The Christmas season is again upon us, the time of year when we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus. It is also a time when we often hear the question, "What about those who lived before Jesus was born? Was there no savior for them?" When Isaiah wrote his prophecies 700 years before Jesus was born, he told his readers that they were saved through faith in the Savior, just as we are today. They were sinners just like us, who could not save themselves. The book of Isaiah contains strong words of condemning law, "All we like sheep have gone astray" (53:8). It also contains sweet, sweet words of Gospel, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow" (1:18). The people of Isaiah's time were in need of a savior just as we are, and they had the same Savior that we have.

The Gospel message of Isaiah emphasizes the life and work of this Savior. Although it doesn't mention that His name would be Jesus, it offers so many details about Him that we know it is the same person. These details assure us that Jesus is the one who came to save sinners. Isaiah's readers learn that He is God, who became man for us: "For unto 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" (9:6). They learn that He was born of a virgin: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel" (7:14). They read that He would suffer and die for their sins: "He was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities" (53:5). Isaiah also wrote to them concerning Jesus' resurrection: "After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light of life and be satisfied" (53:11). The life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is clearly taught by Isaiah.

Isaiah wrote in a time of special troubles for the people of Israel. The nation was about to be conquered by its enemies and its people taken captive into Babylon. Look at how national troubles affect the people of our nation, how fearful and anxious people were at the time of the fateful September 11,2001 attacks. The nation of Israel was experiencing these same feelings. Isaiah's message to them and to us is, "Comfort, comfort ye my people" (Isaiah 40:1).

This message was not only for the people of Israel, however, it is also for us. Of special interest to the writer of this article as a foreign missionary is the mission emphasis of Isaiah, who wrote, "Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn" (60:3). The forgiveness that Isaiah proclaimed is for all people, including you and me.

Besides those passages already mentioned, there are many more beloved and familiar words in the book of Isaiah. You may remember these from hymns or from your pastor's sermons. "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty" (6:3). "A voice of one calling: In the desert prepare the way for the Lord" (40:3). "All men are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever" (40:6,8). "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (55:9). What treasures such words are!

Read Isaiah as you celebrate your Christmas. You will receive a Christmas gift of eternal treasures from your Lord and Savior.

Timothy Erickson is an ELS missionary in Santiago, Chile.