yet he does not send anyone up in smoke. Everybody lives, even people like that fox, Herod, and especially people like the little girl who had died [and who Jesus raised to life again]. Everybody lives, and no one has to devour anyone else in order to do it.
The one who actually comes as the clearest fulfillment of Isaiah’s word decides that the only way to get to the peaceable kingdom is to live out its meekness here and now, no matter what. He does not breathe fire on anyone. He does not lay waste. He seeks out sinners; he touches and heals sick people; he eats with both Pharisees and tax collectors. He is himself a lamb lying down in the midst of wolves.
Should he have been more careful? Would the fire have been better than the towel and the basin, better than the bread and the cup? With his life and death, Jesus gave us a window on the peaceable kingdom. As he lived it, that kingdom was not a place without conflict or even a place without large animals having sharp teeth and evil intent. Even so, he lived the peace Isaiah dreamed of, and after those large animals had done their best to devour him, God said, ‘No. Everybody lives, and no one has to devour anyone else in order to do it.’”
It’s Advent, and as we hear the prophet declaration that “A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse…” we ask: Who’s it gonna be?
And the resounding answer is given: Christ has come! Christ will come again! Amen.
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