(This Sermon was preached at Trinity Bible Church on December
22, 2002. This sermon series is based upon a request to preach on Christ in
the Old Testament. This sermon was originally preached on 23 December, 2001,
but has been reworked a little to be included in this series of sermons. All
Scripture references used in this sermon are based upon the NASB®, unless
otherwise stated)
| This Sermon was written and submitted by: Joseph M. Willmouth, Pastor of Trinity Bible Church in Biloxi, Mississippi 39532. This contributed article is copyright protected, and the sole property of the contributing author. It may be freely copied and used provided the above credits are included. Document expiration: indefinite. |
Luke 2:1 Now it came about in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that a census be taken of all the inhabited earth. 2 This was the first census taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 And all were proceeding to register for the census, everyone to his own city. 4 And Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, 5 in order to register, along with Mary, who was engaged to him, and was with child. 6 And it came about that while they were there, the days were completed for her to give birth. 7 And she gave birth to her first-born son; and she wrapped Him in cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn. 8 And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. 10 And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; 11 for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. 12 "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." 13 And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, 14 "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."
Isaiah 9:6 For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.
Introduction: A three-year-old was helping his mother unpack their nativity set. He announced each piece as he unwrapped it from the tissue paper. "Here's the donkey!" "Here's a king!" When he got to the infant molded in a manger he proclaimed, "Here's baby Jesus in his car seat!" (Reader's Digest, Dec. 1991, p. 66). To many, Christmas is all about giving and getting gifts, about trees and tensile, lights and caroling. And one of the common images that come to mind is the nativity scene with the baby Jesus. To many people, Christ in their minds will remain a baby in that scene, and will never have an impact upon their lives. But Christ was more than just a baby in a manger scene, He was God come in the flesh who came to bring about God's eternal plan of salvation, restoration, and eternal rule. When you look at a nativity scene, do you just see "baby Jesus" in a car seat? Or do you see God's greatest gift to mankind?
Transition: Let's look at Isaiah's prophecy about God's son and what it means to you and me. . .
I. Christ's Humanity (v.6a).
(demonstrated at His 1st Coming)
1. Born of flesh and blood.
A. "a child will be born to us"Transition: Not only would God come in the flesh, but He would be. . .1) This is a reference to the incarnation of the Son of God that God Himself would become flesh and dwell among men (CS).B. Christ became flesh and blood so that He could relate to us and our needs.2) John 1:14, "And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth."
- Hebrews 4:15, "For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin."C. Christ became flesh and blood so that He could vicariously (a substitute) suffer for our sins (CS).- Hebrews 2:14-15, "Since then the children share in flesh and blood, He Himself likewise also partook of the same, that through death He might render powerless him who had the power of death, that is, the devil; and might deliver those who through fear of death were subject to slavery all their lives."
2. Born to be God's gracious gift to mankind.
A. "a son will be given to us"Application: Martin Luther once said, "We are not to ascend the study of the divine majesty before we have adequately understood this little infant. We are to ascend into heaven by that ladder which is placed before us, using those steps which God prepared and used. ... The Son of God does not want to be seen and found in heaven. Therefore he descended from heaven to this earth and came to us in our flesh. He placed himself in the womb of his mother, in her lap, and on the cross. And this is the ladder by which we are to ascend to God" (Luther's Works. Christianity Today, Vol. 32, no. 18). Unlike the unkind and uncaring gods that man has attempted to create throughout history, the God of Heaven has done something that man cannot comprehend. He not only made us, but He was willing to redeem us and not by any means by which we could ever imagine. We have a God who not only understands us, but He became like us, and dwelt among us. He knows exactly what it is like to be human, in every way. Here in Isaiah we see God's promise of hope for the lost as found in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life," and a promise of hope for the future of all believers; Matthew 28:20b, ". . .Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age."- "given," ("nathan" {naw-than': Niphal perf, 3, m, s}); to give, delivered, entrusted, to provide, bestow.B. Jesus Christ was a gift from God, on which man had no claim (JFB).- Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."C. This passage is quoted in Luke 2:11 and applied to Jesus Christ (NCWB).- Luke 2:11, "for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."
Transition: Isaiah reveals to us that Christ was more than just an infant when he spoke of. . .
II. Christ's Sovereignty (v.6b).
(will be demonstrated at His 2nd Coming)
1. Demonstrated by the carrying the burdens and responsibilities of
government.
A. "And the government will rest on His shoulders"Transition: Not only will the burden and responsibilities of government will rest upon His shoulders, but will be. . .1) He mentions shoulders, because great burdens are commonly laid upon men's shoulders (NOT).B. The Messiah will rule his earthly kingdom (given him by God) and vindicate the misrule it has suffered under men who defied the Most High (NCWB).2) The shoulder also speaks of strength (McGee).
