Photo by Firasat Durrani on Unsplash
Dear Saints,
There’s a reason it’s called “the dead of winter.” Everything looks dead. And the sky is grey, the air is cold, and it’s wet. It’s dead. It’s gloomy. It’s … well … the dead of winter. I’m guessing that’s why many people head south for a while … to see some life. Me, I’ll periodically turn on the MLB Network to watch Winter League baseball from the Caribbean. The stands are filled with people basking in the warm sun. The stadiums are surrounded by palms waving in the tropical breezes. And bright flowers burst forth … even in the dead of winter. Seeing this reminds me of joyful times to come.
Isaiah’s ministry to God’s people took place in a period of great darkness. His people had turned away from Him and without realizing it were living in miserable gloom of sin. Yet, despite living in “the dead of winter” so to speak, God offers His people a glimpse of the future … a future filled with joy. He promises, “The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. (Isaiah 35:1)” Isaiah proclaims a day will come when blind eyes will be opened, unhearing ears will be unstopped, crippled legs will run and jump like deer, and unspeaking tongues will rejoice (Isaiah 35:5-6)! What a joyful time that’ll be for God’s people!
Eight centuries later, John the Baptist was stuck in the gloom of a Roman prison. He’d faithfully stood up to the temple leaders and the Romans as he boldly proclaimed God’s Word in order to pave the way for Jesus’ ministry. One can imagine his disappointment at ending up in prison for doing what God had asked him to do. So, in despair, John sends his disciples to Jesus asking, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another? (Matthew 11:3)” By now Jesus has restored paralyzed legs, cured lepers, exorcised demons, returned sight to the blind and speech to the mute, raised the dead, exerted mastery over nature, and proclaimed the good news to people throughout the region. So, Jesus responds, “Go and tell John what you hear and see. (Matthew 11:4)” He tells them, in essence, “Remember Isaiah’s words about the Messiah and what He will do? Well, rejoice! Though it looks like it might be the dead of winter, it’s not! Because that’s exactly what I’ve done and who I am!”
We sit between the time of Jesus’ first coming and His promised return. I won’t argue that it feels a lot like the “dead of winter” for us right now. We feel the disappointment and pain of life in a sin-filled world. We personally experience it in many ways each day. But we can look joyfully to the future God promises us. A future described by Isaiah in this way, “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:10)” We can look joyfully to this future which God promises. The dead of winter is almost over.
In Christ’s Love,
Pastor Jim