A Banner to the Nations

Isaiah 11:10 In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples; the nations will rally to him, and his place of rest will be glorious.
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Isaiah 45:23 By myself I have sworn, my mouth has uttered in all integrity a word that will not be revoked: Before me every knee will bow; by me every tongue will swear.
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Luke 1:54 “He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful 55 to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers.”
 
Luke 1:68 “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come and has redeemed his people.  69 He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David  70 (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago),  71 salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us – 72 to show mercy to our fathers and to remember his holy covenant, 73 the oath he swore to our father Abraham: 74 to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear  75 in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76 And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, 77 to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, 78 because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven 79 to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.”
 
WORDS from Isaiah, Mary and Zechariah, who is John the Baptist’s father, point to God fulfilling his first covenant with Abraham: Genesis 12:2 “I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”
   The prophecies and praises are true. Out of Abraham’s loin has come the Son of God. From the Son’s resurrection the church of Jesus Christ is throughout the entire earth. Yes, there are some people groups who have yet to know of Jesus. But that is changing. The gospel is expanding. Everywhere the name of Jesus is God’s Banner to declare salvation has come to the nations. Paul reiterates God’s promise in Romans 14:11 It is written: “’As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.’”
   In Christ there is no Old and New Testaments. There is one testament, one promise of God’s redemptive power declaring is reign throughout the entire earth.
   This is Christmas joy. There is no reason to be dismayed, doubtful or in despair. There is only a sure hope to know Jesus’ name is above all names throughout the world. Try as they might persecutors and can never, will never silence God.
  
Prayer: O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. (Psalm 8:1) Amen.