Promised King

Birth Announcements

Levi just had his 9th birthday.

And prior to his birth, I hadn’t even known that birth announcements were a thing.

I thought that people knew you were pregnant and would eventually meet the baby.

As simple as that, but for many new and eager parents, they like to send out birth announcements.

And one of the things that God does for us is announce the birth of his king before he is actually born.

He tells us that the promises he made long ago is going to be fulfilled.

One of the most prominent and often quoted places is found in Isaiah 9.

If you were with us last night I spent some time talking about this passage, but I want to spend just a little more time this morning for just a few minutes.

This is time of year we celebrate the coming of the promised king.

Unfortunately, there are many distractions that keep us from seeing the true reason for Christmas.

We can be distracted by the noise around us and forget the reason for the season.

Here’s what’s mind blowing for me.

God could have left us on our own.

He could have allowed us to get what we deserve.

Death and separation from him.

But instead he chose to provide a way for us to have a relationship with him.

Where we can be forgiven of our trespasses and have our sins atoned for.

This plan was set in motion in eternity past and was fulfilled at the death and resurrection of Jesus.

But way before the incarnation.

Way before Jesus put on flesh and dwelt among us.

God revealed to Isaiah what this Promised King would look like.

That’s what Isaiah 9:6-7, reveals to us.

Promised King (v. 6-7)

Isaiah 9:6–7 CSB

6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. 7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.

This is an extremely popular text at Christmas and reveals a lot about the Promised King to come:

It reveals that he is both God and man.

Reveals that he is bringing his own kingdom.

Reveals his character and attributes.

Reveals his reason for coming.

Isaiah 9:6 CSB

6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

First: He is both God and man:

Child is born. He is of flesh and bone. He enters into this world. He is real.

There are those who believe that Jesus was only spirit, but this text and the whole of Scripture reveals to us that he is Truly Man and Truly God.

The king of the universe put on flesh to come and dwell with his people.

He came to bring us life.

He came to live a life we couldn’t live and to die a death we should have died.

Paul tell us in Phil 2.

Philippians 2:6–8 CSB

6 who, existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God as something to be exploited. 7 Instead he emptied himself by assuming the form of a servant, taking on the likeness of humanity. And when he had come as a man, 8 he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death— even to death on a cross.

The eternal entered into the finite.

In order to die, Jesus had to be born.

Don’t miss this: He is given to us. He is a gift that we don’t deserve, but is given anyway.

This is not an accident or happenstance. He is purposefully provided for us.

He is the perfect gift that brings us from gloom to glory, from darkness to light, from oppression to victory, from chaos to peace.

We know that the father gives good gifts to his children and the best gift we have ever recieved is Jesus.

He is bringing his own government.

He is going to establish, uphold, and rule his own form of government.

He is establishing his own Kingdom.

He is the Royal Divine King that came to rule and reign over his subjects.

When Jesus came he came to establish a new kingdom.

He came to create a new rule for those that will follow him.

The quest for the perfect and lasting government is found in Jesus.

In Matthew 28:18 “...All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth.”

This new kingdom that is established is based on

His Name.

Remember in the Ancient World a name would signify and establish your character.

What you were called dictated how people viewed you.

And so with this Child’s Name we are given a glimpse of what that looks like.

With four descriptions of his character

Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace

Let’s take a few moments to look at each of these attributes.

Wonderful Counselor

The word wonderful here, relates to the ability to perform miracles.

This coming king would be able to perform signs and wonders just as God had before in the OT.

Not only that but He is perfectly wise.

He is the source of wisdom.

Wisdom comes from God.

He doesn’t seek wisdom outside himself. He doesn’t need input from outside sources.

He provides wise counsel to those who seek him.

We see these attributes in the person of Jesus, b/c we know that Jesus came and performed signs and wonders while at the same time speaking and preaching the truth of God.

The message of the gospel.

Jesus is wisdom in flesh b/c he is God in flesh.

Isaiah 28:29 CSB

29 This also comes from the Lord of Armies. He gives wondrous advice; he gives great wisdom.

Isaiah9.6 “6 For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on his shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”

Mighty God

Imagine this, a baby is ascribed the title Mighty God.

An infant described as mighty God should blow our minds.

But we also know that that infant was going to grow into a Man who would demonstrate the power of God.

The word translated mighty here was one used for powerful me or warriors who could carry out their power in military prowess.

So this child that is born is going to be

Great in power. Great in stature. Great in might.

He is God. Equal to God

Even carrying with him the divine name of God.

No other person ever has God’s name and God is never called Moses, Abram, David, or Jeremiah, so there must be something very special about this son that causes him to have God’s name.

The power of Jesus was shown in his authority over his own life.

He willingly laid down his life to offer restoration and reconciliation to broken people.

John 10:17-18 “17 This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.””

Eternal Father.

His reign will be forever.

No other kingdom, government, or empire has ever ruled everlastingly.

Longest Empiric Reign was 1850 years. Long Time but not forever.

