Much More Than Baby Jesus!
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 12/17/00
At this time of year people are often preoccupied with shopping,
party preparations, travel plans and the whole spectrum of secular holiday celebration.
Then, there is the Christian crowd the resists the secular pressures and sincerely
tries to focus on the Lord Jesus Christ. If you are in that number, I heartily commend
you for your faithfulness to our Lord. But, at the same time, I exhort you to look
beyond the babe in the manger and be sure you see and share the BIG PICTURE. The best
single verse that will help you do just that is Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a
child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder:
and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting
Father, The Prince of Peace.
This verse is our focus. Let’s look at it closely.
"For unto us a child is born..."
With out a doubt, one of the first things that comes to mind when a
Christian thinks about Christmas is the birth of Christ. And there is nothing wrong
with that. That is exactly what we read about in Luke 2:4-7 "And Joseph
also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of
David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) 5
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. 6 And so it was, that,
while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. 7 And she
brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in
a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."
Over the years I have collected several lithographs and drawings of
this God ordained event. But there is more to this birth than meets the eye as we will
see in our study of Isaiah 9:6. Let’s consider the first phrase ...unto us a
child is born
This phrase points out the fact that Jesus was human! He came
into the world the same way you and I come, that is he was born of a woman. Galatians
4:4 says, But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son,
made of a woman, made under the law." While he was indeed born of a woman as
you and I were, this verse says he was made of a woman. We are made of a man and
a woman. While Jesus was the same in one sense, that is he was human, he is different
in another sense. He was made of a woman. We will look at what that means a bit later.
Right now I want to get back to the humanity of Jesus Christ. He is called the Son of
Man 88 times in the New Testament. Further, he referred to himself as a man. In John
8:40 Jesus says, But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the
truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham.
My point is simply this. The phrase unto us a child is born points out the fact that Christ is human and because he is human, he can identify
with us. Hebrews 4:15 affirms that when it says, For we have not an high
priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Jesus Christ was human. He was the son of man. He can identify with
us. I am thankful for a compassionate Savior who understands our temptations and our
feelings and yet did not sin.
"...unto us a son is given."
Unlike the conception of any other human being, a human father
played absolutely no part in the conception of Christ. He was made of a woman not of a
man an a woman! Luke 1:35 describes the miraculous conception of Christ. "And
the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the
power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall
be born of thee shall be called the Son of God." (see Luke 1:26-35 for
a more complete explanation).
Now, let’s move on to the next phrase. This little phrase, unto
us a son is given, is a powerful statement of the deity of Christ. Jesus
Christ is God! Why do I say that? Turn with me to John 1:1 & 14 "In
the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 14
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as
of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth." Jesus
Christ is the second person of the Holy Trinity, the very Son of God! John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Look at 1
John 4:14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the
Saviour of the world.
But that is not all. All the fullness of God dwells in His son,
Jesus Christ. Colossians 1:19 For
it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell; You see, the Son given
by God is the eternal Lord of Glory. Thus we have what theologians call the hypostatic
union. That is, there is a mysterious union of divinity and humanity in Jesus of
Nazareth. Now, I want to make it clear, I am not talking about hybrid humanity
or degraded deity. I am talking about Jesus Christ being fully man and at the
same time fully God. That is an enigma for our finite mind, but it is true. The
babe in the manger was the Lord of Glory!!!
"..the government shall be upon his shoulder"
Many have aspired to be the ruler of the world and a few have even
claimed to the title! But in reality they were not really the world sovereign but
just the world known to them. However, Christ will be the global ruler. In the
future, Anti-Christ will attempt to rule the world but his rule will short lived.
Then, after the 7 year Tribulation Christ breaks on the scene (Jude 1:14-15) and
"He shall show, who is the blessed and only
Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords; 1 Timothy 6:15. Christ is
the only one who can claim the title deed to this earth (Revelation 5:9). He created
the Earth and all that is in it (Revelation 10:6). And He will rule this earth with a
rod of iron (Revelation 2:27) for 1,000 years and then He will rule the universe for
all of eternity. At first glance you'd never suspect that babe in the manger is the
King of the Universe!
