Reading:
• Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1-6
• Matthew chapter 1 verses 18-25
Ill:
Name change - celebrities real names & their celeb names.
• Names obviously communicate to us;
• They create an image, a persona.
• According to my book of useless information;
• Jesus has 117 names (some say over 250!)
• In our Old Testament reading Isaiah brings to our attention 4 of them,
• Matthew in his gospel gives us the most well known name of all, the name ‘Jesus’.
To appreciate the names we have to appreciate the context, the setting, the background:
• That those names were given in,
• So let’s go back 800 years before Jesus was born into planet earth.
Reading: Isaiah chapter 9 verses 1-6
(a). The darkness (verse 2):
“The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
GOD’S PEOPLE HAD BEEN SPLIT INTO TWO BY A CIVIL WAR:
• In the north was Israel – the northern kingdom;
• In the south - Judah the southern kingdom,
• Both kingdoms were living in dark times.
• That darkness evidenced itself in at least two ways.
(a). Dark circumstances:
• Their circumstances were bleak,
• Assyria was a military aggressor;
• Assyria had already started invading Israel in the north;
• And it was only a matter of time before it would also conquer Judah in the south.
(b). Dark spiritually:
• Spiritually the nation was walking in darkness;
• Selfishness & sinful actions dominated in the majority of people.
Ill:
• Superstitions (2:6),
• Materialism (2:7; 5:8-9),
• Idolatry (2:8,20),
• Arrogance (2: 12-17; 5:15),
• Lack of good leadership (3:1-4),
• Social disintegration (3:56,12-14),
• Sensuality (3:16-26),
• Alcoholism (5:11-13,22).
• And if you keep looking, you will probably find a whole load of other things going on as well!
Ill:
• In 1835 a man visited a doctor in Florence, Italy.
• He was filled with anxiety and exhausted from lack of sleep.
• He couldn't eat, and he avoided his friends.
• The doctor examined him and found that he was in prime physical condition:
• So the doctor suggested that his patient needed to relax, and to have a good time,
• He then told him about a circus that was in town.
• And he told him of its star performer, a clown named Grimaldi.
• Night after night he had the people rolling in the aisles.
• "You must go and see him," the doctor advised.
• "Grimaldi is the world's funniest clown. He'll make you laugh and cure your sadness.
• " "No," replied the despairing man,
• "He can't help me, you see, I am Grimaldi!"
Gods people were truly in the dark and there was no hope!
(a). No help in themselves.
• Like Grimaldi; they could not help themselves,
• For they themselves were the problem!
(b). No help in the monarchy.
• The final years of Israel's monarchy were a period of political uncertainty.
• Kings like Shallum and Menahem were quickly assassinated.
• The royal and political leaders of the day were also swamped by darkness;
• They were a classic example of the blind leading the blind.
(c). No hope in their religious leaders.
• Religion had become syncretistic (syn-cret-is-tic) ill: New Age:
• A mixture of every conceivable practice of the Canaanites, Assyrians and Egyptians.
• Ill: The so called people of God;
• Were even sacrificing children to Molech, the god of the Ammonites;
(d). It is fair to say that there appeared to be no hope anywhere!
• Verse 1 tells us that Zebulun and Naphtali, two of the northernmost tribes of Israel,
• Had already suffered the onslaught of Assyria.
• Their towns and villages had been destroyed.
• Their people had been taken away and resettled hundreds of miles away from home.
• Judah feared that it too would suffer the same type of fate,
• There was darkness and gloom everywhere and there appeared to be no hope.
Ill:
• A little over a month before he died,
• The famous atheist Jean-Paul Sartre declared
• When trying to resist strong feelings of despair, would often say to himself,
• “I know I shall die in hope.”
• Then in profound sadness, he would add,
• “But hope needs a foundation.”
Question: What could turn the nations hopelessness into hope?
Answer:
• As we shall see, the answer is not ‘what’ but ‘who!’
• ‘A king born of royal descent!’
• The people may have ignored and forgotten the true God,
• But the true God had not ignored or forgotten them!
• And into there situation of darkness,
• God would shine his light and so dispel the darkness.
(B). The light (verse 2):
“The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
a light has dawned.”
ill:
• The German comedian Karl Vallentin:
• Would walking on to a stage where everything was dark;
• Except for a small area under a street lamp,
• And he would begin to look for something on the ground.
• Just then a policeman would come along;
• And he would asked him what he was looking for,
• Vallentin would then reply that he was trying to find a key,
• So the two of them searched together.
• Unable to find it, the policeman asked, "Are you sure you lost it here?"
• "Oh, no," said Vallentin as he pointed to a corner, "It was over there”,
• The policeman said; “Then why are we looking here?”
• Vallentin replied; “Because here is where the light is!"
The people of God no longer needed to grope around in the darkness:
• God’s light did not shine to reveal their lost-ness,
• But rather to bring them hope.
• The people would not have to dwell on their sin and darkness,
• Instead they could look to the light and find a remedy, a cure in the child to be born!
