Isaiah 9:6-7: God's Gift to Us

Isaiah 9:6–7 (ESV)

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. 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.

Isaiah 9:6–7 (新改訳2017)

ひとりのみどりごが私たちのために生まれる。 ひとりの男の子が私たちに与えられる。 主権はその肩にあり、 その名は「不思議な助言者、力ある神、 永遠の父、平和の君」と呼ばれる。 その主権は増し加わり、その平和は限りなく、 ダビデの王座に就いて、その王国を治め、 さばきと正義によってこれを堅く立て、 これを支える。今よりとこしえまで。 万軍の主の熱心がこれを成し遂げる。

Intro:

It’s the Christmas season… Christmas chicken… Christmas cake… Christmas gifts

Which one are you looking forward to? … probably the gifts, right?

What kind of package do you like most when you receive a gift?

[go through gift wrappings on slides]

Christmas is the time when we celebrate the Gift God has given us

A gift that wasn’t wrapped in leather wrapping paper… a gift that isn’t impossible to open...

That gift was wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger

Christmas is a time of celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ

Jesus … God’s gift to us … the gift that gives salvation … joy … hope … eternal life ...

This morning, we are going to look at Isaiah 9:6-7

This morning’s passage is a prophecy about the birth of Jesus Christ … given hundreds of years before he was even born

Now, whenever you receive a gift … two questions come into your head…

What is this thing called?

What is its purpose?

I’m sure you’ve had those times when you receive a gift … but you don’t know what it really is...

Or you know what it is … but you don’t know how in the world you’re going to use it…

This morning, we will take a look at the Gift that God has given us

And we will unwrap that gift and see what it is called

And then we will look into the purpose of this gift

I. Isaiah 9:6 - The Gift

This passage takes place at a very difficult time and Israel’s history

The Northern Kingdom of Israel had wandered into idolatry … and they were very into this idolatry … and they were into it for a very long time

Finally, the Lord said, “it’s enough” … and in Isaiah 8 and 9, the Lord pronounces judgment against Israel

And the Judgment would come specifically at the hands of the Assyrians … the Assyrian Empire would come down and would completely destroy the Northern Kingdom of Israel … and would carry the people off into captivity

But in the middle of this passage of judgment, we have these two verses … verses that point to a future hope

Verses that point to a gift … the gift of a Savior

Vs. 6 Begins by saying, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.”

This is that famous passage, especially around Christmas time … because this is one of those passages that prophesies the birth of Jesus Christ

“A child is born” - points us to Christmas

Jesus, God’s only Son, was born as a baby … he was born of a virgin named Mary … he was born in a stable and placed in a manger … worshiped by shepherds and kings (wise men)

God became man … he took on human flesh … and was born as a helpless little child … into a poor family

“A Son is given” - points us to Easter

When did God give his son to us? On the cross

Jesus lived a perfect life … he lived in perfect harmony with God the Father

But he was taken and hung on a cross … as a gift for us

Not as a decoration … but as a sacrifice … he took everything that we have done wrong … he took all our guilt and shame … he bore it on the cross and died in our place

But the passage continues by saying, “and the government shall be upon his shoulder...”

That sounds a little strange … what does government have to do with Jesus’ death on the cross?

After Jesus died on the cross, he rose three days later … and 40 days later he ascended into heaven … and the Bible tells us that when he ascended into heaven he received a kingdom

Notice how in the English it doesn’t say, “the government shall be upon his shoulders” but “the government shall be upon his shoulder”

It doesn’t come across in the Japanese, but the Greek is specific that this is a singular word

We think of bearing something on her shoulders, both of them … but Jesus is bearing the government upon his shoulder, just one … Does that remind you of anything?

I believe it is a direct connection to Jesus’ bearing his cross

Because he bore his cross on his shoulder all the way to Calvary … and he faithfully gave of himself even to death

The Father gave him the kingdom to bear on his shoulder … the reward for his faithful sacrifice

But this passage tells us that the child that was born, the son that was given … was given for us, was given to us

We are the ones that receive this gift … we are the ones who received Jesus our Savior

Now, when you give a gift to somebody … hopefully, you aren’t expecting that person to pay for the gift you gave them

In Japan, we have a custom called 恩返し … the custom of giving presents back to those who have given you presents

Hopefully, you don’t give a present thinking, “This is a good gift … I hope I get something good in return”

If that’s the attitude behind a gift, is no longer a gift … now it has strings attached

But when God gives gifts, they are always gifts … no strings attached

Jesus was given to you and me as a gift … and as a gift, the Lord is not expecting for us to pay him back … nor is he trying to attach strings to our lives

His hands are open simply giving us his Son … and our place is to simply receive from him

But what is this gift called? What is his name?

