CCC Livestream - Glimpses of Christmas - Isaiah 40:1-11

Live Worship Gathering: 12/14/2025

Preaching: Jason Purdy

Tidings Of Comfort And Joy

Jason Purdy

Glimpses Of Christmas / Isaiah 40:1–11

I invite you to turn with me to Isaiah 40.

We will look at verses 1-11 today.

We are in a short two week Christmas sermon series called Glimpses of Christmas.

Last week we looked at the famous Christmas passage from Isaiah 9 where unto us a child is born, and to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

And today, we are going to look at another passage in Isaiah that speaks to many Christmas themes.

But before I get into the sermon today, I’m experiencing this strange phenomenon in my home that I need to share with you to see if this phenomenon is an isolated kind of thing or whether you are experiencing it too.

What I am experiencing in my home is a massive amount of decorated fleece blankets.

Christmas fleece blankets, fall decor fleece blankets, fleece blankets with puppies on them, Disney character fleece blankets, a football themed fleece blanket, a Rocky Mount High School themed fleece blanket.

Even our dog Rico has a few fleece blankets.

Other than the bathrooms and hallways, I don’t think you can go to any room in my house and not find at least one fleece blanket.

In the TV room, we have two buckets full of fleece blankets that everyone fights over before the family movie.

Is anyone else experiencing this?

Now, to be fair, we do try to keep the heating bill low in our house, so it is sometimes necessary to walk around our house regaled with a few fleece blankets in order to not freeze to death.

To be honest, I don’t mind all the fleece blankets at all, I actually really like them because I love for the house to feel warm and cozy, especially in the winter time.

I love the comfort feeling of snuggling up to a warm soft blanket.

Do you realize that we were made by God to experience and enjoy comfort?

In the very first chapters of Genesis, we read that before sin entered the world, the first man Adam and his wife Eve were both naked and were not ashamed.

Yet, when the man and woman first sinned against God, the first thing they do is run and hide because for the first time, they feel ashamed because of their nakedness.

Have you ever had that dream where you are naked in the middle of a big crowd?

Not a fun dream to have.

So, Adam and Eve started tying fig leaves together in order to cover their own nakedness.

Yet, it was God himself who used the skins of an animal to clothe and cover the man and the woman.

This is all a picture of how our sin separates us from our Creator, our life giver, and our comforter.

Our sin exposes us to judgment, punishment, and death.

How could it not when it separates us from our very life giver?

In Isaiah 40, Isaiah is prophesying about the time when God’s people are exiled by Babylon, their foreign enemy.

God’s people found themselves so far from God and his word that they were in a miserable situation of exile in a foreign land under foreign rule.

And in the midst of this difficult situation, God speaks a word of comfort.

Isaiah 40:1–11 ESV

1 Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

2 Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,

and cry to her

that her warfare is ended,

that her iniquity is pardoned,

that she has received from the Lord’s hand

double for all her sins.

3 A voice cries:

“In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord;

make straight in the desert a highway for our God.

4 Every valley shall be lifted up,

and every mountain and hill be made low;

the uneven ground shall become level,

and the rough places a plain.

5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,

and all flesh shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

6 A voice says, “Cry!”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

All flesh is grass,

and all its beauty is like the flower of the field.

7 The grass withers, the flower fades

when the breath of the Lord blows on it;

surely the people are grass.

8 The grass withers, the flower fades,

but the word of our God will stand forever.

9 Go on up to a high mountain,

O Zion, herald of good news;

lift up your voice with strength,

O Jerusalem, herald of good news;

lift it up, fear not;

say to the cities of Judah,

“Behold your God!”

10 Behold, the Lord God comes with might,

and his arm rules for him;

behold, his reward is with him,

and his recompense before him.

11 He will tend his flock like a shepherd;

he will gather the lambs in his arms;

he will carry them in his bosom,

and gently lead those that are with young.

1. God Brings Tidings Of Comfort To His People

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.

To comfort means to give strength and hope to, to ease grief and trouble, to console from trouble or worry.

Given the people’s history of sin and rebellion leading to the consequences of exile, the people most likely would have expected a harsh word from the Lord,

But instead, he offers words of comfort.

Verse 2: Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is ended.

The word warfare there can also be translated hardship.

For her hardship is ended.

It’s important to note that when the people would have first been reading the prophecy of Isaiah, their hardship had not ended.

They would have been hearing these words in the midst of their exile.

And in the same way, on the night of the birth of the Lord Jesus, when the angels exclaimed to the shepherds that God’s glory had come to bring peace among those whom God is pleased, those people were still in the midst of their difficult situation.

They were still languishing under Roman rule, harsh taxes, and legalistic religion.

And as yet another Christmas comes and we sing of tidings of comfort and joy, it does not come to us while we are separated from our own troubles and difficulties.

It does not come to us at a time when all of our hardships have ended.

It comes to us right in the midst of them.

Christmas comes right in the middle of that difficulty at work,

It comes to us right in the middle of that difficult marriage,

right in the middle of that relationship in conflict,

right in the middle of the financial problems,

right in the middle of the fight against sin,

right in the middle of the war against anxiety and despair.