(1). A child of promise (vs 1-2):
ill:
Campbell Morgan – “That’s not a promise….it’s a fact!”
“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.”
We know that this prophecy refers to Jesus Christ:
• Because these verses are quoted by Matthew in his gospel (chapter 4 verses 13-13),
• And applied directly to the Jesus Christ.
13 “Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali--
14 to fulfil what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
15 Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, the way to the sea, along the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles--
16 the people living in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
17 From that time on Jesus began to preach, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near”.
• Jesus grew up in the despised town of Nazareth (“Can anything good…..”);
• Shortly after he started his public ministry he moved to Capernaum.
• Capernaum was in Galilee and it given the derogatory name ‘Galilee of the Gentiles’.
• It was a place despised by the Jews;
• In moving to Capernaum;
• Matthew tells us that he fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.
Note: How these verses were to be fulfilled.
• Bu people who had ‘been living in darkness’;
• That is a reference to Gentiles who were outside of Jewish sacrificial system.
• Isaiah is predicting a time when they need no longer be cut off from God & in darkness.
• Because now they had the light of God's Son in their midst.
(2). A God of impossibilities (vs 4):
“For as in the day of Midian's defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.”
ill:
A bishop of a century ago;
• Pronounced from his pulpit and in the periodical magazine that he edited;
• That heavier-than-air flight was both impossible and contrary to the will of God.
• Oh, the irony that Bishop Wright had two sons,
• Orville and Wilbur!
• I guess we could truly say on this occasion that; ‘Wright was wrong’!
• Sure of himself, but totally wrong!
Isaiah reminds his readers that we serve a God who specialises in the impossible:
• In verse 2: He uses an illustration from Israel’s past to help them realise this,
• He goes back to the time of the judges “In the day of Midian's defeat”
• Before Gideon (O.T. character) went into battle with the Midianites (Israel’s enemy),
• God quite deliberately whittled down his army from 32,000 to 22,000 to 300.
• God was teaching Gideon and the nation an important lesson;
• Victory does not depend on the size of an army;
• Or even on the weapons of destruction that army might have.
• Victory depends on the Lord.
• If you know this incredible story (Judges 7:22-25);
• You might remember that Gideon did not even need to fight the Midianites
• A surprise night time attack upon the Midianite camp;
• Was enough to cause total panic and cause them to flee.
• Gideon and his men learnt a valuable the lesson:
• God is able to do the impossible.
Isaiah was telling his people the same truth;
• Trust in the living God,
• No matter how dark your circumstances might be, he alone is able to deliver you!
Isaiah tells the people of his day, to think about Gideon and his times (verse 4):
• Before Gideon set the people free;
• The nation was facing dark and difficult days.
• In fact he uses three descriptive pictures in verse 4;
• To remind the people what their ancestors had experienced.
Ill:
• (a). He compares the nation to an ox.
• That had been yoked, and enslaved by its oppressor,
• (b). Then the oppressor had placed a staff across its shoulders;
• Which pressed down on the flesh and bones of the shoulders to cause extra pain.
• (c). And then the ox had been beaten with a rod,
• A picture of a slave driver with his whip.
Yet says Isaiah, God rescued them:
• They went from slavery to freedom,
• This change took place by the power of the Lord Almighty.
• And he says that if Judah would only listen and learn!
• They too could experience his salvation.
• Isaiah goes on to tell them concerning God’s great salvation;
• That salvation will ultimately come in and through the messiah.
(c). The Messiah (verse 6-7):
Concerning this child Isaiah points out two things that we ought to note:
• The Messiah would be both human and yet divine.
• 'For to us a child is born, to us a son is given' (verse 6).
• (a). Those words ‘a child is born’ a reminder that He became a real baby!
• Flesh & blood, fully human.
• (b). Those words ‘a us a son is given' are a reminder of his pre-existence.
• You can only give what you already possess. Ill: £100.
Ill: C. S. Lewis
• “Lying at your feet is your dog.
• Imagine, for the moment, that your dog and every dog is in deep distress.
• Some of us love dogs very much.
• If it would help all the dogs in the world to become like men,
• Would you be willing to become a dog?
• Would you put down your human nature,
• Leave your loved ones, your job, hobbies, your art and literature and music,
• And choose instead of the intimate communion with your beloved,
• The poor substitute of looking into the beloved’s face and wagging your tail,
• Unable to smile or speak?”
• What we would not do and could not do for an animal;
• God was both willing and able to do for us!
Well, Every child (even one born of royal descent) needs a name and this baby is no different:
(1). Wisdom
• I take the title 'Wonderful Counsellor' as a sing1e title,
• Some translations separate these two words.
• Although either way it doesn’t change the meaning.
• The title is simple telling us this baby will be a 'Wonder of a counsellor.'
• The word 'wonder' In the Old Testament is a God. Kept to describe him & his works.
• It specifically deals with the supernatural abilities, the miracles & wonders performed by God:
e.g.
