SCRIPTURE: Isaiah 9:2-7 (ESV)
DATE: 12-24-21
Merry Christmas! It’s a joy to be with all of you for our Christmas Eve services. And — as always — there’s one thing I want you to know. Regardless if it’s your first time with us or if you’re joining us at our North Main campus — I want you to know that God loves you and that I love you too.
SERIES INTRODUCTION
For the past few weeks — here at Gateway — we’ve been discovering the joy of Christmas. That — because of the birth of Jesus — we have reason upon reason to repeat the sounding joy. We’ve discovered how there’s joy for the nations because of the birth of Christ. We’ve seen the joy of Emmanuel — joy because God is with us. We’ve seen the joy of redemption — how both creation — and the people of God — are being renewed and have a glorious future promised to us. And we’ve seen the joy of our Savior. Again — reason after reason for us to repeat the sounding joy.
SERMON INTRODUCTION
And our text — for this Christmas Eve — is a culmination of the previous weeks as we discover the joy of Christmas. If you have your Bible, please turn with me to Isaiah chapter 9. We’ll be looking at verses 2-7 together.
And while you’re finding Isaiah chapter 9 — earlier you heard words from the gospel of Luke. A familiar Christmas text regardless of how many times you’ve found yourself in a church. But I want you to know that my hope for all of us — regardless of who you are — regardless of how often you’ve found yourself sitting in a church — my hope is that you’ll leave here with the kind of joy we saw in those shepherds who were watching their flocks at night. Though they started off scared — when they saw the angels — after seeing the Christ child — the last we hear of the shepherds is of them glorifying and praising God. And that’s my hope for you — that you’ll find such sweet joy in Jesus that you leave glorifying and praising God this Christmas Eve.
Now to set up our text, I want to give a quick overview of who Isaiah is and what his book is all about.
Isaiah is a prophet — a prophet is someone who spoke on behalf of God. He lived during the 8th century BC — which means he lived 700-800 years before Jesus was born. And Isaiah spent most of his time in and around the city of Jerusalem — the city — not where Jesus will be born — Jerusalem is the city where Jesus will be killed.
Now — at this point in history — the Jewish people are divided into two nations. Originally there were twelve tribes of Israel. And these tribes eventually decide they want a king like all the other nations. And a man named Saul is the first king of Israel — but he didn’t turn out to be a very good king. The next king is a guy named David — you’ve probably heard of him — he’s known for defeating the giant Goliath. And then David’s son — Solomon — is king.
After Solomon, there’s disagreement over who should be the next king and the nation of Israel ends up dividing into two nations over the matter. Ten of the tribes join together and keep the name of Israel — they’re in the north. The other two tribes join together and take the name Judah — they’re in the south.
And — for some time — neither Israel nor Judah experience external conflict. At least not until the Assyrians show up.
The Assyrians come from the north — invade and conquer Israel — and send the majority of the remaining Israelites off to go live in foreign lands. Down in the south — in the nation of Judah — which is where Isaiah lived — things are a little better, but not much. And Isaiah spends quite a bit of time trying to get the people of Judah — and particularly the king of Judah — to see that — if they don’t turn back to God — things are going to go for them — like things have gone for Israel.
But the king — and the people — refuse to listen to Isaiah. And God tells Isaiah to say to the people, “‘Keep listening to my words — the words of God — through this prophet, but don’t understand. Keep seeing, but don’t perceive. Isaiah — through your ministry — their hearts will be made dull, their ears will be made heavy, and their eyes will be made blind.’ Why? ‘Because they’re not willing to worship only me.’” God says, “You keep preaching — Isaiah — because judgment is coming for them because they’ve abandoned me.”
And that’s the epitome of Christmas, right? Merry Christmas — God’s judgment is coming! No one wants to repeat the sounding joy of that news — cause that’s not good — joy-giving news — that’s bad news, right? All that to say — this is a dark and hopeless time for the world. But even in this dark and bleak situation, Isaiah promises the last thing any of us would expect — a child will be born. And this child will be the reason for God’s people to be filled with great joy.
Here’s how Isaiah describes this child in our verses. We’re in Isaiah chapter 9 — beginning in verse 2.
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone. (Isaiah 9:2 ESV)
The people in Isaiah’s day were living in darkness. Spiritual darkness. Emotional darkness. Relational darkness. They’ve witnessed the destruction of their relatives in the north and — though they might not believe it — though they may be living in denial — their own destruction is coming soon. They’re living in darkness.
And we have a way — like them — don’t we — of living in denial in regards to the darkness of our world? It’s getting harder to deny — but denial is still a default position for many. And — when we do notice the darkness in our world — it’s always someone else’s fault — it’s never our fault — never my fault or yours. Yet — regardless if we’re willing to see our role in the darkness — God — in his tender mercy and love for us — has sent his light to shine in our dark world.
