WINTER SNOW
Heavenly Father, Your ways are so much higher than ours. Thank You for the wisdom with which Your provided a broken world with the gentle healing of Your Son. Help me to mar vel again at the upside-down arrival of the King into a lowly stable. Amen
ISAIAH 42:1–4
1 Here is my ser vant , 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.
2 He will not shout or cr y out , or raise his voice in the streets.
3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smouldering wick he will not snuff out . In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;
4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope.
HE WILL NOT SHOUT OR CRY OUT, OR RAISE HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS. A BRUISED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK.
ISAIAH 42:2–3
In winter, I ofen wake to the beautful surprise of a world blanketed in the peace and quiet of an early morning snow. Unlike a spring thunderstorm that announces its presence loudly in the night, snow comes sofly.
In “Winter Snow Song,” Audrey Assad sings that Jesus could have come to earth in power like a hurricane, but instead He came quietly and slowly like the winter snow falling sofly in the night outside my window.
Jesus’ arrival took many by quiet surprise� Instead of being born in a palace, He was born in an unlikely place, a humble dwelling outside Bethlehem� And He slept in the only bed available, a manger (LUKE 2:7). Instead of being atended by royalty and government ofcials, Jesus was welcomed by lowly shepherds (VV. 15–16)� Instead of having wealth, Jesus’ parents could only aford the inexpensive sacrifce of two birds when they presented Him at the temple (V. 24)�
The unassuming way Jesus entered the world was foreshadowed by the prophet Isaiah, who prophesied the coming Saviour would “not shout or cry out” (ISAIAH 42:2) nor would He come in power that might break a damaged reed or extnguish a struggling fame (V. 3)� Instead He came gently in order to draw us to Himself with His ofer of peace with God—a peace stll available to anyone who believes the unexpected story of a Saviour born in a manger� o
LISA M. SAMRA
Read today’s passage again. What encourages you most to “put [your] hope” (Isaiah 42:4) in Jesus based on this description of Him?
Lord Jesus, thank You for willingly giving up Your majest y and for coming to earth in order to offer peace.