Christmas and the Conquering Kingdom of God | Isaiah 9:1-12
As Muslims swarm into the West, destroying what is good and true and beautiful, it does us good to remember that Christ’s coming brings the destruction of oppression. He is not waiting to be King. He is king now. Isaiah 9:1-12 begins its fulfillment in Matthew 4:12-17 as Jesus begins His ministry. He is King now (Mathew 28:18), and thus, we are to conquer the nations through the proclamation of His gospel and the baptism of His people (Matthew 28:18-20). Pastor Daniel Samms teaches through Isaiah 9:1-12 and reminds us how Christ has miraculously conquered and will continue to do so.
Boniface and the Destruction of Thor’s Oak by God
Boniface was a Benedictine minister commissioned as a missionary to what is now modern-day Germany. This region was known for its fierce warriors and pagan rituals, including human sacrifice in worship of Thor, Odin, and other norse gods. These wild people had not been conquered by Rome, despite centuries of attempts.
Presbyterian pastor, Henry Van Dyke provides a dramatic, though historically grounded, description of Boniface in "The First Christmas Tree" (1897):
“What a man he was! Fair and slight, but straight as a spear and strong as an oaken staff. His face was still young; the smooth skin was bronzed by wind and sun. His gray eyes, clean and kind, flashed like fire when he spoke of his adventures, and of the evil deeds of the false priests with whom he contended.”
Around 723, Boniface was traveling in the region of Lower Hesse as he was aware of a group of pageants near Geismar who would sacrifice a child to Thor in the middle of winter under their sacred tree, known as “Thunder Oak” (Donar’s Oak, Thor’s Oak).
Did Boniface say, “Oh, well….Jesus hasn’t returned yet and things like this are going to keep happening until he does.”? No!
Boniface and his crew arrived at Thor’s Oak on Christmas Eve, interrupted the ceremony, and said, “Here is the Thunder Oak, and here the cross of Christ shall break the hammer of the false god, Thor.”
Having halted the pagan ritual before the sacrifice, Boniface said,
“Hearken, sons of the forest! No blood shall flow this night save that which pity has drawn from a mother’s breast. For this is the birth-night of the Christ, the son of the Almighty, the Savior of mankind. Fairer is He than Baldur the Beautiful, greater than Odin the Wise, kinder than Freya the Good. Since He has come sacrifice is ended. The dark, Thor, on whom you have vainly called, is dead. Deep in the shades of Niffelheim he is lost forever. And now on this Christ-night you shall begin to live. This blood-tree shall darken your land no more. In the name of the Lord, I will destroy it.”
Boniface picked up an ax and took one swing at it as a great gust of wind blew and felled the tree by God’s mighty hand. Boniface milled the carcass of that tree and built a church where it once stood.
Boniface looked beyond where the oak lay, pointing to a small, unassuming fir tree, saying:
“This little tree, a young child of the forest, shall be your holy tree tonight. It is the wood of peace… It is the sign of an endless life, for its leaves are ever green. See how it points upward to heaven. Let this be called the tree of the Christ-child; gather about it, not in the wild wood, but in your own homes; there it will shelter no deeds of blood, but loving gifts and rites of kindness.”
The gospel of Jesus Christ conquered the Norse pagans of Germany once before. The Islamist hordes now overtaking Germany stand no chance against the gospel faithfully taught. Christ is Lord! Preach the gospel boldly.
