Transformed – teen devotion – December 26, 2021
One truth shared: This lowly child is no lowly king. The warrior’s boot will be burned. The yoke will be broken. And he will sit on his throne bringing peace. This is what happens when he comes.
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. 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.
Isaiah 9:4-6
Peace
Almost every time that we imagine the Christmas scene and draw pictures of it, the scene seems so peaceful. We picture angels standing guard and their chorus singing outside. We imagine Mary and Joseph gently holding the baby Jesus and gazing adoringly into his eyes. The wise men and the shepherds are there too, but it is still a peaceful thing. It is gentle. Serene. Peaceful.
But that is not the picture that Isaiah paints for us. He pictures something violent happening when Jesus comes. He pictures a yoke that burdens people getting crushed over a warrior’s knee, absolutely breaking it to smithereens. He pictures the boots and the bloodied garments of the warrior being used as fuel for the fire. Why? Because a son is born to us.
It’s not the picture of Christmas that we normally have. We don’t picture a shattered yoke or a bloodied garment in the fire.
When Jesus was born and entered this world, the angels rejoiced but Satan surely cursed. He hated this idea that the Messiah had come to save. In that moment, he surely rounded up his demonic hordes to do their worst against this Anointed One of God. This was war!
Jesus grew and rose to meet them in battle. And this is what he did. He took the yoke of sin and guilt and shame that was on our shoulders, and he shattered it. He broke it into slivers and used it as kindling for the fire. He strode into battle—a conquering King—and bloodied his garments in the war against our enemies, absolutely decimating them.
The war is won! The yoke of our sin is shattered. Their garments are fuel for the fire. And so, we have peace! Peace with God. Peace for eternity. Sins forgiven. Heaven won.
Enjoy the victory and live in the peace that he has won for you.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, thank you for this vision of your coming through Isaiah. It shows me again how complete the victory that you won for me is. Here you show me that you are, indeed, my conquering Hero. Amen.
