FOR TO US A CHILD IS BORN

Isaiah 9:1-7

Key Verse: 6

“For to 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.”

We thank and praise God for having given us a child who has power and authority from heaven and earth. Every Christmas we get a chance to meditate deeply on the coming of Jesus our Lord. We are going to listen to the three Christmas messages starting from today. May God bless us to accept the baby Jesus deeply into our hearts through the message of Jesus’ birth.

I. A light has dawned (9:1-5)

Look at verse 1. “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—” The land of Zebulun and Naphtali belong to the region of Galilee which is the part of northern Israel. When the armies from the north invaded Israel, these were the areas they first encountered. Assyrian army destroyed those lands completely BC 734 and 732 and the people were deported. For 700 years, many different gentile kings ruled over the land and people lost their purity. They were treated as outcasts from the Jewish society for long time. For these people, however, Isaiah had the Christmas message in his heart. Look at 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.” This prophecy has fulfilled in Jesus’ time. Their lives before Jesus are characterized as “walking in darkness” and “living in the land of the shadow of death”. But God sent his son Jesus to Nazareth in Galilee. And Jesus spent way more time in Galilee ministering to the people of that region than he did those people in Jerusalem. The coming of Messiah to the land of Zebulun and Naphtali made great difference. These lands were transformed from the place of darkness and hopelessness to the place of glorious hope and light because of Jesus.

For the people in Galilee, Isaiah tells about a great hope. He thought about another dark time in Israel. In verse 4 he mentions about Midian’s defeat. It was in the time of the Judges. The Midianites had oppressed Israel for long time. They had camped on the land and often invaded Israel killing people and robbing Israel’s harvest. When the midianites attacked Israel not even a kernel of wheat left on the ground. According to verse 4, the Midianites were like the yoke that burdened Israel, the bar that laid on their shoulders and the rod that beat them up. Can you imagine how hard it would be for the Israelites to survive under the oppression of the strong enemy? The great fear hit the whole country. The Israelites abandoned their farm lands and houses and hid themselves to the caves and crevices. Both their soul and body were devastated by the hunger, the fear of death and hopelessness. The Israelites cried out to the Lord for help. Out of mercy and love for them, God sent a deliverer, Gideon. Gideon with his 300 soldiers defeated 135, 000 Midianite soldiers. It was a great victory that ended the Midianites’ oppression. With this victory, Gideon liberated his people from the enemy’s yoke, bar and the rod at once. Verse 4 tells how the people of Israel enjoyed their victory over the enemy. Look at verse 4. “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. Here the word joy and rejoice appear 4 times. The Israelites were full of joy. At the day of deliverance, they were shouting, jumping and clapping. This was the day of celebration for their freedom, victory and salvation. What does Isaiah try to tell us through the historical event? Isaiah prophesied about the coming of the messiah, a great deliverer who would liberate his people from all kinds of oppression. As Isaiah prophesied, God sent Jesus as a deliverer to Nazareth in Galilee. Jesus freed many people in the darkness under the Satan’s oppression and the bondage of sin and death.

There was a man possessed by demons. He was tormented and oppressed by evil power. He lived in the cave tombs like a beast shouting and torturing himself. Jesus came to him and freed his soul from 2000 demons. When the demons left from the man, he came back to his mind and became a new creation. The joy of salvation occupied his heart and he testified boldly to towns’ people how Jesus liberated his soul from devil’s oppression. Jesus also freed a woman caught in the sin of adultery. She was accused by religious leaders. Soon people surrounded her with stones. She was destined to be stoned to death according to the law. She was trembling by the fear of death but no one could help her out. However, Jesus became a deliverer for her. “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”(John 8:7) Jesus’ words pierced the hearts of accusers and they all left. Jesus forgave her sin and liberated her soul from the oppression of sin and death.

There are lots of things that oppress our soul and make us gloomy. Some people are defeated against their sinful nature. Some people are pressed by financial needs. Some people are stuck with the problems of marriage, job, study, and fruitless gospel work. But we must remember that our enemy lost his power when Jesus came. They have no more power to hold on us. Jesus is a deliverer. He helps us and gives us final victory because he won over the most powerful enemy of sin and death. There will be no more oppression, condemnation and accusation to those who belong to our Lord, Jesus. Let us rejoice and be glad, for Jesus came to us to free us from sin and death.

Now let us think about the meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not a day to exchange gifts to one another. It is not a day to donate clothes and materials to the people who are in need. It is the day to worship baby Jesus who came to us as our deliverer. It is the day to rejoice his redemption, salvation and great victory over our enemies. So are you ready to worship the baby Jesus with joy?

II. For to us a child is born (6-7)

Look at verse 6a. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.” Isaiah's prophecy was fulfilled when God sent his Son to be our Savior. Jesus was born in Bethlehem as a tiny baby. This son is given for us by God’s one-sided will and grace. We have done nothing to God but God has given us this child as a Savior while we have been oppressed by sin and death. I don’t know the reason why but I know one thing that God so loves you and me. God demonstrated his love by sending his only son to us.

Look at verse 6b “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” These are Jesus’ names. Name represents person’s character especially in the Bible. Let’s think about the meaning of these names one by one.

First, Jesus is a Wonderful Counselor. The Bible calls the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, the Counselor who leads us into all truth. Jesus says in John 14:16-17a "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever--the Spirit of truth" John 3 and 4 introduce two people who had spiritual counseling with Jesus.

