To us a child is born

Isaiah 9:1-7 

Key Verse 9:6 

“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.” 

Today we are going to listen to the Prophet Isaiah, for he has good news of great joy that will be for all peoples on earth. It has been said, “The book of Isaiah is the fifth gospel hidden in the Old Testament Scriptures.” Today’s passage is relatively short: it has only seven verses. Here in this passage the Prophet Isaiah summed up the contents of the gospel, so we can call this passage “The gospel according to Isaiah in a nutshell.” In the passage the Prophet Isaiah talks about two things: 1. What Jesus was born to fulfill; and 2. How he is going to accomplish what he was born to fulfill. 

Part I What Jesus was born to fulfill (1-5)

Look at verse 1. “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—“ 

“Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” This passage describes in general what Jesus came to fulfill. What did he come to do? Why did he come to this planet earth about 2000 years ago? He came so that there would be no more “gloom” to those who are in distress.” The holiday season is the season of stress and then the season of distress. Last Monday Dr. David Min came to Downey and stayed with us for a while. His stay with us was a great blessing. He is a professor teaching pharmacology. He used to teach at the University of Iowa. But starting January 1^st, 2006 he is going to teach at the Western University of Health Science in Pomona. A man I know was very conscious of the condition of his health. So he shared with Dr. David Min a number of problems concerning the condition of his health. Then he asked Dr. David Min, “What should I do? Should I stop drinking coffee?” Do you know what Dr. David Min said? “Be careful about stress, for stress is the no. 1 killer of all Americans.” I think Dr. David knows what the Prophet Isaiah knew: the problem of stress. 

And here is the good news: “Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress.” According to the American Heritage dictionary, stress means “a mentally or emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health, usually characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure, muscular tension, irritability, and depression.” Stress also means “a stimulus or circumstance causing such a condition.” Distress is stress in its worst form. So the dictionary defines distress as, “anxiety or mental suffering; severe strain resulting from exhaustion or an accident; acute physical discomfort; physical deterioration, caused by hard use over time; or the condition of being in need of immediate assistance.” If you are in “distress” you are in need of “immediate assistance”! God knows this. So he came up with a remedy, that is, the birth of Jesus Christ! 

Second, specific description: 

1n verses 2-5, the Prophet Isaiah describes in detail the work Jesus came to fulfill. We can classify the work in four sub-categories: 

(1) Jesus came to dispel darkness   

Look at verse 2. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.” This passage indicates that if you see Jesus honestly and sincerely, it is impossible for you not to see darkness built inside of you as darkness, and thereby get out of darkness, and walk in His light. 

In John Chapter 3 we see a man named Nicodemus coming to have a Bible study with Jesus. Nicodemus was a clean cut young man. He did not commit adultery. He did not steal. He did not murder. He always made a full stop at a stop sign even at 4:00 a.m. So it was very difficult if not impossible for him to see himself as a “terrible” sinner, deserving eternal condemnation in the fiery lake of burning sulfur. But, when he sat down in front of Jesus he had no choice but to admit that he was a man of darkness. Knowing the darkness inside of him Jesus opened his mouth saying, “You must be born again.” Then, Jesus finished the bible study by saying, “This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." John 3:19-21

In John 4 we see a Samaritan woman coming to draw water at the Jacob’s well only to meet Jesus and have a Bible study. The Bible study did not last long, maybe about five minutes (John 4:4-18). Through the Bible study, the lady was able to see a great light in Jesus. The light of Jesus enlightened her to repent of her desire for husband. Jesus’ light inspired her to let go of the wrong object of worship, and go for the true object of worship, that is, worshiping God in spirit and in truth. 

(2) Jesus came to let the light of life shine on those living in the land of the shadow of death.

Look at verse 2b, “…on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.” 

When Dr. David Min came last Monday he grew excited about the life in California. The State of Iowa is kind of boring, he said. In addition, during the winter the weather is really cold. The other day his wife called him from Iowa to say, “Today we have three inches of snow. It is freezing cold. How is the weather over there?” Dr. David Min said, “Oh, it is like a spring time!” Dr. David Min then commented that during the winter season in Iowa people are generally stuck inside because it is too cold outside, but in California things are very different. 