…and his name shall be called Wonderful
"Wonderful" [Hebrew - à́Æt]Æ
is not an adjective it is a noun; this is His name. It means miracle or awe. Everything
about the person and work of Christ excites wonder from His virgin birth to his
miracles, to his atoning death, and literal, physical, bodily resurrection.
his name shall be called…Counsellor
The word means to advise or give counsel. A counselor is one
who analyzes a situation and gives advice. Christ is our counselor. All wisdom and
knowledge resident with and in Christ (Colossians 2:3). Little wonder that the Aspotle
Paul said, Philippians 3:10-14 "That I may know him, and the power of his
resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his
death; 11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. 12 Not as
though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that
I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I
count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things
which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press
toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."
Christ never sought the counsel of man, and He never asked for the
advice of men. Why? Because He was the Lord, the author of wisdom and truth! "For
who known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?" (Romans
11:34). God has no counselor. The Lord Jesus Christ never called His disciples
together and said, "Now, fellows, what do you think I ought to do?"
The fact is, we are to go to Christ for counsel for He is the divine counselor and
his counsel can be found yet today in the BIBLE!
his name shall be called…The Mighty God
The Hebrew word for this name is [Hebrew ́àÅ øBab„]
- El Gibbor. He
is the one to whom "all power is given." He is the omnipotent God.
That little baby lying helpless on Mary's bosom held the universe together (Colossians
1:17). He said, "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth."
(Matthew 28:18). He is the Mighty God! Consider Hebrews 1:3 Who being the
brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all
things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down
on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Christ is the Omnipotent God!
his name shall be called…The Everlasting Father
This title means the Father of eternity or the Author of
Eternity. This simply means that he is the Creator of all things, even time, the
ages, and the far-off purpose of all things. As John said, "All things were
made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" (John
1:3).
In Colossians 1:16 Paul said, "For by him were all things created, that
are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones,
or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for
him." The baby in the manger is the Author of Eternity
his name shall be called…The Prince of Peace
The Bible also speaks much of two other kinds of peace--peace on
earth and peace in a believers heart. When Christ is in control of the believers life
he/she can have that peace. Philippians 4:7 says, And the peace of God, which
passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
However, PEACE ON EARTH will not come until Jesus Christ
returns to destroy the rebels and establish His kingdom on earth (Ps. 37:9-11; 72:1-8;
Is. 9:6,7; 66:12; Eze. 34:23-25; Hag. 2:6,7). Until then, men on earth will attempt in
vain their human schemes for peace (1 Th. 5:3; Re. 6:4). The Bible says there is no
peace for the wicked (Is. 48:22; 57:21). As long as the world is in rebellion against
God and His Christ (Ps. 2), and as long as the governments of the world are ruled by
wicked men, there will not be peace on earth. This is not pessimism, but reality. Peace
will come on earth when King Jesus Rules on earth during the Millennium
In conclusion, it is clear to see that Isaiah 9:6 is a short, but
power packed verse. It reveals the identity of the baby in Bethlehem's manger. This
should keep us from becoming preoccupied with the helpless infant and recognize him as
the LORD OF GLORY!
Is Jesus Christ your Savior? If not, repent of your sins and believe
on the Lord Jesus Christ today!
HERE’S HOW TO BECOME A BORN-AGAIN CHRISTIAN
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;" Romans 3:23
- REALIZE THAT SALVATION FROM SIN IS A GIFT
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through
Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 6:23
- BELIEVE THAT CHRIST DIED FOR YOUR SINS & AROSE FROM THE DEAD
"Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." I
Peter 2:24
"Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our
justification." Romans 4:25
- BELIEVE THAT CHRIST IS THE ONLY WAY OF SALVATION
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh
unto the Father, but by me." John 14:6
"I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish."
- ASK CHRIST TO FORGIVE YOUR SINS AND SAVE YOUR SOUL
"For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."
Romans
10:13
Pray this simple prayer in faith
Dear Lord,
Thank you for loving me enough to send your Son to die for my sins and to raise Him
from the dead that I might be saved. I admit that I am a sinner. I repent of my sins
and I know that none of my good works can ever earn your forgiveness. I believe what
the Bible says, that salvation is a free gift given to anyone who puts his or her faith
in Christ. Lord Jesus Christ, come into my life and be my Savior. Thank you. Amen.
If your was genuine and heart felt you can KNOW THAT YOU ARE A CHILD OF GOD BY FAITH
IN CHRIST -
But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even
to them that believe on his name. John 1:12
Let us know of your decision for Christ that we might rejoice in God’s goodness to
you.
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