One was Nicodemus and the other was a Samaritan woman. Nicodemus was a rich Jewish religious leader who had social power and fame. Samaritan woman was an outcast and a public sinner. Jesus welcomes everybody. Nicodemus visited Jesus at night because he had a life problem that he couldn’t tell anyone. Jesus saw him and figured out what fundamental problem he had at a glance. “You must be born again” (Jn 3:3). These words helped Nicodemus to recognize his real problem and the way to enter the kingdom of heaven.

For the Samaritan woman, Jesus visited her purposely and initiated the conversation to counsel her. Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (Jn 4:13-14). These words of life quenched her thirsty soul and she became powerful evangelist in her town.

Jesus is a wonderful counselor. We should bring our issues and problems to Jesus. Jesus would hear our request and give the right answers for us. Jesus visits us when we are too weak to come to him. Jesus satisfies our soul and raises us up from the failure. I thank God that He sent a child for us as a Wonderful Counselor. May we accept Jesus in our hearts so that we are led by Jesus’ wisdom and truth all the days of our lives.

Second, Jesus is Mighty God. Mighty means “having superior power or strength.” There is a world strongest man’s contest every year. I watched the contest video and I was amazed by their hilarious performance. Big muscular guys were moving the huge truck only using the ropes. They were lifting up more than 500lbs Atlas stones and squatting 700lbs barbells repeatedly. The final winner of this contest is called as a mighty man. But can we really call him as a mighty man? No matter how strong he is, he can be fallen one day by the attack of viruses which are not even visible. Human beings are indeed weak and fragile because they are from the dust.

Jesus is the Almighty and Creator God. John 1:3 says, “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.” Jesus controls over the heaven and the earth. When the storm arose, Jesus rebuked and calmed it down with his mighty power. Jesus also rose from the dead and triumphed over the power of death. Jesus is the Mighty God. Nothing is impossible for him and He is the owner of our life. This is great news for us. Let us come to Jesus as we are lining on his mighty arms.

Third, Jesus is our Everlasting Father. A week ago, we learned Jairus’ desperate pleading to Jesus for his dying daughter. A father is one who should give love and protection to his children. Under a good father, children grow strong and live fruitful lives. Not all fathers are great though. Because human fathers are sinners, they fail in many ways. They can be foolish, lazy, selfish, or even violent. Children suffer much because of this. To them, the word “father” evokes disappointment and pain. But our heavenly Father is different. God is love. God has already demonstrated his great love for us by sending his Son to us. Jesus knew heavenly father’s heart toward his lost children. Jesus is not an impersonal force, but a personal and loving Father to his people. Jesus became everlasting father for the sinners on earth and took care of them with much love. When a paralyzed man came to Jesus with faith, Jesus called him “Son!” and declared “Your sins are forgiven”. When the bleeding woman for 12 years touched Jesus’ clothe, Jesus was searching for her as if a father searches for his beloved one. He knew how much she had struggled with her disease. He called her “daughter!” and again declared “Your faith has healed you, Go in peace” Jesus is the everlasting Father who cares for all his children. He promised, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” (Jn 14:18). He promised to be with us forever. In the arms of the Everlasting Father we have peace.

Fourth, Jesus is Prince of Peace. We live in the problematic world. There are arguments, issues, troubles and conflicts in human life. People hurt each other and troubles arise unexpectedly. Everyone longs for peace. But they don’t know where the true peace comes from. That is why people seek peace by going to a quiet vacation spot. Some seek to forget their troubles by playing sports or video games. Some seek peace in listening endlessly to music or by eating and sleeping in all day. These things may give temporary peace, but when time passes, troubles come back and their hearts same as before or even worse.

In order to have true peace, we should know what snatches peace from us. That is the sin that takes away peace from our hearts. Romans 3:23 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Since Adam’s fall, all human beings have broken relationship with God. We became the enemy of God and the wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all sinful human beings. Unless sin problem is solved, there will be no more peace on earth. Jesus is the one who brings peace on earth. Jesus became a ransom for many to reconcile us with God. Isaiah prophesied messiah’s suffering and death and how he would restore our broken relationship with God. It says in Isaiah 53:5-6 “But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.” What a wonderful savior Jesus is! He took the cup of suffering on behalf of us in order to bring peace on earth.

A couple days ago, I got good news from my wife. She passed the final drive test and now she became certified G drive license owner. She went through many difficulties to possess this license for about 5 years. She said that the most difficult one to bear with was me. She failed 4 times of road test 5 years ago. When she failed again and again I was upset. I was not tolerating of her failures and I became cold toward her. Soon, peace between her and me was disappeared. Later, she again attempted her 4th test. She went for the test and I was praying for her while I was waiting. Then the Holy Spirit visited me and rebuked my unforgiving heart. I found myself as a sinner and could have mind of Jesus toward her. At that moment, Jesus brought me peace into my heart and I decided that I would accept and love her unconditionally. As I finished my prayer, she came to me with a big smile. She passed it. 5 years later, she passed final highway test at once. Through this event, I learned that Jesus is the prince of peace in my family. When we accept his Lordship, we are led to live under the reign of Jesus’ peace. When Jesus is in the center of our relations as a prince, Jesus will bring peace and reconciliation wherever we are. He promised, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (Jn 14:27) Indeed, Jesus is the prince of peace.