2019-12-08 Isaiah 9

Isaiah 9:2

Isaiah 9:2 CSB

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

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.

I. Jesus brought light to a world of darkness

Isaiah 9:2 CSB

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

A. Jesus brought light and life to men in death and darkness.

Isaiah 9:2 CSB

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

Illus:People often come to me and express concern for the world around us. They ask, why is the world so wicked? How can people do what they do.

There is almost a hopelessness that God does not see what is happening in the world around us.

It reminds me of the old Christmas Carol which goes, “I heard the bells on Christmas day, Their old familiar carols play, And mild and sweet their songs repeat, Of peace on earth good will to men.... And in despair I bowed my head, There is no peace on earth I said, For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

BUT why are we surprised by the condition of the world around us when that is the way scripture describes it.

The bible calls our world a world of death and darkness. It says that evil men will go from bad to worse deceiving and being deceived.

It is into our darkness that God brings light. Thank about what that says about God.

God could have left us to our own wickedness, darkness and death, but instead he came and lived in our world, took the punishment for our world, and gave us the light of the gospel.

Next time you think about the wickedness and darkness of our broken world, thank God that Jesus died and took the punishment for that very wickedness.

AND he took the punishment for your wickedness.

And in despair I bowed my head, There is no peace on earth I said, For hate is strong and mocks the song, Of peace on earth, good will to men…

Then rang the bells more loud and deep, God is not dead, nor does he sleep, The wrong shall fail, the right prevail, With peace on earth, good will to men.

John 1:1–5 CSB

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Jn 1:1

B. God sent a literal light to shine on the true Light.

Isaiah 9:2 CSB

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness.

Illus: Our God proclaimed the coming of the True Light, Jesus Christ, but screaming it from the cosmos.

The ancient world attributed the cosmic miracles with the the birth of kings. They would look and see new stars in the sky as signs of the birth of royalty. Often eclipses, or other natural phenomenons would be attributed to their deaths.

When Jesus was born, God did not just want a few commited Jewish scholars to know of his birth. He wanted the world to know of His incarnation. More than that, God wanted the pagan, godless world to know of his coming.

That is why he spoke in a language they understood. God sent a bunch of godless stargazers a star to let them know that the true king had come into the world.

Matthew 2:1–2 CSB

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of King Herod, wise men from the east arrived in Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star at its rising and have come to worship him.”

mt 2:

Matthew 2:9–11 CSB

9 After hearing the king, they went on their way. And there it was—the star they had seen at its rising. It led them until it came and stopped above the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

mt 2:

II. Jesus would be a different kind of King.

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.

A. Pharoah saw the the implications of Jesus’ kingship.

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.

Illus: Jesus is a threat! When light came into this world, when the true king was born in a manger in Bethlehem, the world of death was put on notice.

When you the see the hatred towards God and his people, don’t be surprised. Darkness want’s nothing to do with light. Death wants nothing to do with life.

God’s work in Jesus was apart of HIS plan to restore his rightful rule over this earth.

There is no king, president, congress, or government who stands above God.

Following the birth of Christ, one of the greatest acts of death ever happened. Pharoah seeking to preserve his own power wiped out a generation of boys.

This should give us a clue of what kind of world we live in. When the gospel advances, satan, and the forces of darkness in this world will stop at nothing to prevent God from working.

Matthew 2:3–8 CSB

3 When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Christ would be born. 5 “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: 6 And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.” 7 Then Herod secretly summoned the wise men and asked them the exact time the star appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. When you find him, report back to me so that I too can go and worship him.”

Mt 2:

Matthew 2:16–18 CSB

16 Then Herod, when he realized that he had been outwitted by the wise men, flew into a rage. He gave orders to massacre all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, in keeping with the time he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then what was spoken through Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: 18 A voice was heard in Ramah, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children; and she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.

Mt 2:16

B. Jesus came to be the Prince of Peace.

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.

Illus: Scripture says that the thief comes to steal, kill and Destroy where Jesus came to give life and life abundantly.

What a contrast we have with Pharoah and Jesus.

Pharoah sought to preserve his kingdom through murder and power.

Jesus became the prince of peace through laying down his life for the very people who hated him .

Let us be clear about the kind of king Jesus would be… the kind of kingdom he would bring.

Jesus came not conquer some worldly kingdom. He came to conquer death, sin, and the entire domain of darkness.

How, through willingly accepting all the death and wrath this world deserved, and giving sinful men new life. Eternal life.

Jesus’ kingship baffled the rulers of his age, as he knew that He was above simple earthly kingdoms.

John 18:36–37 CSB

36 “My kingdom is not of this world,” said Jesus. “If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37 “You are a king then?” Pilate asked. “You say that I’m a king,” Jesus replied. “I was born for this, and I have come into the world for this: to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

III. Jesus rules a different kind of Kingdom.

Isaiah 9:7 CSB

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.

A. Jesus’ kingdom is far bigger than any nation on this earth.

Illus: With all the turmoil in the world it is easy to grow hopeless. Whether politics, the news, just the sinfulness of people we tend to live consumed by fear and defeat of living in a world of darkness.

Two things that I want you to walk away with.

1. Don’t be hopeless or unrealistic about our world. Yes it is a world of darkness, yes wicked people will do wicked things. Yes, God is in control.

2.Don’t dwell on the darkness, but instead look to the light of the gospel found in Jesus Christ.

We place our hope in the gospel, knowing that God will succeed. God will rule… it will come through the prince of peace who willingly died for all men.

Colossians 1:13–14 CSB

13 He has rescued us from the domain of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son he loves. 14 In him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Col 1:13-14