II. Isaiah 9:6 - The Gift’s Name

Vs. 6 continues, “and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Not just one name, 4 names here … and before we look at the names … you may already notice a picture of the Trinity given here

Everlasting Father - God the Father

Prince of Peace - God the Son - Jesus

Wonderful Counselor - God the Holy Spirit - the Holy Spirit is our helper, our comforter, our counselor

Mighty God - God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Spirit together in the name “God”

So one thing that we see here is that the child who was born, the son who was given … that gift would be God himself

But let’s take a look at the names given to our gift

1. Wonderful Counselor

We all need counsel - guidance - in our lives … we all need help understanding what we should do or where we should go

Some people are very wise counselors … some people are horrible counselors … but Jesus is the wonderful counselor

Wonderful because he knows the end from the beginning … he knows what is going to happen in our lives … and he can give counsel based on that

He’s also wonderful because he cares about us … and directs us in the direction that is best for us

That’s why James says in James 1:5

James 1:5 (ESV)

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

James 1:5 (新改訳2017)

あなたがたのうちに、知恵に欠けている人がいるなら、その人は、だれにでも惜しみなく、とがめることなく与えてくださる神に求めなさい。そうすれば与えられます。

Our Wonderful Counselor desires to give us wisdom … he desires to lead us in the Father’s will everyday

2. Mighty God

Jesus is the all-powerful one … in the gospels, we seen Jesus do miracles, healings, cast out demons, feed thousands of people with a small amount of food

Jesus is the Mighty God … he is the one who can supply every single need that we have … he’s the one that will do miracles as we follow him

3. Everlasting Father

Daniel 7:9 (ESV)

“As I looked, thrones were placed, and the Ancient of Days took his seat; his clothing was white as snow, and the hair of his head like pure wool; his throne was fiery flames; its wheels were burning fire.

Daniel 7:9 (新改訳2017)

私が見ていると、 やがていくつかの御座が備えられ、 『年を経た方』が座に着かれた。 その衣は雪のように白く、 頭髪は混じりけのない羊の毛のよう。 御座は火の炎、 その車輪は燃える火で、

In this passage, we see a vision of the heavenly Father … the Ancient of Days … the one with no beginning and no end …

But notice that Isaiah is talking about Jesus, but he calls Jesus the “Everlasting Father”

Jesus said in John 10:30,

John 10:30 (ESV)

I and the Father are one.”

John 10:30 (新改訳2017)

わたしと父とは一つです。」

Everything that is in the Father is in Jesus …

Jesus has no beginning or end … in the beginning, Jesus was … and he created all things

Jesus has the heart of a father … he loves those who are his own, those who are of the family of God … and he leads us with that fatherly heart

4. Prince of Peace

Luke 2:10–14 (ESV)

And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”

Luke 2:10–14 (新改訳2017)

御使いは彼らに言った。「恐れることはありません。見なさい。私は、この民全体に与えられる、大きな喜びを告げ知らせます。 今日ダビデの町で、あなたがたのために救い主がお生まれになりました。この方こそ主キリストです。 あなたがたは、布にくるまって飼葉桶に寝ているみどりごを見つけます。それが、あなたがたのためのしるしです。」 すると突然、その御使いと一緒におびただしい数の天の軍勢が現れて、神を賛美した。 「いと高き所で、栄光が神にあるように。 地の上で、平和が みこころにかなう人々にあるように。」

Jesus brings peace … peace with God … peace with others … internal peace

In fact, vs. 7 we will see that his peace will never end … because he is the Prince of Peace

So let’s take a look at the purpose of the gift God has given us

III. Isaiah 9:7 - The Gift’s Purpose

Once again, we see the word “government”

And we’re told that Jesus’s government will never end

In fact, it tells us that Jesus will receive the Throne of King David in Jerusalem

He will establish and uphold his kingdom with justice and righteousness

Now, if you’ve ever put up a Christmas tree before … [show slide]

You know that you need to make sure that it is sturdy and stable

You don’t want it wobbling … you don’t want to be tilted … it needs to be set in a way that it will stand strong all season long

You don’t want this [show slide] to happen

Jesus is going to establish his kingdom on Earth

His kingdom will be strong … not weak and flimsy like the governments we have now

It will be strong because it is God’s kingdom … and Jesus will establish and uphold it with two things:

Justice and righteousness - no wickedness, no corruption

But notice that, just as his kingdom will have no end … the peace he brings will have no end

In our day, the world is calling for peace and safety … and they’re looking for that peace and safety at the hands of the world governments

The truth is … peace and safety are nowhere to be found in the governments of man … only the government of God can bring what the world desires

And Jesus will bring peace and safety … but it will only be for those who receive him

And the peace that Jesus brings when he returns will never end

Conclusion:

So we have seen the gift … the gift’s name … and the gift’s purpose

But what does that mean for us today?

You have been given a gift from God … Jesus his only Son

Jesus gave his life for you on the cross … he rose from the dead

He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace

And he has been given to you for a reason:

To save you from judgment by providing the forgiveness of sins

To give you eternal life that you can be with him for eternity

And to bring you into his kingdom and his government … that you would be able to experience his peace and his presence for eternity

So as we enjoy this Christmas season and move into the new year

Please remember that our time here is short … Jesus is coming back soon

Let’s celebrate the gift that we have received … our Savior

And let’s enter into the new year with the hope and expectation that we will soon be in his kingdom