From Isaiah to You, Merry Christmas
Over 2500 Year Old Christmas Card
The place of His throne is a voluntary place
A small place because it is from this small place the world must change
The rules and laws from Washington or any other country’s capital or state
Cannot bring the hope of government we need
The throne the Son of God desires to rule from takes only one vote
It is truly your choice, your vote that makes the difference
Only you can elect this One Isaiah speaks of to govern life
You and I need to vote to elect Jesus Christ to sit on the throne of our hearts
The term is for all eternity
Isaiah’s Christmas Card lets us know we can live in the Light of Hope
Even if everyone around us lives in darkness and despair
Isaiah the Prophetic of God sent you this Christmas Card over 2500 years ago
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders. Isaiah 9:6
Merry Christmas!
Over 2500 Year Old Christmas Card
Christmas is celebrated around the world.
Most of the world recognizes
Christmas as a Public Holiday.
There are many popular traditions
and symbols of Christmas.
The decorated pine tree, the manger scene,
Santa Claus, presents and wrapping.
One tradition has been the Christmas Card.
The History of Christmas Cards…
People have been sending Christmas greetings to each other for hundreds of years. The first recorded use of 'Merry Christmas' was in a Christmas letter sent in 1534.
The first known item that looked a bit like a Christmas card was given to King James I of England (who was also King James VI of Scotland) in 1611. This was more like a large ornamental manuscript rather than a card as we think of them today. It was 84cm x 60cm (33" x 24") and was folded into panels (it might have been folded so it could be carried around). It had a picture of a rose in the centre and a Christmas and New Year message to the King and his son was written into and around the rose. Also on the manuscript were four poems and a song - so rather more than are on cards today!
The custom of sending Christmas cards, as we know them today, was started in the UK in 1843 by Sir Henry Cole. He was a senior civil servant (Government worker) who had helped set-up the new 'Public Record Office' (now called the Post Office), where he was an Assistant Keeper, and wondered how it could be used more by ordinary people.
"Firstchristmascard". Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
Sir Henry had the idea of Christmas Cards with his friend John Horsley, who was an artist. They designed the first card and sold them for 1 shilling each. (That is only 5p or 8 cents today(!), but in those days it was worth much much more.) The card had three panels. The outer two panels showed people caring for the poor and in the center panel was a family having a large Christmas dinner! Some people didn't like the card because it showed a child being given a glass of wine! About 1000 (or it might have been less!) were printed and sold. They are now very rare and cost thousands of Pounds or Dollars to buy now! The original cards were advertised with the slogan: "Just published, a Christmas Congratulations Card; or picture emblematical of old English festivity to perpetuate kind recollections between dear friends"! https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/cards.shtml
Christmas Cards have a general
message and a personal message.
One of the messages you might find on a
Christmas Card comes from something written
over 500 years before the first Christmas.
The message was written in the context
of very difficult times due to judgment
resulting in people losing everything.
But the Judge of injustice
was also a judge of great mercy.
This is the condition surrounding
a Christmas Card over 2500 years old.
Distressed and hungry,
they will roam through the land;
when they are famished, they will become
enraged and, looking upward,
will curse their king and their God.
Then they will look toward the earth and
see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom,
and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
Isaiah 8:20-22
But the next words we read
shine hope like a great light.
Nevertheless, there will be no more
gloom for those who were in distress.
In the past he humbled the land of
Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles,
by the way of the sea, along the Jordan —
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;…
Isaiah 9:1-2
Then we read Isaiah’s famous
Christmas words in Isaiah 9:6…
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
This message for over 500 years was hope of a
king who would govern over the Nation of Israel.
But when the child was born and He grew up,
His people did not recognize Him.
God sent His Son not to rule
and govern from an earthly throne.
But a throne at the root of every
injustice, every wrong, every sin.
The place of His throne is a voluntary place.
A small place because it is from this
small place the world must change.
The rules and laws from Washington or
any other country’s capital or state cannot
bring the hope of government we need.
The throne the Son of God desires
to rule from takes only one vote.
It is truly your choice, your
vote that makes the difference.
Only you can elect this One
Isaiah speaks of to govern life.
You and I need to vote to elect Jesus
Christ to sit on the throne of our hearts.
The term is for all eternity.
Isaiah’s Christmas Card lets us know
we can live in the Light of Hope even if
everyone around us lives in darkness and despair.
Isaiah the Prophetic of God sent you
this Christmas Card over 2500 years ago…
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
Merry Christmas!
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV
6 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.
7 Of the increase of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David's throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.
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