His comments remind us of the importance of sun-light. Suppose there is no sun shining in the sky. What would happen to earth? The answer is obvious. Remember that on the moon man cannot survive, because during the day the mean surface temperature is 107°C and during the night the mean surface temperature drops down to -153°C. 

The Bible says that man is not only a physical being but also a spiritual being. This means that man needs not only physical light coming from the physical sun but also spiritual light coming from the spiritual sun. The Bible says that Jesus is the spiritual sun. Referring to Jesus as the Spiritual Sun, Luke 1:78 says, “…because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven.” Jesus is the rising sun, which came from heaven. And the thing that is truly amazing about this Spiritual Sun is that this sun never sets to the west. Furthermore, this sun never grows too hot or too cold; he comes to us with the right amount of [spiritual] light of life, that as we bask in His light, our life would thrive to its full potential! Referring to this work of God through Jesus, Isaiah writes in a poetic expression, “on those living in the land of the shadow of death, a light has dawned.”    

(3) Jesus came to enlarge the nation

Look at verse 3a. “You have enlarged the nation.” When a man no longer walks in darkness, but rather lives in the sunny land where Jesus’ bright light of life shines, what will happen to the man? One thing will surely happen: his life will become prosperous. He will become fruitful, physically and spiritually. And he will grow in number. 

We find the same phenomenon in the life of students growing among us. One student used to be a game boy. He used to roam in the land of the shadow of death called “cyberspace.” But, now he is living in a sunny land where Jesus’ light shines. Then lo and behold! He even went out and met Bible students. He is feeding sheep! Let us pray that he would grow in number until he and his descendants would form a great nation.  

(4) Jesus came to give us joy and peace

Look at verses 3-5. “You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, and the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.” 

This passage says that Jesus came to “increase” the joy of life. It also says that God sent Jesus to make the peace grow. 

In this passage the word “rejoice” is repeated twice. Rejoice is related to joy. Joy is a noun, rejoice is a verb. Rejoice means to be filled with joy. There are different kinds of joy. But in the passage Isaiah talks about a special kind of joy. What is it? It is the joy as people rejoice at the ‘harvest’ or as they rejoice when dividing the plunder. Here “harvest” refers to the spiritual harvest, that is, the salvation of a soul. Dividing the plunder refers to trampling down on the formidable enemy Satan, and recovering all the treasures he has taken way back to our own bank account. The expression, “Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire” refers to the time when conflicts will be no more, for by that time the Christ will have completed in removing all the enemies of God, so that there will be only peace rolling like a river. 

We can divide the Bible into three parts: Genesis 1-2; Genesis 3-Revelation 19; and Revelation 21-22. The first two chapters (Genesis 1-2) describe “the paradise”; then in the middle is the lost paradise (Genesis 3-Revelation 20); and the last two chapters depict the paradise restored. 

We are now living in the era of the paradise lost. In the interim, those who believe in Jesus and are saved experience the joy of salvation, and as one continues to live in the Lord and follow His way, the joy of salvation will only increase. But the ultimate recovery of all that we lost is not going to come until the vision described in the last two chapters of the Bible becomes a reality. Men rejoicing when dividing the plunder refers to the kind of joy all saved souls will experience when the vision described in Revelation 21-22 becomes a reality. 

Joy and peace! These two are two important characteristics of the life in the kingdom of God. Jesus came to confer on us joy and peace – the two important characteristics of the life in the kingdom of God. 

Part II A son is given (6-7a)

Thus far we saw what Jesus came to fulfill. Now, how is he going to fulfill what he was born to fulfill? In addition, how can we practically experience the blessed work he came to accomplish in our lives? 

First, we must remember that he was born to “govern” (6a).

Look at verse 6. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders.” In the passage the word “government” is repeated twice (6,7). The expression “the government will be on his shoulders” tells us that Jesus came to “govern”. He is the spiritual “governor”. He is the governor of all governors. Matthew expresses the same idea by saying that Jesus is a man born “King”. He is not only a humble Savior, but also a King. John says the same thing when he describes Jesus as “the King of kings and Lord of lords.” (Rev 17:14; 19:16) 

This means that we need to accept Jesus as the Lord and King. Many people say, “I am my own King. I listen to nobody.” But we’d better listen to Jesus Christ.

Second, we must know that he is “able” to fulfill what he came to fulfill, so that we must curb our pride and ask for His help (6b).

