Paradox

Isaiah, in predicting the Christmas miracle of Jesus, makes a very paradoxical statement.  "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness, on them a light has shined (Isaiah 9:2)."  And we, staring down into a stone cradle at a helpless child born to a poor couple, wonder, "What is Isaiah talking about?"  A paradox for sure!

Each Sunday during the Advent season, 1st service will begin with a paradoxical song, "He Shall Reign Forevermore."  The song starts like the 1972 poem by Christiana Rossetti, titled "A Christmas Carol."  "In the bleak midwinter, all creation groans, for a world in darkness, frozen like a stone, light is breaking, in a manger made of stone, and He shall reign forevermore."  Wait?  How did we get from a helpless child in a manger to reigning forevermore?  Do you see the paradox?

Our western eyes see everything in English, black-and-white, seeing is believing and power is status/wealth/fame/notoriety/popularity.  We too easily forget that last week we celebrated Christ The King Sunday, where we lifted up the Lordship of Jesus.  We now stare down at a manger, and wonder, "How can THIS be the power of God, come into the world?"  How can we believe Micah 5:2 that foretells, "But you Bethlehem, Ephrathah though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for Me the one who will be ruler over all of Israel."

We can believe because:

1. We are not "seeing is believing" people.  We are people of faith who believe "faith is the evidence of things we cannot see (Hebrews 11:1)."  There is power and purpose in the unseen realm of God ... the one that raises up little children to become the very power of God.

2. We are not "power is status/fame/notoriety/popularity" people.  We worship a Jesus who has power, even over death.

3. We ARE people who believe in the paradox of Scripture.  That God's plan, however unbelievable, can happen.  That a little light can cast off the darkness.  That our hopeless world can be turned rightside-up by that little baby in the manger.  That HE shall reign forevermore.

Come sing it with us ... "Into our hopes, into our fears, the Savior of the world appears, the promise of eternal years, Christ the Messiah, and He shall reign, forevermore, forevermore!"