O Come, O Come Emmanuel (Part 4)
Over the last several weeks, we have been talking about the strange contrast that lies at the heart of Christmas--the contrast between Christmas and the world in which we celebrate it. Christmas is a celebration of light, but in many ways, this world is a place of darkness. Ultimately, as we have seen, the darkness of this world is the result of sin. Because we, as humankind, gave in to sin, that brought corruption to ourselves and destruction to the world around us. That is our problem, and all the best that we can do, even our most religious efforts, cannot solve this problem. This is the scathing condemnation of Isaiah 1. But Isaiah 1 does not merely contain condemnation. It also shows us our hope. (Isaiah 1:16-20) Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your s...
