Post 83—It’s Christmas Time

Post 83—It’s Christmas Time                                                     

Merry Christmas to you all! Yes, it’s that day and that season. The season that many of us dread because of the tremendous pressures we put upon ourselves with our frantic buying. When I see the crowds in the malls—I only see them on the screen!—and listen to the shoppers interviewed by reporters, I shake my head and thank God for the wise decision that we have made. Seeing that giving presents is often a matter of bringing coal to New Castle, that is to say, giving presents to people who already have more than they need, we do our gifting to charities who make sure the poor are taken care of.  So, instead of pressures, my wife and I are free to enjoy the season with its many instrumental and choral concerts, joyful church services, street events, etc., etc. We love this season, not the least because of the parties that come with it.

“Merry Christmas” is the traditional if no longer the most popular greeting.  “Merry”—it sounds rather flippant and superficial.  “Let us eat, drink and be merry,” as the Biblical saying has it.     But “merry” became a tradition because in the past it had a much deeper meaning with a spiritual undertone. I insist on using it along with the term “Christmas.” For others who have no reason to celebrate Christmas, fine, let them make do with the superficial “Happy Holiday,” but holiday for what? What are they celebrating? Yes, for some, great family time and that is indeed important and worth celebrating. But today so many have no families or they are far away. In fact, for many it’s a sad and lonely season.

Of course, originally the time was marked by a pagan feast that Christians recast in order to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. The rest of this post is devoted to the Old Testament passage of Isaiah 9, where that birth was prophesied in the words of the people of Israel thousands of years ago. That means in words and concepts that we do not immediately understand, but I believe the basic thrust of the passage should make clear what the major concerns were that Jesus came to address.

There are many, many different Bible translations. Most of them are not created to compete with or correct other translations. Rather they all have different purposes and, especially, target audiences. A major purpose is to make the Bible more easily understood to today’s reader. The first translation is from the English Standard Version; the second, from The Message. But both are translations of the same passage.

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                        A New Day Is Coming

             (From English Standard Version)

9 But there will be an end to the gloom those people suffered. In the past, people thought the land of Zebulun and Naphtali was not important. But later, that land will be honored—the land along the sea, the land east of the Jordan River, and Galilee where people from other nations live. ² Those people lived in darkness, but they will see a great light. They lived in a place as dark as death, but a great light will shine on them.

³ God, you will make the nation grow, and you will make the people happy. They will rejoice in your presence as they do at harvest time. It will be like the joy when people take their share of things they have won in war. ⁴ That will happen because you will lift the heavy yoke off their shoulders and take away their heavy burden. You will take away the rod that the enemy used to punish your people, as you did when you defeated Midian.^[a]

⁵ Every boot that marched in battle and every uniform stained with blood will be destroyed and thrown into the fire. ⁶ This will happen when the special child is born. God will give us a son who will be responsible for leading the people. His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” ⁷ His power will continue to grow, and there will be peace without end. This will establish him as the king sitting on David’s throne and ruling his kingdom. He will rule with goodness and justice forever and ever. The strong love^[b] that the Lord All-Powerful has for his people will make this happen!

               A Child Has Been Born—for Us!

              (From The Message)

9 But there’ll be no darkness for those who were in trouble.

Earlier he did bring the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali into disrepute,

but the time is coming when he’ll make that whole area glorious—

 the road along the Sea, the country past the Jordan, international Galilee.

^2-7 The people who walked in darkness
    have seen a great light.
For those who lived in a land of deep shadows—
    light! sunbursts of light!
You repopulated the nation,
    you expanded its joy.
Oh, they’re so glad in your presence!
    Festival joy!
The joy of a great celebration,
    sharing rich gifts and warm greetings.
The abuse of oppressors and cruelty of tyrants—
    all their whips and cudgels and curses—
Is gone, done away with, a deliverance
    as surprising and sudden as Gideon’s old victory over Midian.
The boots of all those invading troops,
    along with their shirts soaked with innocent blood,
Will be piled in a heap and burned,
    a fire that will burn for days!
For a child has been born—for us!
    the gift of a son—for us!
He’ll take over
    the running of the world.
His names will be: Amazing Counselor,
    Strong God,
Eternal Father,
    Prince of Wholeness.
His ruling authority will grow,
    and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.
He’ll rule from the historic David throne
    over that promised kingdom.
He’ll put that kingdom on a firm footing
    and keep it going
With fair dealing and right living,
    beginning now and lasting always.
The zeal of God-of-the-Angel-Armies
    will do all this.