And I wonder if you imagine in the midst of your struggle that God’s message to you would be a harsh message.

What’s wrong with you? Why don’t you have more faith? Are you kidding me? You are still struggling with that sin? You haven’t been able to overcome that yet?

Yet, just like the people of Israel, that is not the message God is bringing to you today.

God’s message to you right where you are, not where you wish you were, God’s message to you right where you are is:

Comfort, comfort my son or daughter, says your God.

I come speaking tenderly to you, for your hardship has ended.

Too many times in our day, it is the strongest and harshest messages that draw crowds and get clicks online, but Jesus Christ who was born in a lowly manger at Christmastime and who is gentle and lowly in heart comes and speaks in a whisper in the midst of the whirlwind: a message of tenderness and comfort.

Back to verse 2: her warfare has ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins.

How can God possibly tell us that in the midst of our difficulty that our hardship has ended?

Here’s how: because all the difficulty and hardship that we experience in life is at its very foundation a result of humanity’s sin and rebellion against God, and a result of our own personal sin and rebellion against God.

So if your iniquity (which is another word for sin),

If your iniquity is pardoned and not held against you,

Then you have received from the Lord’s hand double for all your sins.

Now, the english translation is a bit confusing here, because when we read that someone is going to receive double for sin, we think that means someone is going to be punished double for their sins, which cannot be what that means, for God is just and metes out justice in perfect proportion to the crime.

Instead, the original word actually means what we would say when we talk about a photo double.

A perfect and complete copy.

So how much of our iniquity is pardoned? What list of my sins has been taken on and dealt with by the Lord?

The perfectly complete and full list of all your sins. A perfect double.

None are left out or unforgivable.

And if the very foundation and result of all of our troubles and difficulties have already been pardoned and perfectly dealt with by the Lord, then be comforted, for God has already conquered the foundation of all your hardships, and the full disappearance of them is only a matter of time.

In the meantime, what is God doing?

Verse 3: A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Why were the people still in exile if God’s heart for them was comfort and pardon?

Why is it thirty years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the people still languished in darkness when John the Baptist came preaching this same message in the wilderness?

Prepare the way of the Lord!

Here’s why: because God is still lifting valleys up and making mountains low.

Jesus’ ministry was all about lifting up those who knew they were sick, poor, and needy.

And His ministry was also all about bringing down those who believed they were righteous and godly and had not need for salvation.

And the glory of God’s holiness, justice, wrath, love, grace, and mercy were revealed perfectly at the cross.

And will be revealed perfectly again when he comes again and all flesh will see him and bow before him as Lord of all!

This is the same kind of answer the apostle Peter gave when people asked why Jesus’ promised return has not yet happened.

2 Peter 3:5–9 ESV

5 For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God, 6 and that by means of these the world that then existed was deluged with water and perished. 7 But by the same word the heavens and earth that now exist are stored up for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly.

8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

This time is for more to reach repentance, some by being brought low from their place of religious self righteousness, and for some to be lifted up out of their shame, guilt, and spiritual poverty.

God brings tidings of comfort to his people.

2. Our Comfort Is Found In The Word Of God That Remains Forever

Verse 6: A voice says, “Cry!” And I said, “What shall I cry?” All flesh is grass, and all its beauty is like the flower of the field. The grass withers, the flower fades when the breath of the Lord blows on it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord will stand forever.

How does the message of God’s comfort and love through the pardoning of sin go forth from one person to another and from one generation to the next?

It goes forth as we cry out.

And we cry out when we realize that all flesh is as grass.

We are here today, but we are gone tomorrow.

So, we cry out the message of the gospel of God’s Word which is the only thing that will last forever.

The beauty of this world that we so oftentimes see, and chase after, and sacrifice for is a beauty that will not ultimately satisfy for it is here today, but it is gone tomorrow.

What is it that you have set your hope and trust in today that cannot be taken from you at any moment?

There is only one thing in this fast and fleeting life that is worth crying out, and pursuing, and sacrificing for, and setting your hope and trust in, and that is the Word of God.

For the grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.

Do you realize that you and every other person in your life and that you ever encounter, we are all holding on to something that is motivating who we are and what we do.

We are all hoping and trusting that once we get whatever it is that it will finally bring beauty, peace, and clarity to our lives.

We are all seeking something that will cover our nakedness and bring us comfort.

And if it is not the word of God, it will fail.

Nothing of this world can carry the weight of your eternal soul besides God and His word.

Not money, not physical health or beauty, not career success, not the ability to make everyone happy, not a girlfriend or boyfriend, not a spouse, having a family, owning a home, early retirement.

Only God whom we know through the Word of God can hold the eternal weight of our souls,

as we find all of our needs met and desires satisfied in Him forever.

At Christmastime, the eternal word of God became flesh and came and dwelt among us.

John 1:14–18 ESV

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

You see, Jesus came to earth as fully man, but He also came as the eternal Son of God, fully God.

