Jesus Was Not An Afterthought

Jesus Was Not an Afterthought!

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7

December 18, 2005

Introduction

Well, here we are, one week from Christmas, and if you’re anything like me (and God help you if you are…), then the anticipation is beginning to build.

The presents are starting to pile up under the tree, and the wondering of just what’s in them is starting to get a bit intense.

I can’t wait for my kids to open all their gifts and find all the socks and underwear that Deb and I got for them!

Today I want to discuss something that maybe isn’t in the forefront of most people’s thinking I guess, but may be in the back of some people’s minds as we go through the season.

And it’s the idea that maybe Jesus was just the “final solution” for the world’s problems.

“God tried giving the law, but that didn’t work, so he sent prophets, but that didn’t work, either, neither did war and famine. So maybe he just kinda looked around heaven, and saw Jesus wandering around with nothing do to, so he said, “Son, I need you do something for me.”

“I need you to go down to earth as a baby, grow up, be ridiculed, mocked, and finally killed, but then I’ll raise you up, okay?

“I need you to do this, because I’ve run out of other ideas to bring people to myself. Whattya say?”

Nope – Jesus wasn’t an afterthought. I want to explore that a bit as we spend a few minutes together today, okay?

I’d ask you to turn with me in your Bibles to Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 (page 489)–

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--

2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

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.

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.

The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.

My plan for today is to not just put to rest a myth, but also to give you something that you can use to build your faith in God and in his purposes.

Something that helps you appreciate the love God has for you, and that helps you fall in love with him all the more.

Let’s get started by looking first at the fact that…

Jesus was the plan from the beginning!

The plan that was put into motion at the first Christmas was always the plan, right from the Garden of Eden.

Genesis 3:15 –

“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel."

This “seed,” which is the first reference to the Messiah in Scripture, would come in the form of a baby from Galilee.

And this baby would be referred to in Scripture by four titles as seen by our passage in Isaiah:

* Wonderful Counselor.

“Counselor” here is used in the sense of someone who gives direction, specifically in the ways of God.

This Wonderful Counselor would be characterized by authoritatively teaching God’s ways.

His would be the final authority. And as we look at the life of Jesus while he was on earth, he did this all the time.

People were constantly amazed at not just the content of his messages, but also by the authority he had in proclaiming them.

And when he comes again, his word will not be challenged, but rather recognized as the authoritative truth of God Almighty.

And this leads to the second title used of the Messiah here in Isaiah, and that is…

* Mighty God.

Not just a “mighty person” or “mighty ruler.” Mighty God.

The Messiah was also God. This is a great reference to the fact that there is a “son” and that he is a part of the Trinity – One God.

The Messiah would do things no mere human could do – it would take God himself.

God, in the form of a human – Jesus.

One of these days, we’ll explore the whole issue of Jesus and the fact that he was not only human, but divine as well. We don’t have time today, but let me just say that the Bible is very clear that Jesus was eternal like the Father, and has the divine authority given to him by the Father, according to Matthew 28.