Isaiah
9:6-7, For to us a
child is born, 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. 7 Of the increase of his
government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over
his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with
righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.
Peter tells us that “the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched
and inquired carefully, inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in
them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent
glories. It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you,…”
(1 Peter 1:10-12). I believe this passage of Scripture pretty much explains the
feelings Isaiah must’ve had when God gave him the promises of the Messiah. He
must’ve thought to himself, “Who is this child?”
Repeatedly, throughout the Old Testament, there
are passages that clearly refer to Jesus as the Messiah. It must’ve been hard
to conceive God coming to earth in a human body through birth. That is the way
God chose and it was not one of many choices. It
was the only choice from the very beginning. Salvation must ultimately come
from God and cannot be earned by mankind. It was necessary that Jesus be born
just as we have been in order to combine full deity and full humanity in one
person. That clearly describes Jesus. He is very God of very God and always
will be. When the Spirit of God moved in Isaiah to reveal God’s will a part of
it was this strange idea that…
A
child is born. Let’s go to John’s gospel to better understand
all this. Let’s read John 3:16-18. “For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his
Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be
saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed
in the name of the only Son of God.
That child was born because of the love of God.
He loved his creation so much that he would become like us so that we could
become like him. When the angel appeared over the shepherds that night they
were filled with great fear. I’m sure any of us would have been equally
fearful. The angel’s announcement stated that he was bringing good news of
great joy for everyone on earth past, present, and future.
We are all born condemned because of the
infection of sin passed down from our ancestors. In order to heal the hurt,
solve the problem, and bring his people into his kingdom there had to be a
child born and…
A Son
is given. Let’s look at Romans
8:32. He who did not spare his own Son
but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us
all things?
In the context of this passage we are told that
God works for good with those who love him. He has better gifts and greater
gifts than any human father could consider. Our heavenly Father will give good
things to those who ask him (Matthew 7:11). It is appropriate that we consider
these passages of Scripture during the Thanksgiving season. When we realize
that God is the definition and source of all good we will realize that God
himself is the ultimate good. Then we will be stimulated toward good works as
his children. God loved the world so much that he sent a child to be born who
would grow into a son given for us.
As wonderful as this is it is not enough! He
came to die on the cross for our salvation and was raised again with power to
ultimately rule the earth and all its inhabitants. As he grows beyond his
childhood it becomes very obvious that he is the one spoken of in Isaiah. There
are many other passages of the Bible that assure us that…
He
shall govern. Let’s look at the prophecy of Daniel 7:14. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all
peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an
everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall
not be destroyed.
The vision that Daniel saw must been
awe-inspiring! The Messiah, called the Son of Man, came with the clouds of
heaven. When Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven angels
spoke to his disciples assuring them that he would come again just as they saw
him going. A cloud took him out of their sight! Daniel saw that very same cloud
carrying him to the Ancient of Days! And when he stood before the throne he was
given dominion and glory and a kingdom that involved all people everywhere.
During the 2000 years since Christ ascended into heaven the gospel is being
preached all over the earth. Jesus promised that when the gospel of the kingdom
would be proclaimed throughout the whole world then the end will come (Matthew
24:14). If you’re looking forward to the coming of Christ go out and preach the
gospel because he will not come until it has gone everywhere.
The son who was given and who will govern the
nations will be able to meet all of our needs. First of all we are told that…
He is
the Wonderful Counselor. Let’s read Jeremiah 32:18-19. You show
steadfast love to thousands, but you repay the guilt of fathers to their
children after them, O great and mighty God, whose name is the Lord of hosts, 19 great
in counsel and mighty in deed, whose eyes are open to all the ways of the
children of man, rewarding each one according to his ways and according to the
fruit of his deeds.
Jeremiah also saw things that he did not
understand. And among them is this promise that his steadfast love goes to
thousands. When Jesus did come into this world he amazed the people around him.
When officers were sent to arrest him they were unable to lay hands on him.
When their rulers wanted to know why they did not bring him, they answered, “No one ever spoke like this man!”
(John 7:46).
This one came into the world as a child and
grew to become a ruler who was also a Wonderful Counselor actually he was more
than that! What am I saying? When we look to Jesus we should not be so
concerned with who he was we need to reinforce the idea of who he is. And one
of those titles tell us that…
He is
the Mighty God. Let’s read John 10:27-30. My sheep
hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give
them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out
of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater
than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I
and the Father are one.”
Not only was it difficult for the prophets to
understand what they had seen and reported it was difficult for the disciples
to understand what they were seeing and hearing. The one born in Bethlehem that
night was not just a baby. He was (and is) the Mighty God! Repeatedly Jesus
told them, one way or another, that he and the Father are the same! This is a
concept that is very hard to grasp but is clearly presented by Jesus. Not only
is he Mary’s baby boy…
He is
the Everlasting Father. Let’s read John 14:8-10. Philip said
to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” 9 Jesus
said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me,
Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the
Father’? 10 Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the
Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own
authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works.
This is a very hard concept for a human to
grasp. That the one who came as a child — a son – who would govern the nations
of the world was himself the Mighty God and the Everlasting Father! Earlier, in
John’s Gospel, John had written for us, “No
one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made
him known.” (John 1:18)
Jesus himself was seen by Isaiah under the
influence of the Holy Spirit and was understood to be the one given for us.
Jesus was — and is — the Wonderful Counselor! Jesus was — and is — the Mighty
God! Jesus was — and is — the Everlasting Father! And also…
He is
the Prince of Peace. Listen while I read Colossians 1:19-20. For in him
all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through
him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making
peace by the blood of his cross.
Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist,
spoke of the time when the tender mercy of our God would be the light for those
who sit in darkness and would be the one to guide our feet into the way of
peace (Luke 1:78-79). On the night of Jesus’ birth the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth
peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:14) We are assured that
the Lord is at hand, and therefore, we have nothing to be anxious about. The
absence of anxiety is given to us when we take everything to God in prayer and
thanksgiving and then the peace of God, beyond all understanding, will be our
guard eternally (Philippians 4:5b-7). When we focus on the things that God has
given us then the God of peace will be with us.
The “child” that Isaiah saw became the Son who
would reign over all things and all time. This “child” is often seen by us as a
baby in a manger! However, we must remember that he is the Wonderful Counselor;
he is the Mighty God; he is the Everlasting Father; he is the Prince of Peace!
And from the throne of David…
His
rule will never end. Let’s read Revelation 1:5b-6. To him who
loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood 6 and made
us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion
forever and ever. Amen.
John, in his old age, saw The Revelation of
Jesus Christ. He spoke of Jesus as the one who is and who was and who is to
come surrounded by the seven spirits before his throne. Jesus Christ the
faithful witness the firstborn from the dead and ruler of the kings on earth
has freed us from our sins by his blood.
Peter wrote, “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a
people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” (1 Peter 2:9).
Peter saw what God had done with his people. 700 years before Christ, Isaiah
had seen the same thing! Isaiah saw the one who would begin to rule in peace
and would continue forever fulfilling all the promises of all the ages. That,
my friends, is what Christmas is all about!
As we enter into the Advent season we must
recognize that the Lord Jesus Christ remains forever the same. The prophecies
of his coming began in the Garden of Eden when the offspring of the woman is
mentioned. Repeatedly throughout the Old Testament there is the promise of
someone coming who was symbolized in the sacrificial system. Without him there
is no hope in this age or the age to come. Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s
promise to the prophets. They did not understand but they did believe. It is
essential that we believe. Confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you will be saved.
All
scriptures quotes are from: The Holy Bible: English standard version.
2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society
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