As his kingdom will know no end he is fatherly in character.

He cares for and protects his people.

He has a relationship with his people.

He loves his people

Prince of Peace

Prince is a common word used for a government official.

Jesus will be a ruler who brings peace and is characterized by peace.

Shalom-Wholeness Completeness

Total well-being

He is one that restores what is broken.

The Brokenness of Sin

The Brokenness of Relationships

with one another

with God

This King comes to declare and deliver peace. Not a temporary peace, but an eternal peace.

Not a peace solely amongst nations, but a restorative peace with both God and man.

All enmity, strife, pain, fear, death, and separation is ended when the fullness of his kingdom is established.

John 14:27 CSB

27 “Peace I leave with you. My peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Don’t let your heart be troubled or fearful.

Romans 5:1 CSB

1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

The peace of the world is a fickle peace.

We need a supernatural peace.

Knowing that in the chaos that surrounds us we are held tight in the arms of Jesus.

Much like with wisdom, Jesus is the source of perfect peace.

Often times when we think of Peace we think of a lack of conflict.

But to have peace there is usually a conflict first.

And the peace that Jesus leaves with us came through great violence.

Jesus’ sacrifice.

The ultimate peace that Jesus provides is peace with God.

We are no longer under the wrath of God, we have been made right with him.

We have been made right with God b/c of Jesus’ Sacrifice.

Jesus offers peace to those that love him.

Everyone else.

the world is under the wrath of God.

But Jesus, took that wrath upon himself.

He defeated sin, death, and the devil.

Jesus wants his disciples to know that the peace he gives is not like the world’s peace.

His peace is eternal.

It isn’t forced by the sword.

It isn’t manipulated.

It is achieved through his sacrifice.

It is an inner peace that stills our hearts and comforts our souls.

Knowing that no matter what happens, God is in control.

He is working all things out for our good and his glory.

And ultimately we will one day experience eternal peace when we live with God for all eternity.

We can be in a relationship with this Divine King b/c he gives us peace with God.

Isa 9:7 “7 The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever. The zeal of the Lord of Armies will accomplish this.”

The announcement of this Divine King shows us that there is no end to his goodness and peace.

It will continue to expand until Christ’s Second Advent.

I want us to really wrap our minds around this truth.

The dominion of the Lord will be vast.

It will multi cultural.

Multi lingual.

People from every tongue, tribe, and nation.

People from every walk of life.

There are people everyday that God is inviting into a relationship with him.

There are people submitting their lives to Jesus and believing in the gospel message.

And just think about this, we get to be a part of the expanse and vastness of his kingdom.

As followers of Jesus our hearts cry should be to make much of him.

Remember about that shirt I told you I saw, “Make Heaven Crowded”.

That’s what we should be about.

That is our calling.

Jesus called us to participate in his mission.

The vastness of Jesus’ dominion gives us the sense of ever increasing.

It’s ever growing, multiplying.

It’s prosperity will know no end.

In the presence of Christ’s eternal kingdom we will forever be enjoying him.

We will ever be growing in our knowledge of him.

Our love for him will increase

Our worship of him will grow.

And even when Christ Comes again each day we will learn to love him more. We will feel the continued presence of his wisdom, strength, care, and peace.

We read here that the wonderful counselor, mighty God, eternal Father, and Prince of peace is going to reign from David’s Throne.

This is a promise from God to King David in 2 Sam 7.

2 Sam 7:12-13 “12 When your time comes and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up after you your descendant, who will come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.”

This is why Matthew goes to great lengths in his gospel to prove that Jesus is a descendant of David

Matt 1:1 “1 An account of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham:”

Jesus is the fulfillment of this promise.

He is the offspring of David.

And again we hear about his kingdom, he is going to reign “with justice and righteousness.”

This kingdom is going to be a perfect reflection of the character of Jesus.

He is going to love righteousness and punish evil.

He is going to restore what is broken.

The kingdom established by the Son is going to be the perfect Kingdom as God has designed it.

Who is doing this?

The Lord of Hosts. The Triune God Eternal.

Some like to look at the reality of Christ’s sacrifice and deem it Divine Child Abuse.

But what we see from the scriptures is that Jesus was willingly part of the plan.

He wasn’t forced to endure the cross, but that he willingly gave himself up for the peace that surpasses all understanding.

For Reconciliation, For Restoration, For Redemption.

The Promised Divine King

Conclusion

Do you know this Jesus that came as a babe and lived the perfect life? Do you know about his Sacrifice?

That He died so that you may live.

If you don’t, He is calling out to you answer him.

If you do, remember that you have access to the Divine King. That you are loved by the Divine King. That He cares about you.

You should tell others about the peace you have found. Spread his peace. Spread his love. Walk in his Light.

Lord’s Supper

As we celebrate the coming of the king this Christmas Season we are going to partake in the Lord’s Supper.

This we are to do as we remember what Jesus has accomplished and look forward to his Second Coming when His Eternal Kingdom is Established.