Christmas Prophecy of the Child to Come (Part 2)

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Christmas: Prophecy of the Child to Come (Part 2)

Revised and expanded

Lesson Text: Isaiah 9:6

Lesson Topic: Prophecy of Jesus, Emmanuel, Mighty God, Prince of Peace, Counselor

Preached in Worcester on 12/9/07

Preached in Quabbin Valley on 12/11/11

Preached in Quabbin valley on 12/16/12

Introduction:

          

           "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a commonly quoted part of a dialogue in William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet argues that the names of things don’t matter, only what things are.

           And there’s truth in that statement but biblically when we have a name given to someone it usually had a meaning behind it which described the character of the person or what they were going to do or accomplish. A name is more than a way to distinguish one person from another it often spoke to the reality of something that person would be like or do. So Abraham means “father of a multitude”. He was to be the one from whom nations would come and even more than that he would be the father of those who walk by faith. Peter means “rock” which was a description of who Peter would become; he would become a rock, one who boldly stood for Christ in the face of all kinds of hardships and trials.

           In Isaiah 9:6 we find the Messiah described with four names and each name gives us a clue to his nature and purpose; what he would do and accomplish.

Isaiah 9:6 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.

The name wonderful counselor spoke of how Jesus would be the one who would bring wisdom and insight, he would teach us about God and about what life is really all about. We see that in Jesus are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge and if we want to know God we have to know Christ. If you want to know what life is all about and how to live you have to go to Christ.

           The second name Mighty God described the Messiah’s nature. He’s God in flesh or Emmanuel; God with us. We read in John 1 and in Colossians how Jesus is God the creator of all things. So we begin to recognize that God is not far off or uninterested in our lives he loves us more than we can imagine and took on humanity to identify with us and to save us from ourselves. One classic Christmas hymn communicates those truths to us this way: “veiled in flesh the Godhead see, hail the incarnate deity, pleased as man with men to dwell, Jesus our Emmanuel”. That truth we sing is life changing and universe shattering.

          

This week we continue to look at the names given to Jesus in the prophecy of Isaiah 9:6. Let’s look at that verse again:

Isaiah 9:6 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.

1)      Everlasting Father

a)      We read that the one to come, this child will be called "Everlasting Father". The idea of the word “Father” has a broader range of meaning than what we might think of at first. In fact we might ask the question is Jesus here the same as God the Father? That’s a mistake some people make, they see Jesus and the father as the same person. But Jesus is not God the father. God is one God in three persons all three are the One God or share the same nature but there are three distinct persons. Sometimes people help us with our understanding of this by saying there is one “what” and three “whose”.

b)      When we read that the Messiah is to be called “father of eternity” this is not saying that Jesus is the Father and the Father is Jesus but that Jesus is the “Father of Eternity”, he’s the one who ushers in Eternal life. He was and is Eternal himself, we know that because we read passages like John 1:1-3 and Colossians 1:16-17 which teach us that he was before anything else ever was and he is the creator, he is eternal but he’s also the founder of Eternal life for those who believe in him and give their lives to him by faith,

c)      The word Father biblically has reference to one who is a protector and provider, for example in Genesis 45:8 we’re told that Joseph was made father to Pharaoh, that is protector and ruler of Pharaoh’s house and the land of Egypt.  

i)        Genesis 45:8 So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

d)     Job say a similar thing about the needy

i)        Job 29:16 I was a father to the needy, and I searched out the cause of him whom I did not know.

e)      The Christ has ruler ship over eternity and is protector of those who are his.

f)       The word “father” also can hold the meaning of someone who is the head or the founder or the source of something.

i)        In ancient Rome when a citizen had accomplished some brave and noble deed of infinite value and of willing self-denial, soldiers would raise him up on their shields, maidens would throw garlands around his feet, and the populace would hail him in their songs as Father of his country.

g)      Jesus is the Father of Eternity because he’s the one who opens the doorway to Eternal life; he’s said to be the very door. No one gets eternal life except by and through him. He is the Father, or source of Eternal life.

i)        Romans 5:21 so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

ii)      1 John 5:20–21 And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life...

h)      Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life; eternal and full life, life without end. He’s the father of eternity because he’s the source of eternal life and the ruler of eternal life.

2)      Prince of Peace

a)      The last name given to this "One to come" is "Prince of Peace". What a beautiful name that is and as we mentioned earlier a name in the Bible has to do with the character or nature of the person. He’ll be characterized by peace.

b)      The announcement of his birth was sounded with wonderful words of peace:

i)        Luke 2:8–14 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. 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!”

c)      Some translations put this way: "peace on earth". That’s the way the birth of the Christ was announced, peace on earth.

d)     Not that this peace would be an outward peace where there weren’t going to be any more wars but he would bring peace between God and man, between men and men, and peace in the midst of trials.

e)      We have peace with God because Jesus took our place and died for us carrying our sins. We were at war with God and we were under the wrath of God but when Christ shed his blood he opened the door back into the presence of God and back into a personal relationship with him.

i)        Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

f)       In Micah 5:5 and Zechariah 9:10 we find in prophecy that this child will be "Our peace" and "He shall speak peace unto the nations". These were fulfilled in Christ. In Ephesians 2 we read about the peace that was preached in Christ.

i)        Ephesians 2:17–18 And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

g)      He’s talking about the hostility between Jews and Gentiles. In Christ there’s peace.

h)      Peace with God because sin is done away with, Peace with men because Christ brings all different people groups together in Him and Peace in this world because we know that he’s in control. Jesus truly is the "Prince of Peace".

Conclusion:

What have we seen today? I hope we’ve seen Jesus a little closer. He’s called "Father of Eternity" as he opens up the way to eternal life, he’s the head, the source, the father of eternal life, and he’s called "Prince of Peace" the one who brings peace with God, men, and inner peace as he died for sinners and rose again. He is our peace.

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