- The Father asserts his right by the Son, as the "heir of all things," to hold it for him; Daniel 7:13-14, "I kept looking in the night visions, And behold, with the clouds of heaven One like a Son of Man was coming, And He came up to the Ancient of Days And was presented before Him. And to Him was given dominion, Glory and a kingdom, That all the peoples, nations, and men of every language Might serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion Which will not pass away; And His kingdom is one Which will not be destroyed."
2. Demonstrated by reigning in righteousness and justice.
A. He will rule over God's people and the world (BKC).Application: For Israel this was a hope that the Messiah would come and free them from their oppressors, and would rule and reign over them. This is still their hope today, and the hope of the church because we can look forward to returning with our Lord when He brings true peace to earth. Normally when we think of Christmas we stop with the birth of Jesus Christ, but we shouldn't omit the rest of God's Christmas gift of Christ. The celebration of Christmas should also be a time of looking forward to the day when Christ will return and establish His kingdom. Truth and justice will be restored and our Sovereign Lord will rule and reign.1) Micah 5:2, "But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah [ef'ruh-thuh], Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity."B. In Isaiah's day Judah's leaders were incompetent in governing the people, but the Messiah will govern properly (BKC).2) Zechariah 14:9, "And the LORD will be king over all the earth; in that day the LORD will be the only one, and His name the only one."
1) John 5:30, "I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me."2) Revelation 19:15-16, "And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, 'KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.'"
Transition: In the last part of verse 6, it also reveals. . .
III. Christ's Attributes (v.6c).
(characteristics of both of His Comings)
1. Wonderful Counselor.
A. Jesus Christ will be the nation's Wonderful Counselor, and the people will gladly listen to Him as the authoritative One (BKC).Application: J. Vernon McGee points out that most of us are not very smart, and that is why we must go to Him for help. This is why Jesus Christ has been made unto us wisdom. And not only is He wise, but He is also wonderful. Many people still don't know how wonderful Jesus Christ is today, and what is even sadder is that there are many Christians who have trusted Him as Savior but really don't know how wonderful He is (McGee). God has given us a wonderful Christmas gift in Jesus Christ, not only did He provide salvation, but He has also provided us with someone who we can go to and seek good advise to help us to live in our world today; Matthew 7:7, "Ask, and it shall be given to you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you."1) "Wonderful," ("pele'" {peh'-leh}); to be wonderful, marvelous (used here in the context of God's acts or words - extraordinary, of God's act of redemption).B. In the kingdom many people will be anxious to hear the Messiah teach God's ways (2:3: BKC).A) So the word "wonderful" conveys the idea of exceptional or distinguished (POC).2) "Counselor," ("ya'ats" {yaw-ats': Qal act, part, m, s}); to advise, give counsel (counselor), plan.B) We see the same word used in Judges 13:18, "But the angel of the LORD said to him, 'Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?'"
C) This implies something supernatural and has "overtones of deity" (NCWB).
A) A counselor has great wisdom (POC).- Thus He has the wisdom to rule justly (BC).B) Because of Jesus Christ's divine nature, there is no counselor who is as wise as Him, and this is why we must remember that man doesn't counsel deity but rather man is counseled by deity (POC).
Transition: Another attribute that Isaiah gives us about Christ is that He is a. . .
2. Mighty God.
A. Isaiah understood that the Messiah was to be God in some sense of the term, thus the title "Mighty God" clearly affirms Jesus Christ's deity (BKC, POC).Application: Warren W. Wiersbe points out, "What a paradox that a babe in a manger should be called mighty! Yet even as a baby, Jesus Christ revealed power. His birth affected the heavens as that star appeared. The star affected the Magi, and they left their homes and made that long journey to Jerusalem. Their announcement shook King Herod and his court. Jesus' birth brought angels from heaven and simple shepherds from their flocks on the hillside. Midnight became midday as the glory of the Lord appeared to men" (His Name is Wonderful, Christianity Today, Vol. 30, no. 18). Christ tells us in Matthew 28:18 that, ". . .All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." It was Jesus Christ that all power was given, for He is the Mighty God (McGee). This is why there can be no others like Him. This is why there can be no other name under heaven by which a person can be saved (Acts 4:12). The world likes to believe that they are many names by which a person can be saved, but none of these others have been given "all power," nor did they ever demonstrate it by their resurrection from the dead like Christ did. The best Christmas gift that was ever given to man, was not only God's gift of His Son to the world, but that God gave Him the ability to fulfill His plan of redemption and reconciliation so that we could be saved.B."Mighty," ("gibbowr" {ghib-bore': pronoun}): strong, mighty, prevailing over, commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of the successful warrior (TWOT).
1) Christ has the power to execute His wise plans (BC).C. "God," ("'el" {ale: m, s}); God, the one true God, Jehovah.2) Christ is our champion who victoriously fights our battles for us (POC).
3) And likewise He will someday fight the final battle and win the victory over His enemies when He returns again to this earth (Rev.19:11-21: POC).
