Southern Cross Presbyterian Church

Dan 5:1-7:28

As Daniel had visions of the future and the rise of powerful kingdoms, there would be one more powerful, who would establish a forever kingdom.

Daniel 7:13-14 ¹³ “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence.  ¹⁴ He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

As human rulers put Christ on trial and condemned him to death, it would not be over for this king, but it would be the start of the forever kingdom.

Mark 14:61-62 again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”  ⁶² “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Isa 65:1-66:24

¹⁹ “I will set a sign among them, and I will send some of those who survive to the nations—to Tarshish, to the Libyans ^[d] and Lydians (famous as archers), to Tubal and Greece, and to the distant islands that have not heard of my fame or seen my glory. They will proclaim my glory among the nations. ²⁰ And they will bring all your brothers, from all the nations, to my holy mountain in Jerusalem as an offering to the LORD -on horses, in chariots and wagons, and on mules and camels,” says the LORD. “They will bring them, as the Israelites bring their grain offerings, to the temple of the LORD in ceremonially clean vessels. ²¹ And I will select some of them also to be priests and Levites,” says the LORD.

Jerusalem with its temple was to be God’s earthly dwelling place, a place where God had set his name, a place of restoration and even a source of blessing to the nations 66:20.

But one day a new mission arrived the effect of Jesus the messiah’s death and resurrection meant a new way to worship God had come. Now the Lord’s glory would be proclaimed as they go out from Jerusalem.

Rather than staying in Jerusalem waiting for nations to come, Jesus says:

⁸But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

Isaiah 57 – 59

‘ “If you keep your feet from breaking the Sabbath

and from doing as you please on my holy day,

if you call the Sabbath a delight

and the Lord’s holy day honorable,

and if you honor it by not going your own way

and not doing as you please or speaking idle words,

then you will find your joy in the Lord,

and I will cause you to ride on the heights of the land

and to feast on the inheritance of your father Jacob.” The mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

The Sabbath was there to remind the people of the rest that is only found in a perfect relationship with God. A rest that was broken in the fall and was only to be restored by God’s righteous servant who “…will justify many and he will bear their iniquities…”

It is through Jesus that we can look forward to perfect rest in heaven, when we have a restored  relationship with God. Today, I am REALLY looking forward to that rest, to be away from sin, pain, suffering and the brokenness of this world but for now, I am trusting God and seeking to find my joy in him. Praying that that may also be the case for you…

Isaiah 49:8-51:23

Isaiah 50:7-9 ⁷ Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.  ⁸ He who vindicates me is near. Who then will bring charges against me? Let us face each other! Who is my accuser? Let him confront me!  ⁹ It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who is he that will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up.

This would be news of comfort for the people of God. No condemnation for Gods people.

Vindication? free from accusation? No condemnation?

Romans 8:33-39

³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.³⁴ Who is he that condemns? Christ Jesus, who died– more than that, who was raised to life– is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?  ³⁶ As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Isa 42:1-43:28

Finally great comfort arrives for the people of God. Future hope, news of a servant:

Isaiah 42:1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.

Isaiah 42:6-7 I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,  ⁷ to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Comfort has arrived for the people of God. Hope is here the servant has come:

Luke 2:28-32 ²⁸ Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying:  ²⁹ “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss {29 Or promised, now dismiss} your servant in peace.  ³⁰ For my eyes have seen your salvation,  ³¹ which you have prepared in the sight of all people,  ³² a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”

Luke 3:21-22 ²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened  ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”