Who is Jesus?
Christmas 2020 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Link to Video: https://youtu.be/rFKtyhICS5E
It’s Christmas time! I just love Christmas. I could do without the stress that sometimes comes with Christmas, but I love celebrating the birth of Christ. I love that the world acknowledges Jesus even if they don’t really want to.
It’s so important for us to know who Jesus is and what the Bible says about Him. Today we are going to look into a prophecy of the birth of Jesus that also tells us who He is. Let’s turn to Isaiah 9:6
This prophecy was written 700 years before Jesus. To put that in perspective, our country was founded just 245 years ago. Let’s read:
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s take this verse piece by piece and learn about who Jesus is.
For to us a child is born...
For to us a child is born...
Certainly it would have been just as easy for Jesus to just appear as a man and fulfill all of these rolls, but God had other plans. Jesus was to come as a child and be born. There is no one more vulnerable than a little baby. They require help doing everything. Jesus at his birth was no different.
He was born into this world as helpless as you and I. Mary and Joseph had to do all things for Jesus that your parents had to do for you. Surely the God of the universe needs no one and could have come that way, but Jesus came as a baby so as to fully embrace the humanity he came to save.
...to us a son is given,...
...to us a son is given,...
Jesus was both the son of God and the son of Mary. He was both divine and human. A son given to us…who is us. Remember Isaiah is writing this prophecy to the nation of Israel. This son or descendant is given to the nation of Israel. Jesus is a son or member of the family of David. This is yet another piece of information by which we can know for certain that Jesus is this son who was given.
Both of the previous statements say “to us”. When we give a gift to someone, there is often a little tag on the gift that has a space that says To: and From:. Jesus was given by God to the nation of Israel first and then for the world. He is a gift given to all of us.
Now we get to see the role he would fulfill:
…and the government will be on his shoulders.
…and the government will be on his shoulders.
Government is the best word we have in the English, but it mean more than that. It means that the power and authority to rule is on his shoulders. It is both a burden and a mantle. Think of it like this - we can carry a lot of weight on our shoulders if distributed on a bar. In that sense, our shoulders were designed to carry. Many military insignia is carried on the shoulder either on the side or on top. In the same way, this verse is telling us that not only is Jesus carrying the burden to rule on his shoulders, he also carries the rank of ruler or king.
We often like to sit on the throne of our own life and with it carry the burden of ruling it when it was never meant to be that way. Jesus is king and that burden is on him and not you.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,...
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,...
Wonderful, miraculous, unusual, extraordinary. There is no one who can counsel like Jesus can. Man, even the most educated, enlightened man has only a limited understanding. If someone wants understanding, they go to the expert. Plumbing issue, call a plumber. Electrical issue, call an electrician. Am I right? Yet when we are not always quick to go to the most Wonderful Counselor. Jesus is the one. This idea of counsel is not just advice, but also has the attribute of making plans.
According to this passage, Jesus is a miraculous planner and advice giver. How can we best ths advice and planning…prayer. Here is a basic framework I’ve learned when wanting counsel from the wonderful Counselor:
Pray that your eyes would be open to see where God is at work.
God is at work all around us, but I can miss it if I am not in tune to watching out for what He is doing.
Looking for shark’s teeth - need to know what they look like.
Pray that God would direct your path in line with where he wants you.
Sometimes this means not getting what you want and sometimes God changes what you want in order to get you to where He wants you.
Pray that God would take away those things that would distract you from where he wants you.
This more than the other 2 are a daily process. Pursuing holiness and fleeing from sin.
The next one is might God…Psalm 24:8 says this:
8 Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
...Mighty God,...
...Mighty God,...
Strong, mighty and powerful. That is who Jesus is. He may have come as a vulnerable baby, but he is still Mighty. This Hebrew word is one that denotes superiority and greatness. There is none greater. This description applies just as much as child or son. Jesus is Mighty. There is none above or greater.
Something to not miss here is that Jesus is God. There is no other way to explain what this says. The Hebrew El Gibbor literally means God the mighty. If Jesus is God, that means that God himself came to redeem us and that my friends is good news. He didn’t just send some angel or representative, he came himself!
…Everlasting Father,...
…Everlasting Father,...
When I think of the word father…what a good father was intended to be, here are some of the words I think of:
Protector, Present, Patient, Forgiving, Loving, Loyal, Leader, Servant, Strong, Steady, Honest
Now think of those terms again with respect to Eternity. These qualities in Jesus…in God never end.
…Prince of Peace.
…Prince of Peace.
A prince is someone who represents a king or official. He is royal in his blood or lineage. He is destined to rule.
Peace - the Hebrew word is also translated completeness or soundness, prosperity, intact state of favorable circumstance.
Jesus as the prince of peace will bring about a peace on earth, but also brings a peace within us. A peace that is able to handle whatever comes. Philippians 4 says this:
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This peace is possible through Jesus.
Let’s read the verse in Isaiah again:
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
As we get ready for Christmas, let us not forget these things about Jesus. He is all of the things for us. He is also these things for those around us.
Our world is hurting and confused, fearful and lost. Jesus says come to me and find rest, and peace in the midst of whatever is going on in life. There is nothing that surprises him and nothing that he can’t handle.