1) Lit., means "to be strong," or "to be preeminent" (Moody Handbook).A) It is an interchangeable term with its plural form, "Elohim," and it emphasizes God transcendence (He is above all others who are called god.).2) Jehovah himself is called a "Mighty God" in Isaiah 10:21 also points to the fact that Jehovah and Jesus Christ are called "Might God" in the same book and section demonstrates their equality (WCA).B) It also draws the distinction between God and man so that El signifies the "power and strength of God and the defenselessness of human enemies."
Transition: The next attribute that Isaiah gives us about Christ is that He is our. . .
3. Eternal Father.
A. Earthly kings leave their people after a short reign, but Christ will reign over and bless His people for ever (JFB).Application: Not only do we have a Heavenly Father who loves us, but we have His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, who also demonstrates the same loving qualities of His Father to His people. Christ is loving, tender, compassionate, an all wise Instructor, Trainer and a wonderful Provider (BBC).1) "Eternal," ("'ad" {ad: n, m, s}); perpetuity, continuing future, for ever, everlasting, eternal (this word is used as a construct chain in which it serves as the modifier - TWOT).B. The title "Everlasting Father" is an idiom used to describe the Messiah's relationship to time, not His relationship to the other Members of the Trinity (BKC).2) "Father," ("'ab" {awb: n, m, s}); father, originator, head or founder, of a person who provides benevolence and protection.
1) He is said to be everlasting, just as God (the Father) is called "the Ancient of Days" (Dan. 7:9).2) The Messiah will be a "fatherly" Ruler.
A) In Scripture God is often likened to a father who cares for his children (63:16; Psa.103:13: Young).B) In that sense, Jesus Christ will perpetually care for his people.
Transition: The last attribute that Isaiah gives us about Christ is that He is the. . .
4. Prince of Peace.
A. The Messiah is the One who will bring in and maintain the time of millennial peace when the nation will be properly related to the Lord (BKC).Application: Jesus Christ was and is the Prince of prosperity, the Giver of all blessings (AC). Christ's 1st Coming did not bring world peace, but He did bring peace to the believer's heart; Romans 5:1-2, "Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God." At Christ's 2nd Coming He will usher in true world peace. Mankind attempts to do this on his own today, and is not capable of ever doing so because of our sin nature. But when Christ occupies the throne of David at His 2nd Coming, justice will be dominant in His rule. As J. Vernon McGee states it, "God's zeal, not man's zany plans, will accomplish this" (McGee). We have been given through God's Christmas gift, the promise of true peace on earth someday, but more importantly to Christians we have been given peace with God because of His wonderful gift of Jesus Christ to us; Philippians 4:7-6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."1) "Prince," ("sar" {sar: n, m, s}); prince, chief, captain, ruler, governor, keeper, chief captain, steward, master.B. This is perhaps one of His most celebrated titles, and we often sing it in our hymns and Christmas music (POC).- Often when we think of a prince, we also think of a king; Christ the prince, is the Son of our God and King, and was sent to do His Father's bidding.2) "Peace," ("shalom" {shaw-lome':n, m, s}); completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.
Truths To Ponder:
1. We are reminded once more that Christmas isn't about trees and tinsel,
bows or gifts, but it is a time to reflect upon God's Christmas promises
that He has revealed to us.
A. We are reminded that a Holy God, reached out to an unholy mankind with a wonderful gift of eternal life and hope.2. Before you open your 1st gift, stop and give thanks to God for His wonderful gift of His Son, Jesus Christ, and that God gave us much more than a baby in a manger scene.B. We are reminded of God's love for an unloving mankind.
C. We are reminded that God is still in control and that someday God's promises will be fulfilled when Christ returns to bring true peace on earth to mankind.
D. We are reminded that Christmas is more than just a holiday, it's a holy day.
Study References
AC - Adam Clark's Commentary on the Old Testament
BBC - William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary.
BC - Be Comforted, Warren Wiersbe (Isaiah).
BKC - John Walvoord & Roy Zuck, The Bible Knowledge
Commentary (Old Testament ed).
CS - "A Child & a Son, " Isaiah 8:16-9:7, by
Pastor Gregory, Byron Center Bible Church.
JFB - Jamison, Fausset & Brown, A Commentary
(Critical, Experimental, and practical on the Old and New Testaments).
McGee - J. Vernon McGee, Isaiah, Vol. 1.
NCWB - New Commentary on the Whole Bible, J. D.
Douglas gen. ed. (Old Testament Volume).
NOT - Notes On The Bible, by John Wesley.
POC - Portraits Of Christ In Isaiah, by Arthur
B. Walton (Regular Baptist Press).
WCA - When Cultists Ask, Norman Geisler & Ron
Rhodes.
Young - The Book of Isaiah, by Edward J. Young,
Vol.1.