But you may be wondering, “Well, where’s the light?” Maybe you’re well aware of the joy stealing darkness, despair, and hopelessness this world can dish out.
- The darkness of this being your first Christmas without your spouse — or maybe it’s not your first — but it’s not like only the first Christmas hurts when your spouse is gone — they all hurt.
- Or you’re familiar with the joy-stealing darkness of isolation as you do Christmas all alone — maybe your children are out of the house and won’t make it home — or your friends all have plans — you’re familiar with the darkness of being alone.
- It could be a loss of job. Or a surgery that’s looming over you.
- And you may be wondering, “So where’s the light in my world?”
Though we’re a people who walk in a dark world — can you see the light that’s shining?
Jesus called himself the Light of the world. And he said that — if you follow him — you won’t have to walk in darkness any more because he will illuminate your path so you walk towards the fullness of life — a life of unquenchable joy — this is the life he’s promised to his followers.
If you remember, those shepherds saw the radiance of God’s glory surrounding them as the angels appeared. They saw the radiance — the light of God light up the darkness of night. And the apostle John begins his gospel by describing the coming of Jesus as a light shining in the darkness — a light so bright and powerful that the darkness will be unable to extinguish it. And — this light — leads us to our joy. And we see how this light leads to our joy — in verse 3.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil. 4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. 5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. (Isaiah 9:3-5 ESV)
This child to be born will grow up to be a powerful King who’ll be victorious over all his enemies. And he’ll establish his kingdom — a kingdom of peace — here on earth. Where the peace we all long for — in this world full of conflict — the everlasting peace we all long for will fill the earth. And — living in his Kingdom of peace — is guaranteed to all who worship the King. And — this promise — gives his people joy now — as we await the promise to be fulfilled. And — beginning in verse 6 — we see how this promise unfolds.
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.
7 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 ESV)
Look at all the reasons for us to be filled with joy. The God — who will enter into our world as a child — will be a Wonderful Counselor. The name Wonderful Counselor means that this child will do supernatural signs. The name also means that he will give wise advice — you’ll want to pay attention and do what he says. And this child will accomplish the wisest plan ever thought of — how to save a lost and broken world. What reason for us to be filled with joy.
This child will also be called Mighty God. Literally this name means “God’s Warrior.” And this is a crazy name to be given to a child. A child isn’t a warrior — a grown man might be a warrior — but not a child. Yet — from birth — this child will be God’s Warrior. He will fight God’s war and defeat God’s — and our — enemy. Reason for us to be filled with joy.
And this child will be called Everlasting Father — and — admittedly this can be somewhat confusing. But what Isaiah is saying is that — when this child becomes an adult — he’ll say things like, “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace. Your suffering is over.” He’ll say things like, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.”
And — the reason why I say this may be confusing — is because — though Jesus is everlasting and eternal and God — he’s not the Father — he’s the Son. And what Isaiah’s doing is using the best language he has to show us how this child will demonstrate a father-like compassion towards people. He will call them child and daughter and son. I wonder if you’ve experienced Jesus’ father-like compassion — for his compassion is a reason to be joyful.
And this child will be called Prince of Peace. This was a common name given to government officials in Isaiah’s day. Officials were supposed to work for peace in their land — but just like we’ve all failed to bring peace on earth — no government official can provide the peace we so desperately desire.
But this child will come bringing peace on earth. And the whole earth and — in fact — all of creation will experience wholeness — perfection — peace. What a reason for us to be joyful — what reason for us to repeat the sounding joy.
And what should floor us is that God — to make all of these reasons for us to be filled with joy come to pass — what should astonish us is that God would humble himself by being born as a child. But he did — and he did so for our eternal joy. What reasons we have to be joyful people.
CONCLUSION
You see, Jesus was born that first Christmas morning so you would know that you’re eternally loved by God. And — if you respond to his love — if you turn to Christ in faith — believing that he not only loves you — but can save you from the darkness that’s not just around you — but in you — if you turn to the child who was, is, and will always be God — he will give you eternal life.
And — no matter how dark things may be in our world — or specifically in your world — you’ll have his light shining in and around you. A light that fills you with his eternal joy. A life that — in response to the love Jesus has for you — is a life that repeats the sounding joy of Christmas. Let’s pray.
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your love for each of us. May everyone who hears my voice know that you love them.
Jesus, in this dark and often lonely world — may each of us know that you are present with us — you are near. May we all know that you care for us and remember that you’re the reason for us to be filled with joy.
And Holy Spirit, I humbly ask that you would open all of our eyes to see Jesus for who he is. A child born to die on a cross for our sin. Help us to turn to him in faith — trusting in his faithfulness — and finding our joy — and the joy of Christmas — in him. It’s in Jesus’ name that we pray. Amen.
BENEDICTION
May you go filled with the joy of Christmas — the joy found only in Jesus. Amen.
God loves you. I love you. Merry Christmas. You are sent.