The Promise of Christmas

The Promise of Christmas

Introduction:

Christmas is a time of joy, peace, and hope for many people.

But it is also a time of remembering the promise that God made to us through his Son, Jesus Christ.

The promise of Christmas is not just about a baby in a manger, but about a Savior who came to save us from our sins and give us eternal life.

This is why God drew near…a gift had to be given in order to save those who would by faith through His grace to be saved and delivered from sins.

Today, we will look at two passages of scripture that reveal the promise of Christmas and how it was fulfilled in Jesus.

Isaiah 9:6–7 NKJV

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah was a prophet who lived about 700 years before Jesus was born.

God showed Isaiah that He was coming and His coming would be by special child who would be the Messiah, the anointed one of God.

Isaiah 9:6 declares both the humanity (“A Child is born”) and the deity (“A Son is given”) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

In fact Is.7:14

Isaiah 7:14 NKJV

Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.

I just love how John describes this marvelous wonder in 1John4:9

1 John 4:9 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

The Lord revealed to Isaiah that this child given would be called

Wonderful Counselor -

His name is Wonderful because He Himself is wonderful and also because of the work which He accomplished. He is called Counsellor because He comes to us as the Revealer of the Father’s will.

Mighty God -

God is Creator. He is Elohim, the mighty God, the self–existing One; I AM WHO I AM.

Everlasting Father -

He is the only begotten One in the sense that He occupies a position that is totally unique. He is the eternal Son, and God is the everlasting Father.

Prince of Peace -

We have an advocate with the Father. We have a mediator who keeps the peace. He rules over the peace because He is both the Prince of Peace and He is our peace.

Then the LORD reveals to Isaiah that this child would rule over a kingdom of justice and righteousness that would last forever.

This Child was a promise of hope for the people of Israel who were living under the oppression of foreign enemies because of the their own sins.

This Child was also a promise of hope for us who live in a world of darkness and despair.

- The promise of Christmas is that God sent His Son to be our Wonderful Counselor, who guides us with his wisdom and truth.

- The promise of Christmas is that God sent His Son to be our Mighty God, who has all power and authority over everything.

- The promise of Christmas is that God sent His Son to be our Everlasting Father, who loves us with an everlasting love and cares for us as his children.

- The promise of Christmas is that God sent his Son to be our Prince of Peace, who brings us peace with God and with others.

Luke 1:26–38 NKJV

Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.” Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.” Then Mary said, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her.

Luke was a doctor and a historian who wrote an account of the life of Jesus.

He recorded the story of how the promise of Christmas was fulfilled in Jesus.

He tells us how an angel named Gabriel appeared to a young virgin named Mary and announced that she would conceive and give birth to a son, who would be called Jesus.

He also tells us how Mary responded with faith and obedience to God's plan, even though it was beyond her understanding and expectation.

The angel said that Mary's son would be the Son of the Most High, and that he would inherit the throne of his ancestor David, and that his kingdom would never end.

This was a fulfillment of the promise that God made to David, that one of his descendants would reign over an everlasting kingdom.

Jeremiah 23:5 NKJV

“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “That I will raise to David a Branch of righteousness; A King shall reign and prosper, And execute judgment and righteousness in the earth.

This was also a fulfillment of the promise that God made to Abraham, that through his offspring all nations would be blessed.

Genesis 26:4 NKJV

And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed;

The promise of Christmas is that God sent his Son to be our Savior, who saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life.

Conclusion:

The promise of Christmas is not just a story of the past, but a reality of the present and a hope for the future.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, let us remember the promise of Christmas and rejoice in the one who fulfilled it, Jesus Christ, our Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Savior, King, and Lord. Amen.