GREAT EXPECTATIONS

 Isaiah 35:1-10; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11

Introduction

Have you ever heard of 'kinsman-redeemer'? Ok, let us start from there. In ancient Israel's culture was a custom known as, the 'kinsman-redeemer relationship'. 

It was a customary practice for a living relative to marry the wife of his dead relative who had no child before his death to redeem the image of the deceased relative.

Customarily, a brother of the deceased has the first offer to marry the widow if they had no child (cf. Gen. 38: Tamar, and Judah's sons; Er, Onan, and Shelah). 

On the other hand, in the absence or willingness of a sibling to perform this rite, a close relative could step in and marry the woman (cf. Ruth 3: Ruth and Boaz).

THE PROMISE

When humanity sinned in the Garden of Eden, God the Creator made the promise to redeem humanity from our depravity through the "seed of the woman" (Gen. 3:15). The concept of 'kinsman-redeemer' is planted in the promise. God said, the 'seed of the woman', (offspring), was the one to bruise the head of the serpent. 

The Creator promised to redeem us but through one who is a human like us, the seed of a woman, an offspring of the woman. This has always been the redeeming promise humanity was waiting for.

Moses reminded the people of how God will be speaking to them. He repeated God’s promise to send them a prophet from amongst them, to bring them hope and keep directing them toward His promises. (Deut. 18:15-18). He urged them to listen to the prophet.

Faithfully, God gave the Israelites many prophets. He never left the people in any doubt as to the coming of the ‘Redeeming Prophet’; My Servant; the Shepherd; the Redeemer or the Messiah. (Isaiah 53:11; Zechariah. 3:8; Ez. 34:23).

The prophets gave clues to the promised Redeemer so that the people will be able to know Him, listen to Him, believe in Him, and receive Him.

Prophet Isaiah drew some key lines pointing to the Redeemer. He will; "Strengthen the feeble hands, steady the knees that give way; say to those with fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear; your God will come, he will come with vengeance; with divine retribution, he will come to save you.”" (Isaiah 35:3-4)

Miraculous signs associated with the Redeemer include; "Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert." (Isaiah 35:5-6)

The apostle Paul tells us that, God gave Jesus Christ, fully God, fully human, His sinless Lamb, to be a propitiation for humanity (2 Cor. 5:21).

Before this, God gave the people various prophecies concerning this Redeemer. 

The prophet Isaiah told the people that the Redeemer would be born by a young maiden (Isaiah 7:14). Isaiah 9:7, directs us to the lineage of the promised Messiah as a descendant of David. In Isaiah 9:1, the prophet points to where the glory of God's Redeemer will be born, Galilee.

As a sign of Christ, the Redeemer to the entire world and not limited to only Israel, when He was born, Astrologers/Wisemen from the far East came to worship Him, Matt. 2:13-17. The Redeemer, Messiah is a universal Man. 

As such, on the night when Christ was born, an angel appeared in the wilderness and proclaimed, “...Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Luke 2:10-12 (NIV)

The angel was joined later by a heavenly host and they proclaimed, “Glory to God in the highest [heaven], and on earth peace among men with whom He is well-pleased”,(Lk 2:14).

This Sunday marks the third Sunday of Advent, a period we reflect and recount the birth of our Kinsman-Redeemer.

As John tells us, He came to dwell among men, His kinsmen. He was a normal person dwelling within a cultural environment, (John 1:14-18).

    Behold The Promised Redeemer

There were and still are, doubts in some persons if Christ is truly the Promised Redeemer. 

In the speech of Gamaliel in Acts 5:34-39, we are told that before the Promised Redeemer, some persons began to claim to be. Even in our time, many persons have come to be the Messiah. 

Do you sometimes get confused about your stand of faith in Christ? I can assure you, you are not the first and would definitely not be the last. 

Let's check our 3rd reading, John the Baptist who had witnessed Christ's baptism with the revelation of the Trinity - God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit also got confused about the Redeemer.

"When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?” (Matthew 11:2-3)

In times of distress, pain, and oppression our whole personality turns to give us many questions even to those we are so sure of. In prison, John was in doubt if Jesus should be held as the promised Redeemer. 

Situations can cloud your faith in Christ, but beloved, do not give up and strongly behold your promised Redeemer.

On the other hand, John sent that question not for himself but for his own disciples. He wanted his disciples to stop focusing on him, John, and to behold the promised Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

The humbled John, the baptiser had always proclaimed that he came to prepare the way for Redeemer but is not the Redeemer.

We are quick to swim through glories that are not for us. Always remember, God's glory cannot be shared. If you are able, give God the glory because we are like pencils in the hands of the Creator.

Jesus schooled John's disciples by reflecting on Isaiah 35, the signs of the Redeemer. Jesus made further discussions to point to the greatness of John yet the least in God's Kingdom (Matt. 11:7-11).

    Behold, Jesus Christ, your promised Redeemer.

Many people including devout Christians are bending their knees to the pleasures and pressures of this dark world. One major concern I have heard is the timing of God. 

We are losing our patience with God in our prayers. Those looking for spouses and aging are becoming restless, those waiting for so long for babies are losing focus, diseases are taking many to the path of evil covenants, financial challenges are pushing many into the web of Satan, and so on.

Beloved in Christ, James, the brother of Jesus counsels us to "Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:7-9 NIV)

Patience is key to beholding the promised Redeemer. I will encourage you to focus on growing "the fruit of the Spirit; love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." (Galatians 5:22-23)

Scenario: 

When you are crossing a river on a slim log and you focus on the swift movement of the waters, its sounds of drowning, and the splashes it gives, rather than the slim redeeming rod for your next step, you are sure to fall.

Child of God, I beseech you to focus on your promised Redeemer, and you shall surely make it the glorious crown. 

Conclusion

Beloved, just as the angel announced to the shepherds,  “Today is born in the city of David the Saviour of the world…”, the proclamation still stands: “Behold, your Redeemer comes”, as we prepare to celebrate His birth. 

Do not be confused by the commercialization of the season by the world, but always note that Christ, the Redeemer is the reason for the season. And most importantly, let us also boldly tell the world that He is coming the second time for His redeeming promise to us. 

Shalom Aleichem...