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.
ISAIAH 9.6,7 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. Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Isaiah is quoted directly in the NT over 65 times, far more than any other OT prophet, and mentioned by name over 20 times. Isaiah has been called by some scholars “The Evangelical Prophet.”
It is estimated that this prophecy of the coming of The Messiah was written about 750 years before Christ was born. This prophetic sign was given to King Ahaz as an assurance of Judah’s hope in the midst of adversity. It therefore had an immediate, historical fulfillment. But its usage by The Holy Spirit in the gospel of Matthew shows that it also had a far-reaching messianic fulfillment.
This prophetic announcement, coupled with its literal fulfillment in the gospels is an indisputable proof that Jesus Christ is indeed the Messiah. Matthew would write that Jesus Christ the Messiah is Emmanuel, or God with us.
Matthew 1.18-23 Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her a public example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for He shall save His people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, 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.
Matthew quotes from the LXX, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Old Testament. The Greek word used in the LXX in Isaiah 7.14 is parthenos, which means “virgin.” Not simply a young unmarried woman. It is no miracle for a young woman to have a child. But it is indeed a miracle for a virgin to have a child.
Jesus was conceived through a miracle of the Holy Spirit rather than through the sexual involvement of a man. Mary was a virgin and remained a virgin until after she gave birth to Jesus (Mt 1:18, 25).
In other words, in the incarnation of Jesus Christ we see the divine union of Deity in human flesh.
Philippians 2.6-11 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The birth of Jesus leaves us with no doubt about how seriously God takes the sin we so instinctively tend to minimize. Paul Tripp
Emmanuel. The clearest manifestation of God to us is revealed in The Lord Jesus Christ.
Colossians 1.15 Jesus Christ is the image of the invisible God.
Hebrews 1.3 Jesus Christ is the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person.
In The Lord Jesus Christ, Emmanuel is with us. Jesus is God in us, with us, and for us. Christmas is all about Christ, for without Christ, there is no Christmas.
Isaiah 9 is one of the most remarkable messianic prophecies in the book of Isaiah. For it contains the prophecy that a child is coming Who would breaking into the darkness and bringing His life giving light.
Matthew 4:13–17 And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet (Isa 9.1,2), saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
The region of Zebulun and Naphtali was devastated by Assyria in 732 b. c. They are now the first to see the great light of God’s deliverance in Jesus. Jesus is the difference between light darkness; life and death.
Jesus’ proclamation repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand is a prophecy that the heavenly kingdom will one day arrive in all its glory. But the citizens of that kingdom is limited to o those who repent, and acknowledge Him as Lord.
Jesus saidLuke 5.32 I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.
Before His ascension into glory, the command of Christ to His apostles wasLuke 24.47 that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem.
1 John 4.9,10 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Isaiah 9 begins with the words, unto us a child is born (This is viewing the birth of Christ from the human side). Unto us a child is given (This is viewing the birth of Christ from the divine side). His Name will be called:
Wonderful Counsellor- Some translations see two distinct characteristics here. Others see them combined in one.
Wonderful- This word that is translated wonderful is a word that is used to represent something unusual or extraordinary. It describes the essential glory of who Jesus is meant to fill us with wonder. Jesus is Wonderful. He fills your heart and mind with amazement!
Jesus is our Counsellor- He counsels us through His Word. Through prayer. Through fellow believers.
Mighty God- Can there be a more straightforward declaration of the deity of the Messiah? In Isaiah 10:21, the prophet uses the exact same phrase to refer to Yahweh Jesus Christ is God incarnate, the omnipotent One. In the Person of Jesus Christ all the fullness of God–His nature and character–would exist in bodily form (Col 2:9; cf. Jn 1:1, 14). In other words, Jesus Christ would be fully God and fully man.
Everlasting Father- Expresses Christ’s fatherly care. In the Hebrew the phrase is literally “the Father of Eternity.” This speaks of the purpose of his coming. Jesus is before, above, and beyond time. He is the possessor of eternity. He is eternally like a father to his people. This is not a statement about the Trinity but about the character of our Lord. The name Father is not in conflict with that of the First Person of the Trinity. Jesus said to Philip, He who has seen Me has seen the Father (John 14:9).
Prince of Peace- The reign of Christ in earth will be characterized by shalom, health, well-being, prosperity, happiness, and cessation of enmity.
The atoning death and resurrection of The Lord Jesus Christ makes provision for sinners to have peace with God. Likewise, the indwelling of His life and character through the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives empowers us to abide in Christ and experience the peace of God.
Jesus said to His disciples, Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you” (John 14:27).
Surrender to His will and submission to His Word will bring inner rest, as we allow the peace of God to “rule” in our hearts (Col. 3:15), that is, to let God’s peace act as umpire 1) over decisions that would trouble you, 2) overruling doubts that would disturb you, and 3) overthrowing the Adversary’s lies that would defeat or deter you.
Perfect peace is available when the heart and mind keep focused on God’s promise, power, and presence. Trust Him (Is. 26:3)
Of the increase of His government there is no end—Revelation 20 cites a thousand year earthly reign 6 times.
The literal fulfillment of Isaiah’s first coming prophecies about Jesus Christ gives assurance that prophecies of Christ’s second coming will also see literal fulfillment. He provides us with details of unique aspects of Christ’s future kingdom on earth not found elsewhere in the OT or NT.
(ESV) Isaiah 11.6-10 The wolf shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the young goat, and the calf and the lion and the fattened calf together; and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze; their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the cobra, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the adder’s den. They shall not hurt or destroy in all My holy mountain; for the earth shall be full of the knowledge of The Lord as the waters cover the sea.
But the reign of the Messiah will not last merely 1,000 years, though the millennium is a special aspect of His reign. There will be no end to the reign of the Messiah, and He will rule for all eternity. His princely rule shall perpetually increase and be unlimited.
Let’s get personal
Unto us a child is born. Unto us a son is given.
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
1 John 3.8 For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus not only came to redeem man from the debt of sin. He also came to destroy the works of the devil.
Not only was a Son was given to pay the price for our redemption. He was also sent to deliver us from the kingdom and power of darkness. Jesus came to bring man back into fellowship with God.
What the gospel makes clear is that in our sin we are dependent on the gift of God’s righteousness to us, since as sinners we are not righteous in and of ourselves.
Rom. 3:23–24 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus
You can’t celebrate the birth of Jesus and hold on to your righteousness. If you were capable of being righteous, Jesus wouldn’t have had to come. Paul Tripp
The only works of righteousness that serve to justify a sinner are the works of Christ. R.C. Sproul
The prophecy of the incarnation clearly reveals that we need Christ to bear our sin and God to credit His righteousness to our account.
2 Cor. 5:21 For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.
How does this happen? Acts 13.38,39 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by Him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.
When Jesus came to the earth 2,000 years ago, the vast majority of the people rejected Him.
Why did they reject Jesus and ultimately crucify Him?
Luke 19.14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, we will not have this man to reign over us.
They preferred to be self-ruled than governed by Christ.
John 3.19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
They loved their sin and their dark pleasures more than they loved Jesus.
Luke 12.8 Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
But others gladly received Him.
John 1.12 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.
Romans 10.8-13 if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek:for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Nothing has changed in 2,000 years.
Some reject Jesus and choose to live in their sin and for themselves.
Some receive Jesus and choose to submit to Him as Lord and Master.
One will dwell with Him forever. One will be separated from Him forever in hell. Which one of the two are you? Repent of your sin and trust Christ this morning as Lord and Savior.