On October 7, 2003 the State of California went through the Davis-Schwarzenegger Gubernatorial Transition in Sacramento. The Californians judged that the ex-governor Gray Davis was NOT ‘able’ to handle the governmental affairs of the state of California. So we kicked him out of the office. Now, Arnold Schwarzenegger is in charge. But there is still a lingering doubt as to whether or not he is “qualified” to live us as the “governor” of this golden state California. To be honest with you, I also have some “lingering” doubts in my heart about his capability. I know he is good as a “body builder” or as a “movie actor” but is he truly able to “govern” us as our own “governor”? I am not one hundred percent sure. 

But it is not so with Jesus Christ. In what respect then is he truly qualified to govern the affairs of God’s kingdom? Look at verse 6b. “And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Please take a note of the expression “will be called”. It is in a future tense, indicating that for now not all people will agree that He is truly Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.” But eventually “he will be.” 

I know what you are thinking of him. Most likely you are not fully ready to call him “Oh, Jesus my Wonderful Counselor...etc. and so forth.” Rather, you are kind of wishy washy about him, about what he can do, and how much he can do. At this point, I do not want to bother to explain all the imports of these four titles. Why? The answer is obvious. Unless we try him, we cannot know what He is for and how much he is going to do. He is going to prove himself only to those who try him out. And the help will come to us only in so far as we give him the opportunity to prove himself. 

When we study the four gospels, we see Jesus performing tons of miracles. But to some, he was not able to do anything. For example, when he went to his home town called Nazareth, he could not heal that many people, because they treated him not as the Mighty God (for example) but rather merely as a son of a carpenter. But the four gospels are full of examples of people who in their humility put absolute trust in Him and experienced God’s life-changing power in them. Simon Peter who made huge catch of fish not just once but twice is an example. A man named Lazarus who was completely dead and yet heard the voice of Jesus even from the tomb is another. 

Living among us also are missionaries and shepherds all over the world, who through their faith in Jesus, are enabled to pioneer college campuses even despite extreme difficulties in such extreme countries as India, Siberia, Nigeria, Sudan, and nowadays Middle Eastern nations such as Jerusalem, the Hebrew University!

Third, we must realize that it is He who is in dominion and is going to triumph, so that we should not try to straddle the fence, but rather take a clear stand on His side, striving to promote His cause (7). 

Look at verse 7. “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.” This passage talks about the on-going and ever-expanding work of God’s kingdom being fulfilled in and through Jesus Christ. In the Book of Daniel (Chapter 7), the Lord God revealed to Daniel the kingdoms of this world “rising and falling.” Unlike the worldly kingdoms like the Babylonian Empire or the Roman Empire, or even the United States of the America Empire, Jesus’ kingdom is never going to come to an end. Rather, Jesus’ kingdom will only increase, first in the heart of each person accepting Jesus as the Lord and Savior then here on earth as Jesus is going to come the second time. (Daniel 2:35,44-45) 

Jesus’ kingdom is a spiritual kingdom, not a physical kingdom. What is physical is a derivative of what is spiritual, so that Jesus’ kingdom is a truly lasting kingdom, the kingdom that gives life to men. 

And Isaiah finishes his message by saying in verse 7b, “The zeal of the Lord Almighty        will accomplish this.” What does this mean? This means to us that we better belong to Jesus’ team, for it is Jesus’ team which is going to win the game, and remain forever.  In American football it is very important which team you are supporting or fighting for. In a spiritual realm, there are only two teams: the team belonging to the devil, and the team belonging to Jesus. And we better sign up for Jesus’ team, and strive to fight for the cause Jesus is fighting for. 

In conclusion, we learned what the Lord Jesus will do, how he will do what he is pledged to do, and how we can rest assured of the work that Jesus came to fulfill. This observation compels us to put trust in Jesus Christ, and obey His command. So during this holiday season, I exhort every one to look up to Jesus, fix his eyes and thoughts on Jesus and share the good news of great joy. May the Lord bless us to fill the Ackerman Union Grand Ball Room located on level 2, so many would listen to the good news of great joy. Shepherd William prepared a fabulous invitation card. Shepherd Nick came up with a nice flyer to invite students to the Christmas celebration program. You may wish to ask for a sample from these servants, go to UCLA, and start inviting all the 40,000 UCLA students. 

One Word: To us a child is born

    

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