In 1947, a startling discovery was made in a complex of caves in Qumran.

In the cavernous darkness antiquarians found many clay jars. Within the jars were rolls and rolls of ancient parchment scrolls. Treasure of the highest order!

The now famous ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ as we know them contain the complete text of the book of Isaiah.

And it’s nestled away in the 9th chapter of Isaiah where I want to start this Christmas message from.

Travel back in time with me to a land 3000 years ago, a nation called Judah. On the throne is king Ahaz. Ahaz has a moral, political and spiritual dilemma on his hands.

Neighbouring Judah in the North is the nation of Israel and they’ve asked Ahaz to join forces with them and another ally, Ephraim to fend off a fierce opponent.

You see, in the south lies the formidable Assyrian empire.

If you’ve ever been to the British museum, you’ll have an idea about the Assyrians as there’s a spectacular collection of artefacts on display there.

If you look closely at these artefacts, you’ll quickly pick up a fact that was well known to Ahaz, Judah, Israel, Ephraim and many other neighbouring nations.

The Assyrian empire was expert at war and conquest.

So Ahaz has a choice:

• Option a) Do the right thing and ally up with the north to fend of Assyria and their idolatrous, war mongering ways
• Option b) roll-over, join the Assyrians out of fear of opposing them

I’ll give you one guess what choice Ahaz made.

You guessed right. Ahaz capitulated to the Assyrians triggering a brutal conflict between Judah and the allies in the north who tried to depose Ahaz and install a puppet kind in his place. Gnarly stuff.

But we’re jumping ahead here.

Into this chaos comes the prophet Isaiah.

Isaiah brings a prophetic message warning Ahaz and Judah of the conflict to come but also a glimpse of hope with a promise.

Isaiah shares God’s promise to bring glorious victory and conquest to Judah. They will share in the victor’s spoils.

Here’s an excerpt from Isaiah 9:

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.

You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;

they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest,

as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,

you have shattered the yoke that burdens them,

the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.

Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood

will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.

So, imagine with me for a minute you’re living in the ancient civilisation of Judah. You’re petrified, not sure wether you and your family will live to see next week.

Into this context, you recall the words of the prophet. The promise of victory.

It’s remarkable to think that, no matter the great chasm of time and culture that spans between us and the original hearers of Isaiah’s prophecy, there’s lots of similarities between then and now.

Just watch the news, browse social media, read the papers and you’ll see what I’m talking about. War. Chaos. Pain. Suffering. Wicked, evil people doing wicked, evil things.

We too need to look beyond our circumstances if we’re to find hope.

And this ancient prophecy is key to our hope, just as it was key to Judah’s hope all those years ago.

How?

How does God promise to eradicate the evils of a fallen world? Well, it’s quite a curveball.

To us a child is born;

To us a son is given.

A baby.

I love the way this child is described in Isaiah’s prophecy. Many Christians are familiar with these words but we mustn’t let our familiarity undermine just how significant these words are. They’re full of rich, deep and glorious meaning.

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

WOW.

This promised child will change everything. Not only will there be conquest but, at this child’s coming God will establish an imperishable kingdom marked by justice and right-ness.

That’s quite a promise.

And now we see why Christmas is such an important event for Christians worldwide.

Because, approximately 734 years after these words were written – a child indeed was born.

God interrupted human history by entering into His creation as Jesus. And he did so to bring an end to sin, corruption, evil and war.

Let’s connect the dots now between Isaiah’s prophecy and the Christmas story.

For many Christmas is an exciting time of year but, for most I suspect it’s also marked with darkness.

Like ancient Judah, we too are a people walking in great darkness.

And the darkness can feel all too real, all too raw at Christmas time.

Not only because of the newsfeeds. But there’s the pain of loss that feels imminent at Christmas – i’d give nearly everything to have just one more Christmas with my dad for example.

The world is weary. Even if we’re the most joyous, exciteable Will Ferrel as Elf types, once the lights fade, once the food is digested, once January rolls round, the darkness comes.

I think it’s important to acknowledge this darkness. To understand that this is the way of the world and to long for it not to be.

Because, only if we acknowledge the darkness, can we understand the impact of the everlasting light the glory of God blasts into the weary world with the coming of Jesus.

In 1847 a French man was asked by his local vicar to write a poem to celebrate the restoration of the church organ – that’s such a typical church-y thing to do isn’t it, write a poem to celebrate an organ.

Though he was an atheist, this man wrote a poem that has stood the test of time. It’s regarded as one of the greatest Christmas hymns to have ever been written.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining,

till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.

A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,

for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!

Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!

O night divine! O night when Christ was born!

O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Somehow, despite his atheism, he had grasped at the reason why Christmas is so significant.

Into this weary world, marred by sin comes a thrill of hope. The light of a new and glorious morning breaks.

Or, as Isaiah puts it:

For to us a child is born; to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end.

He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom,

establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

will accomplish this.

So, if you’ve acknowledge the desperate need for light this Christmas.

Can I encourage you to seek hope in the once and for all promise God has made to resolve it all in the glorious light of His son, our Lord Jesus Christ who came that first Christmas.

This Jesus who, though God incarnate, wrapped himself in flesh and died a death that put our guilt, our darkness, our hurt and our shame onto the cross.

And then, he rose again, conquering not just an earthly foe but death itself. Defeated.

This promise is for you.

Just one question: do you trust Jesus?

I want to personally wish you a very merry Christmas.

Despite the darkness, there’s hope – because of Jesus.