Sermon Snippet – The Strong and Holy Comfort of Jesus
INTRODUCTION – This is our fifth message from the prophetic book of Isaiah about comfort. Isaiah 52:9-10 provides a bridge from last week’s sermon to this one. We are commanded to rejoice and sing because of the constant care and comfort of our Savior God, Who “made bare His holy arm” to provide “salvation.” As we have seen during the last weeks, these passages of comfort in Isaiah point us to the Messiah, Jesus Christ, Who is God the Son.
1. JESUS GRANTS COMFORT IN OUR STORMS
We all know how stormy life is right now. Isaiah 54:11-13 speaks poetically of our Lord’s comfort when we are “tossed with tempest.” This offer is to all people, as we find in Isaiah 57:18-21; note especially the repetition for emphasis of “peace, peace.” This common word of greeting is employed twice here to demonstrate that there is a way home for the wayward and wayworn wanderer; of course, we must decide if we want this comfort or not. A similar warning is found in the New Testament in James 1:5-8. A literal fulfillment of this comfort in the storm is found in Matthew 8:23-27. Yes, with Jesus, there is “a great calm” available to us. May we continue to marvel that Jesus ever and always grants us His best.
2. JESUS BESTOWS COMFORT IN OUR ASHES
Isaiah 61:1-3 tells us of a remarkable exchange that He proffers: His “beauty” (His moral and spiritual attractiveness) for our “ashes” (our burning and branding, ugly and useless). Physical beauty is not important at all (Isaiah 53:2); spiritual beauty is eternal. Jesus read the first part of this passage aloud in the synagogue and applied it to Himself (Luke 4:18-21). Yet, the nation of Israel rejected Jesus at that time (Ezekiel 40-48 and Romans 9-11 clarify that the Jewish people in large numbers will welcome Jesus when He returns). Mankind is all too ready to accept substitutes in place of God’s good gifts (for example, Barabbas instead of Jesus – John 18:38-40). Still, the beauty of Jesus persists, and part of that beauty is His comfort to us.
3. JESUS CONFERS COMFORT IN OUR CHILDISHNESS
Children are not able to function well and safely on their own. Isaiah 66:13 is a startling word picture: “As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Frequently, father imagery is used in scripture, including in Isaiah. Thus, this verse is striking, compelling us to think of the mighty compassion of our Savior. The poignant words of Jesus in Luke 13:34-35 confirm that His heart is that of a loving mother. One day, as a Gospel song creatively says, “The Father hen will call His chickens home.” His comfort is personal and potent – actually, omnipotent.
CONCLUSION – In a literal fulfillment of Isaiah 52:10, Jesus on the Cross “made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations.” He stretched out His almighty arms to die for us; then He rose from the dead the third day with all power, power to offer eternal life. May each of us be certain of the everlasting comfort of Jesus by trusting in Him alone for salvation. Then, we will find sweet sanctuary in our Savior’s strong solace.