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Prophesied Messiah – Isaiah 42:1 “Here is my servant, 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.” 

A father sends his son to a primitive planet under a yellow sun, not to rule with superhuman abilities, but to serve the people. Born on the desert planet of Tatooine, a fatherless boy is destined to bring balance to the Force. A lightening scar reminds us of the evil he is destined to destroy. You might be scratching your head at the pop fiction references, but these stories are not so different from the one we find ourselves in. Isaiah foretells that a coming baby – so special that the stars in the universe cannot stop looking at Him – will one day save us all.  

We are obsessed with saviors - Superman or Spiderman swooping in to save the day, Frodo enduring unspeakable horrors to destroy an unstoppable calamity, Mario travelling castle to castle to free the captive princess from the dinosaur/dragon man. We imagine what it would be like to be one of these great heroes – but then we remember they’re just fantasy.  

So, let’s think beyond Metropolis, America, the world, or even the universe and imagine a Savior for all people, for all tribes, tongues, and moments in history. Imagine one man saving all in a single action. If our obsession about saviors shows us anything, it’s that we need saving. And this heroic story begins – not with a flying man in tights – but with a baby in a manger. This is real. Jesus comes to save each of us and we don’t need a Bat-signal to hail him to our side. He is always with us.  

Who do you turn to when you need help? 

 

*stay tuned for tomorrow’s advent reflection*

(advent reflections have been prepared by a variety of writers from Peace Church)