BECAUSE OF CHRISTMAS WE CAN EXPERIENCE PEACE ISAIAH 9:6-7; LUKE 2:14

INTRODUCTION

As I begin the message this morning, I wanted to mention this truth to you at the very outset. I am not sure if you are aware, but this is my tenth Christmas that I get to celebrate with you as your pastor. I count it a great joy and honor. I am privileged to stand before you on this Christmas Eve morning to share this final sermon before Christmas day 2023.

Last week I shared with you the truth that because of Christ we can have joy this Christmas. This is true even though there are many unhappy circumstances competing for our attention and threaten to steal our focus off the joy of Jesus. Two weeks ago I stood before you and shared with you that because of Christ we can have grace this Christmas. This is true even though the times we are living in are ungracious and many people have that same disposition. On this Christmas Eve morning I want to share with you this truth: Because of Christ we can have peace this Christmas. This is true even though our world is at war and is in danger of coming to pieces and not experiencing peace.

The text under consideration this morning was written seven hundred years before the birth of Christ. The prophet Isaiah ministered from the last year of King Uzziah’s reign (740 B.C.) until shortly after invasion of Sennacherib in 701 B.C. This means that Isaiah’s active prophetic ministry was around forty years.

This period of time was not one of peace for Israel. They were at war with the Assyrians. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians invaded Israel and completely wiped out the nation. This occurred during the reign of King Ahaz. It was during this same time that God spoke to the prophet Isaiah. He gave Isaiah a promise that the present circumstances would not be the future reality.

What a comfort it is to know that our present circumstances, no matter how rough, will be our future reality. Things may be rough right now, but these two shall pass. Our current breaking hearts will one day be healed. What sought to derail us in 2023, I pray will not be the reality for us in 2024. What if it is? If it is, I want you to remember that even that is under the sovereign control of the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God, no amount of human stress can shake our God and Savior Jesus Christ! [read text]

In 1741 a man named Charles Jennings was working on some lyrics for his friend George Frederick Handel. Handel was the person responsible for the infamous Handel’s “Messiah.” Score #12 is the reference to our text. For twenty-four days Handel locked himself away in a room with a little bit of food and water. It was from that secluded room that he faithfully working and completed this musical masterpiece.

Today we observe the King of glory with four names. I invite you to take notice with me of four movements each building with greater intensity until we reach the apex of the movement of peace.

MOVEMENT #1: JESUS IS THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR

If your translation has a comma between “wonderful” and “counselor,” that is unfortunate. Your translation should have the presence of the absence of a comma there. The comma does not belong there. Jesus is the Counselor who is the Wonderful Counselor. The Hebrew word for “wonderful” is “paelae.”

Do any of you remember a soccer player named Pele.” He was an amazing athlete. His name comes from the Hebrew term meaning “supernatural” and “wonderful.”

Jesus is the supernatural wonderful counselor. Jesus is literally, “ a wonder of a counselor.” If you are genuinely saved, you need no other counselor. The greatest counselor you could have is the Son of God. The greatest counselor you could ever find is found in the Word of God. His counsel is always true and His counsel never fails.

MOVEMENT #2: JESUS IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD

Jesus is the Almighty God. The term “almighty” here is “el gabor.” Literally it means, “the God who is heroic. As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus tells us what is right. As the Almighty God He can empower us to do what is right. As Almighty God He is in complete control over the universe. He is mighty in His presence because He is omnipresent. He is mighty in His power because He is omnipotent. He is mighty in His perception because He is omniscient.

John 20:26–28 CSB

A week later his disciples were indoors again, and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and look at my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Don’t be faithless, but believe.” Thomas responded to him, “My Lord and my God!”

This text is the New Testament fulfillment of Isaiah 9:6 as the term is applied to Jesus. jesus is the Almighty God.

MOVEMENT #3: JESUS IS THE EVERLASTING FATHER

No, we are not merging the persons of the Trinity here. This is a description of the relationship of Jesus and the Father. Jesus is the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He is both fully God and fully human at the same time.

John 10:30 CSB

I and the Father are one.”

John 14:9 CSB

Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time and you do not know me, Philip? The one who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?

Literally, in the Hebrew it reads, “He is the Father of eternity.” In the Hebrew mindset a father was the source or origin of something. Thus, Jesus is the Father of all things pertaining to eternity. Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, which means that He is both the beginning and the end. Jesus is the first and He is the last. He is the father of eternity. Jesus is the eternal Lord who brought into this world eternal light, that He might give to this world eternal life, and bathe this world in eternal love. If there is anything we are to possess that is eternal, then we must get it from Jesus because He is the Father of eternity. If we desire eternal life and heaven, we must get it from Jesus. If we desire a relationship with God, we must go through Jesus. There is no other way.

John 10:27–28 CSB

My sheep hear my voice, I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand.

MOVEMENT #4: JESUS IS THE PRINCE OF PEACE

This is the movement that I really want to stress to you this morning. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The Hebrew term for “prince” here is “sar.” it refers to one who is a leader, chief, or ruler. The Hebrew term for “peace” is “shalom.” It refers to a state of “calm.”

John 14:27 CSB

“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.

Jesus can give you peace because He is the Prince of Peace. As a matter of fact, Jesus is the only one who can give you peace.

Matthew 11:28 CSB

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

There used to be a group of people who called themselves “peaceniks.” I don’t know if they are still an organized group or not. At any rate, they used to go around having peace marches and their leaders led them in peace movements. They supported nuclear freezes and diplomatic falls. They protested missile silos and staged sit-ins at the gates of military bases. They sponsored concerts and marathons trying to raise money as they worked for world peace.

However, I have news for them and I have news for you this morning. The only one who will ever bring lasting peace to this war-torn and strife-filled world is the Prince of Peace, the Lord Jesus Christ. Only Jesus can give political peace. Only Jesus can give perpetual peace Only Jesus can give you and me eternal peace.

Is there anyone in need of peace this morning? You know, Jesus is amazing. You may think that everything in your life right now is in a state of perpetual chaos. However, for the believer in Jesus Christ, we can have a sense of joy, calm, and peace. This often drives people who do not know Jesus crazy. What reason do you have to be so calm? I will give you the reason for the calm. It is Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Jesus is the reason for Christmas and Jesus is the reason for our peace.

Philippians 4:6–7 CSB

Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

CONCLUSION

A Christmas Poem

The King of kings, the Lord of lords,

Came to earth for you and me.

What could I ever give Him

That would thank Him for His Son?

I’ll confess and turn from my sin

And live in the victory won!

I often lose sight of Jesus,

Because of Santa and Christmas trees.

Jesus Christ is more than enough

To grant me eternity.

He’s the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God,

Prince of Prince, He’s the Everlasting Father,

And to think-He came for me!

He deserves no less than my all,

Though it’s easy to give Him less.

Though born in a humble stall,

God sent me His very best.