Sermon Text: Isaiah 35:1-10
Title: “The Way of Holiness.”
I. The way of wickedness is paved with our
sins.
II. The Way of Holiness is paved with
Christ’s blood.
CHRIST HAS COME TO RANSOM THE CAPTIVE – AND IN DOING
SO GIVES US THE RIGHT THROUGH HIS BLOOD TO BE ON THE WAY – TO BRING US TO THE
GATES OF HEAVEN THEMSELVES.
In the name
of the Father and the Son + and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Grace,
mercy, and peace from God our Father, and from our LORD and Savior Jesus
Christ. Amen.
The sermon
text for this, the third Sunday in Advent, is taken from the Old Testament lesson
just read. I would read again these
verses…
And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of
Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk
on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. 9No lion shall be there, nor shall any
ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed
shall walk there. 10And 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.
Dear Brothers
and Sisters in Christ,
I.
Roads are
very important. They have been around
for just about all time. Whether you are
looking at the Middle East and the ancient trade routes, or you are looking at
the farthest reaches of the Holy Roman empire and finding roads built by the
Romans in Great Britain, roads are important and they are everywhere.
It is no
different here in the United States either.
I remember a U.S. history class I had in college talking about how our
interstate system came to be. The
Interstate Highway System was authorized by the Federal Aid Highway Act of
1956, and had been lobbied for by major U.S. automobile manufacturers and
championed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The President was influenced by his
experiences in 1919 as a young soldier crossing the country following the route
of the Lincoln Highway, and his appreciation of the German autobahn as a
necessary part of a national defense system. In addition to easing private and
commercial transportation, it would provide key ground transport routes for
military supplies and troop deployments in an emergency. Highways are important.
In our text today we hear about a highway that is THE Highway. Isaiah writes…
“And a
highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness…”
The Way of
Holiness, this is THE Highway for those who believe in the LORD Jesus
Christ. Here is where we find
ourselves.
But is it
where we belong? Do we have permission
to be on this Highway? Have we paid our
toll? Or have we mistakenly gotten on at the wrong interchange? Surely this isn’t for us wayward sinners, not
this wonderful Highway. Isaiah himself
says in verse eight…
“the unclean
shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way…”
Now I know I
am somewhere I shouldn’t be, for I AM unclean and I don’t walk on the way. I sin daily.
I am forever sinning. I
gossip. I cuss. I take the LORD’S name in vain. I don’t build my neighbor up, but instead
tear him down. I turn my back on the
LORD when I don’t go to church, when I don’t go to Him in prayer, when I don’t
go to Bible study, when I despise the gifts He has given me, such as Holy
Baptism and Holy Communion, when I worry, when I chose to serve myself and not
Him. No. I don’t belong on this Highway
– I belong far from it. I truly belong
on the way of wickedness - a highway headed in the opposite direction.
II.
Then Isaiah says something that is truly
remarkable. He says…
“It shall
belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go
astray.”
“What was
that sir? What did you just say Mr. Isaiah? Did you just say even if I am a fool I can be
here on this Highway that leads to GOD’S eternal glory - that is to say –
Heaven? Are you sure? You must be talking about someone else Mr. Prophet. I am all the horrible things already
mentioned and much, much more – and I get Heaven?”
Then we are
reminded by the Holy Spirit that yes, we are allowed here on this Highway of
glory. For we have been saved by the
blood of the Lamb – the very blood of the Son of God – Jesus Christ
Himself. We are reminded that the Baby
born in a stable so long ago came into the world to save it and us from
ourselves. The message of the angels to
the shepherds rings in our ears that a Savior is born! And that Savior was born for a purpose - to
die for you and for me. And it is this
deed and not any of ours that has placed us on this Way of Holiness. And it is a Highway that is reserved for you
and for me, ones who have been reclaimed by the LORD, for Isaiah writes…
“No lion
shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be
found there, but the redeemed shall walk there.”
That’s you
and me - the redeemed - right there in the passage. Isaiah is speaking all those thousands of
years ago specifically about you and me.
We have been saved by this Baby born so long ago in a manger. And now we rejoice in our salvation! Isaiah writes…
“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.”
The
ransomed, has a nice sound to it doesn’t it?
The Law – this kidnapper of sorts – demands payment and will not relinquish our
souls without it. We are that ransomed
lot who is returning to Mt. Zion. And we
are singing and we are joyful and we are glad and sorrow and sighing shall be
banished forever and ever! This is the
Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ that I bring to you as your pastor this
day. We are on the right Highway and as
long as we believe in the LORD this is where we will remain.
And one day that Highway will lead us straight to the gates of heaven itself where there will be a Man with holes in His hands and His feet Who will smile and say, “Welcome Home for all eternity.” Amen.
And one day that Highway will lead us straight to the gates of heaven itself where there will be a Man with holes in His hands and His feet Who will smile and say, “Welcome Home for all eternity.” Amen.
The peace of
the LORD which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus our Redeemer. Amen.
+ Soli Deo Gloria +
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