Awaiting the Way Home
Preacher: Matthew Burns Series: Far As the Curse is Found: Awaiting the Messiah Topic: Sermon Scripture: Isaiah 35:1–10
This week the Lectionary has us still reading the Word of the Lord from Isaiah. And Isaiah is full of the most wondrous and non-sentimental words. Isaiah deals in BIG STUFF; the really big questions.
Questions like:
“Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire?" Isaiah 33:14
Isaiah deals in BIG CONCERNS like:
The health of the city and society,
the witness of God’s people in the world,
the dangers of nationalistic pride,
the environment,
and the moral integrity of political and cultural leaders.
It is very not casual reading. Also, not really the kinds of things we are used to thinking about at Christmas.
So here is a question - Isaiah style - to get us in the frame of mind for Sunday:
Have you ever seen someone come back from the dead?
We see it on movies and TV shows, you know what I mean, the paramedic performs CPR; the doctors shout 'CLEAR!' before shocking a patient flatlining on a gurney. And then: the dramatic gasp of breath, the confusion, the relief, and the joy.
But have you ever seen it happen with your own eyes?
Something like this is what Isaiah is visioning for us in Isaiah 35. He says, that we will see it.
He pictures a desert suddenly blooming with life;
a wilderness with a stream in it.
But these pictures of barren land coming to life, are really only prelude to the real miracle - people changing.
Isaiah isn't thinking about ecological disasters as much as the disaster of spiritually barren people.
In the bible, to be with God is to be fully alive. To be away from God is to be dead, lost, walking in darkness; hopeless. Without God we are a desert. We are alive, but not really alive.
The bible calls this Exile. And it's where Israel, God's people are heading.
But Isaiah has a word of hope for this people on the other side of exile. There will be a way home. And people who are dead to God, who have no hope, no home; who limp, ache, struggle to hear or to walk;
the weary and suffering -
they will leap, they will shout,
they will sing, they will walk -
they will be like a blooming desert. And they will have joy.
Because God is coming to a people who are in exile; to buy them back and lead them home.
other sermons in this series
Dec 21
2025
Awaiting the Sign
Preacher: Matthew Burns Scripture: Isaiah 7:1–17 Series: Far As the Curse is Found: Awaiting the Messiah
Dec 7
2025
Awaiting the King of Peace
Preacher: Matthew Burns Scripture: Isaiah 11:1–10 Series: Far As the Curse is Found: Awaiting the Messiah
Nov 30
2025
Awaiting the City of Peace
Preacher: Matthew Burns Scripture: Isaiah 2:1–5 Series: Far As the Curse is Found: Awaiting the Messiah