—Isaiah 11:1-11— Can anything come out of a
“stump”? Can life come out of death? The Messiah is rooted in the past, which
is apparently as dead as a stump. Yet, out of death comes the life of Christ as
the son of Jesse, the son of David. Our roots are vital. We go back to the life
that comes out of our dead ancestors. Eternal life came out of Jesus’ grave.
The butterfly comes out of a cocoon. Hope comes out of despair.
In this Advent season we are looking forward to
Christmas for the coming again of Jesus into our hearts and His coming on the
last great day. Whom is this expected one and what is he like? Is he worth
hoping and waiting for? Today admissions offices of colleges often prepare
profiles of new students to acquaint the faculty with the lives of incoming
students. Isaiah draws a profile of the Messiah about 800 years before he came
in Jesus. Here is a portrait of the one for whom we are preparing. He will judge
righteously, not on evidence or hearsay; (Vv. 3b, 4) he will destroy the evil
in the world through his word. (v.4)[2]
Collect for the Second Sunday in Advent: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Your only-begotten Son, that by His coming we may be enabled to serve You with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen [3]
[1]
Advent copyright © Ed Riojas, Higher Things
[2]
Lectionary Preaching Workbook, John Brokhoff © 1980 CSS Publishing, Lima OH
[3]
Collect for Advent 2, Lutheran Service Book © 2006 Concordia Publishing House,
St, Louis
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