And as God, Jesus embodies all of the truth and all of the grace of God expressed in His word.

And Jesus lived a perfect life which qualified him to be our perfect sacrifice.

And on the cross, Jesus took the full weight of our hardship, the full weight of our warfare, the full weight of our iniquities, and he received into himself the punishments for the full copy of all of our sins.

And Jesus died for our sins upon him led to his death.

Yet, three days later, God rose His son Jesus from the grave, defeating sin, death, and hell in our place.

And the resurrected Jesus proves that He is the word of God who will stand and endure forever!

For, He now sits at the right hand of God the Father, and He will come again to establish His kingdom and rule for eternity.

When the apostle Peter described salvation as being born again to eternal spiritual life, he wrote:

1 Peter 1:24–25 ESV

24 for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

And when you hear the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed from the Word of God,

God has brought you to a crossroads.

When you hear preached that his Jesus who was born at Christmastime, died on Good Friday, and rose Easter Sunday morning, you are hearing the message of God’s word that Jesus Christ is Lord of all and saves all who place their faith in him.

It is not everyone who hears the gospel message who are saved from God’s wrath, forgiven, and granted eternal life.

For many people hear the gospel yet reject its message.

Those who are saved are those who upon hearing the gospel agree that they are a sinner.

Agree that their sin deserves death and punishment.

Agree that they must reject their life of sin and trust in Jesus’ sacrifice for their salvation.

And when you trust that Jesus has done everything necessary for your salvation, you are forgiven, declared right with God by God, granted eternal life, born again to spiritual life, adopted into the family of God, made a son or daughter of God, and so given an inheritance that is kept secure in Heaven for you.

And you are promised that He who began this good work of salvation in you will bring it to perfect completion at the Day of Jesus’ return.

Salvation in Jesus Christ is the only gift you can receive this Christmas that can never rot or rust, be stolen or taken away.

You could lose your most precious thing on this earth before the day is out, but those who are in the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ will never be snatched out.

For those who are in Christ Jesus are loved fully and completely in him and nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus!

Our comfort is found in the Word of God that remains forever.

3. Go, Tell It On The Mountain, Over The Hills and Everywhere!

We hear the theme of the popular Christmas carol “Go Tell It On The Mountain” when we read verse 9.

Go on up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, “Behold your God!”

When we perceive from our spirit that God’s word written and God’s word made flesh is our only eternal hope, and the only hope of all people, we are compelled to go and tell the world the good news of Jesus Christ!

Jesus’ final words to his disciples were

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

And in Acts, just before his ascension

Acts 1:8 ESV

8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”

And notice, the message of the gospel is not “do better,” “get religious,” “clean yourself up,” the message of the gospel is “Behold your God!”

Behold your God who has created you!

Behold your God whom you have sinned against!

Behold your God who sent His only Son to die for you while you were still a sinner!

Behold your God who has sovereignly orchestrated this moment in your life to hear and respond to His gospel!

We are committed to giving to things like the Lottie Moon Christmas offering, praying for missionaries, and going ourselves because we believe that the gospel is the only hope for all the nations of the world.

But the gospel is only good news if it gets to the sinner in time.

For may we pray, give, and go to herald this message of the gospel: Behold your God!

Verse 10: Behold, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.

Make no mistake, though God came at Christmas time in the most lowly and humble of ways, Jesus will return to earth again as a warrior, coming in might, and his arm will crush the nations and rule all who are his.

When Jesus comes again, He is bringing reward and recompense to His people.

He is bringing the reward of the presence of God dwelling with us.

He is bringing the reward of complete separation from sin and brokenness.

He is bring the reward of God’s glory experienced in full.

For though now we see through a dim mirror, then we will see him face to face!

Verse 11: He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.

It is incredible to consider the great and powerful range of God’s holy character,

For the same God who will come with might and slaughter all his enemies, is the God who will tenderly tend his flock like a shepherd and never lose a sheep.

He is compassionate and intimate enough to hold us in his arms and carry us in his bosom as his beloved children who are in great need of his care.

He can care for and give rest to those in the most vulnerable of situations like those with young children.

For Jesus gave this invitation in

Matthew 11:28–29 ESV

28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

I want you to know that in the midst of any hardship and difficulty you may be facing this holiday season, God’s word to you is comfort, it is tender, it is pardon for every one of your sins, it is care,

It is a call for the haughty and proud to be brought low and repent of self righteousness and for the lowly and burdened to repent of sin and be lifted up by Jesus’ grace.

It is a promise that though some days seem long, this life is fleeting and short so hold on, give yourself to your Lord and to His word.

Declare this gospel to others and be a part of this mission through praying, giving, and going across the office, across the street, across the city, or around the world with the gospel of Jesus on your lips.

Allow Jesus in his tenderness to heal your wounds, strengthen your weaknesses, and carry your burdens.

And as you celebrate the first coming of our Lord Jesus, cling tightly to the promise that he is coming again to make all things right and new.

Let’s pray.

(Elder at couches)