“For Unto Us a Child Is Born”
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.
I. His Coming – “…For unto us…”
A. The reason – (for) Light – “The people that walked in darkness…” Life – “…they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death…”
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
B. The receivers – (unto us)
Those who walked in darkness and those who dwell in the shadow of death! He is the blesser and we are the blessees!
II. His Condescension – “…a child…”
A. His flesh – The Cradle
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.
John 1:14 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.
B. His fate – The Cross
Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;
15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
16 For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham.
17 Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
18 For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.
Third:
III. His Certainty – “…is born…”
A. It’s reality
The Prophet was less than 30 years old when he saw this prophecy. He could not know that it would be 700 more years before the Light would come into the world yet there can be no doubt about the birth of Jesus Christ; foretold by the prophets, announced by the angels, recorded in the scriptures and mentioned in the pages of history. It’s been 2,000 years since his birth but no one has had a more profound influence and impact on humanity than has Jesus Christ.
B. It’s response
John Hamby writes: “We live in a day of Oprah-style “cafeteria religion,” people believe that they can just pick and choose what to believe they say, “I’ll have some of this, but I don’t want any of that. I don’t like that.” They pick and choose what suits their fancy, as if they are free to take whatever they like from the Christian faith and disregard the rest. According to this view, it really doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you’re tolerate and accepting toward others, no matter what they believe. Jesus once asked the Pharisees a question about Himself that men have asked in every generation since. “What do you think about the Christ…whose son is He?” Matthew 22:42
That’s the real question isn’t it! Whose son is he? If he is only the son of Mary then he is just a man and perhaps a great teacher. If on the other hand he is both the son of Mary and also the Son of God then each of us has a decision to make. The Christian faith rises and falls on whether or not Jesus was both human and divine. If he is both, and I believe that he is, then to reject him is to invite disaster live and die without hope but to accept him is receive forgiveness of sin, a new life, hope, joy, peace, and the promise of a home in heaven for all eternity.
