What Did You Get For Christmas?
The Indescribable Gift
2 Corinthians 9:15 and Isaiah 9:6
Intro – This morning I would like to help you answer a question that you will surely be asked, if not later today, sometime next week. And the question is this:
A. What did you get for Christmas?
I’m sure at some point that you will be asked this question, and the usual way to answer it is to go through the list of things that family and friends got you, at least the most significant things!
But in answering the question in this way, I think we are missing a great opportunity for two reasons:
1. Firstly, because none of the things that family and friends got you are not really the most important thing you got for Christmas, as you will see!!
2. And secondly, because answering this way misses a great opportunity to focus people on the true meaning of Christmas – which is to celebrate the giving of the most
glorious gift ever given – God giving the world His Son!
a. Listen to John 3:16a – quote.
Now, look at 2 Corinthians 9:15. (Screen)
A. Notice that this verse does two very important things for us:
b. Firstly, it reminds us that we need to truly be thankful for the gift that God gave us in His Son – quote John 3:16a again.
i. This is the essence of Christ – having received the gift of Jesus in time past – to remember the gift, to be thankful for the gift, to celebrate the gift and to bare witness to
the gift.
c. And secondly, 2 Corinthians 9:15 reminds us that the gift that God gave us on that first Christmas is “indescribable”!
i. Talk about why!!!!!!!!!
Now, even though there is a sense in which this gift is truly “indescribable”, yet the bible at least begins to describe it for us so that we can begin to see something of the wonder and the majesty of this “indescribable” gift!
Of the many texts that I could chose to use, to begin to describe this gift for you, I chose Isaiah 9:6. This text will help you begin to provide an answer to those who ask you “What did you get for Christmas”??
A. Read Isaiah 9:6. (Screen)
Now in looking at this text, I want you to notice 2 things to help you answer the question -- “What did you get for Christmas”?
1. Firstly, what the gift is!
2. And secondly, what the gift is like!
a. Isn’t this how you would answer the question on a horizontal plane?
I. What the Gift Is!
So, let’s begin by looking at “What The Gift Is” in verse 6.
A. I hope you noticed in verse 6 that “the gift is a person”! According to
verse 6 – “to us a child was born” and “to us a son was given”!
1. Who is this child and who is this Son??
a. Talk about the “Trinity”, the creation, the fall and God’s plan!!
i. Quote John 3:16 again!
ii. Talk about the incarnation.
1. Turn to and look at Matthew 1:20-23. (Read)
2. Also look at Luke 2:11. (Screen)
2. Talk about how “indescribable” it is that God the Son became a human being so that us “sinners” could be saved.
B. Now, notice also in verse 6 that “the government will be upon His
shoulders”!
1. The Son reigned with His Father in eternity past, and even in His
incarnation He was born to rule….
a. Quote Matthew 2:2.
2. Talk about His life, death, burial, resurrection and ascension, and one
day when he comes back, He will reign over all forever!!
a. Quote Philippians 2:9-10 – Therefore God has highly exalted Him and given Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus ever knee should bow
and every tongue confess that He is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Summarize – “What the gift is”!!
II. What the Gift Is Like!!!
So, now that we have considered “What we got for Christmas” or “what the gift is” – and everybody got the same gift (talk about “to us”, expanded upon by John 3:16) – now let me share with you a small part of “what this indescribable gift is like”!! (Isn’t that how we do with a gift on the horizontal plane – elaborate)
A. Now, notice the words “and His name shall be called…..” in Isaiah 9:6??
B. Verse 6 gives us 4 names or titles that are given to this “child who was born
to us” and to this “son who was given to us”, and these names or titles begin
to describe for us this “indescribable” gift!
1. The first name or title in verse 6 is “Wonderful Counselor”!
a. The dictionary definition of a “counselor” is – a person trained to give guidance or advice on personal, social or psychological problems.
b. So, this child born and this Son given is “a counselor”, but not just “a counselor”, but instead “a wonderful counselor”!
i. He is a “wonderful counselor” for a number of reasons:
1. Primarily because He did not need to be trained – as God the Son He already knows everything – all truth and everything about you and your life and
your needs.
a. Listen to John 14:6. (Quote)
b. Unlike a fallible human counselor the guidance and advice given by Jesus is perfect every time.
i. Quote John 1:1, 1:14, and 1:18.
1. Talk about “the logos”!
2. Talk about the “life of Christ” – look at John 7:46. (Screen)
3. Talk about the bible as “His word” – quote 2 Timothy 3:1-17.
c. So, the gift you got for Christmas is a person, the Son of God, who is for you a “wonderful counselor”!
2. The second name or title in verse 6 is – “Mighty God”!
a. Now think about this – in order to really see and understand a gift it has to be unwrapped doesn’t it??
i. When we peel away the human wrapping of this “child that was born” and this “Son that was given” we find “Deity”!!
1. Look at Colossians 2:9. (Screen)
b. Talk about the danger of “the babe in the manger syndrome”!
i. This child grew up, did miracles and taught eternal truth – proving He was God the Son in human flesh!
So, the gift you got on Christmas was a person, God the Son who is a “wonderful counselor” and “the mighty God”!
3. The third name or title given in verse 6 is – “Everlasting father”!
a. The first thing that needs to be said about this name or title is that this child who was born and this Son who was given is not the father!
i. Remind them of the Trinity!
b. The Hebrew here literally reads “The Father of Eternity”!
i. This further points to Jesus’ deity – He is the father or author or source of eternity!
1. Eternity exists because the Triune God exists.
2. Out of the eternal being of the 3 persons of the Trinity comes eternality and eternal life!!!
a. Jesus said this to the Jewish religious leaders in John 8:58 – “Before Abraham was, I AM…”!!
b. Also look at Hebrews 5:9. (Screen)
ii. Jesus was, and always will be the source of eternality and eternal life.
So, the gift you got for Christmas is a person, God the Son, who is a wonderful counselor, the Mighty God and the Father of eternity!
4. The fourth and last name or title in verse 6 is – “Prince of Peace”!
a. This name or title suggests that this child who was born and this son who was given would be “a peace maker”, and truly He came on a mission of peace from the Father.
i. The angles pronounced His mission of peace in Luke 2:14 – Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men!
ii. Through His cross work Jesus satisfies the wrath of God for sin and thus makes peace with God possible!! (Elaborate)
1. Look at Romans 5:1. (Screen)
b. One day Jesus will fully establish His everlasting reign of peace once He has made all of His enemies His foot stool. (Explain)
So, if someone asks you “What Did You Get For Christmas”? Say to them, “I got a gift that is virtually indescribable, but let me at least begin to describe it to you”:
1. I got a child who was born, I got a Son who was given and He is for me a wonderful counselor, the mighty God, the Father of eternity and the Prince of
Peace.
2. And then you need to let them know that the gift is offered to them as well, but that like any other gift, this gift too must be received.
a. And it is received by “Faith”! (Explain)
b. Look at Romans 6:23. (Screen and explain)
Christmas2016