• Miriam and Moses sang a song after the crossing of the Red Sea,
• Which included the lines (Exodus chapter 15 verse 11):
'Who among the gods is like you, O Lord?
Who is like you
majestic in holiness,
awesome in glory,
working wonders?'
e.g. The psalmist, too, said the same thing (Psalm 40 verse 5).
'Many, 0 Lord my God,
are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us
no one can recount to you;
were I to speak and tell of them,
they would be too many to declare.'
e.g. Psalmist (Psalm 136:3-4).
'Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures for ever.
to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures for ever'
e.g. Psalmist (Psalm 139:l4).
'I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful,
I know that full well'
e.g.
• Isaiah himself tells us that this is a word associated with deity;
• He himself attributes it to God: (chapter 28 verse 29):
'All this also comes from the Lord Almighty,
wonderful in counsel and magnificent in wisdom'
In the person of Jesus Christ we see the wisdom of God made visible:
• His every instruction is wonderful.
• His opinions are extraordinary.
• His recommendations are impressive.
• His advice is phenomenal.
(2). Deity - The 'Mighty God'
• As Counsellor he has the wisdom to rule,
• As the Mighty God, he has the power to execute his wise plans.
Ill:
Lords prayer ‘Our Father’ – Love. ‘In heaven’ – His power.
• 'Wonderful Counsellor' – The wisdom of God.
• ‘Mighty God’ – Power to apply that wisdom.
The name 'Mighty God' is again a God name - a name ascribed to God himself:
• Isaiah uses it again in the very next chapter in connection with God the Father.
• Chapter 10 verse 21.
• And it is also used elsewhere in the Old Testament;
• e.g. Deuteronomy chapter 10 verse 17; Nehemiah chapter 9 verse 32.
• Isaiah is informing us 800 years before the event;
• That the creator would become part of his creation!
• Ill: ‘’Veiled in flesh the God head see, hail the incarnate deity’.
• Ill: ‘God in a body’. Or ‘The Word became flesh & pitched his tent’.
(3). Fatherhood - 'Everlasting Father'
• 'Everlasting Father'
• Is literally 'Father of eternity'.
• The rule of this child of royal descent will be enduring and everlasting.
• Like that of his heavenly father, it will know no end.
Note:
• We are not meant to confuse this term with the title 'Father';
• e.g. ‘Our father which art in heaven.’ That we given to the first person of the Trinity.
• Each person of the Godhead is distinct,
• We need to remember that.
To the Jewish people the word ‘Father’ meant ‘originator’ or ‘source’,
• Ill: John chapter 8 verse 44:
• Satan is called the father (originator) of lies
• Jesus is called the Father (originator or source) of eternity,
• If you want anything eternal you must get it from him.
All the eternal blessings we enjoy:
• Our ours;
• Because of Jesus Christ!
(4). Peace
• 'The Prince of peace'.
• He is the 'peaceful prince'.
• The word 'prince' is elsewhere translated as 'commander';
• One who has the authority & power to execute his will.
Ill:
• I might have the desire to stop speeding motorists,
• But I do not have the power. I can never enforce my desires.
• If I was a policeman, the story would be different,
• I can enforce my will by the power of my calling.
• But the 'prince of peace' or the 'commander';
• Is one who has the authority & power to execute his will.
The world in which we live defines peace as an absence of conflict or war.
• The Bible defines it differently;
• The Hebrew word for peace is ‘Shalom’;
• And means: ‘Harmony, wholeness, well-being and success.’
• Qualities that Jesus Christ promised to give those who were committed to him!
Ill:
• Harmony – ‘We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’.
• Wholeness – ‘Happy are those whose sins forgiven.’
• Well-being – Contentment ‘Godliness & contentment are great gain’.
• Success – ill: wise & foolish builders.
• ‘Shalom’ - ‘Harmony, wholeness, well-being and success.’
• Are qualities that Jesus Christ promised to give those who were committed to him!
Ill:
Kids and the jigsaw puzzle, “When you put the man together, he makes sense of a messed up world!”
For 800 years the Jewish people waited, and waited and waited:
• For generations,
• The people have anxiously waited for the child of royal descent to be born:
• Devout Jews searched the scriptures for clues about him.
• Fathers taught their children to watch out for him.
• Mothers have peered into the eyes of their newborns,
• Wondering whether their child might be the one.
• And now God, in his wisdom is saying; ‘enough waiting’,
• And an angelic being brings news to a teenage girl and her fiancée.
• That the time has come;
• The promised Messiah was to soon be born and they were to call him Jesus.
(d). THE MESSIAH REVEALED:
(a). A special name.
In a Jewish family in New Testament times;
• Boys were named on the eighth day at his circumcision;
• Girls could be named anytime within thirty days of their birth.
• It was traditional to name the newborn baby boy;
• After his father or some other prominent person in the family;
• But this baby would break with tradition;
• He was named in heaven and there was no better name that he could have had!
(a). A special Purpose.
“Give him the name Jesus….people from their sins”
ill:
Being rescued from Coventry Canal - we all need a rescuer/saviour.
