Christmas Day

SERMON - A Child Is Born!

INI

Text: Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

In Christ Jesus, that Child sent by His loving Father to help us in our need, dear fellow redeemed:

A nation threatened by Middle Eastern terrorists; a nation that seems to have lost its moral compass; and a nation that increasingly has turned away from the one true God to serve a host of idols. Am I talking about the United States? I could be, but I am actually describing the Old Testament southern kingdom of Judah in Isaiah’s day. Judah was troubled by the blood-thirsty Assyrians, who lived in what is now northern Iraq but who at that time threatened their national existence. Isaiah describes Judah’s sad moral decline in this way: “The whole head is sick, and the whole heart faints. From the sole of the foot even to the head, there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises and putrefying sores” (1:5-6). Spiritually a vast majority of Judah’s leaders had turned away from the LORD God and were putting their faith in the heathen gods of neighboring kingdoms. What was God’s solution for His Old Testament people? If we can understand that, we might better understand a proper solution for the problems confronting us today.

God’s solution was not what man might expect. Man would expect a strong warrior to rescue the day by carrying the battle to the Assyrians. Man would expect an astute legislator, who would pass laws designed to demand better morality. Man would expect a mighty preacher, who would lead the country in revival. That was not God’s chosen solution. As the LORD later explained through Isaiah: “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD, “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (55:8-9). God’s solution was so unexpected: the birth of a Child—a seemingly defenseless Child, a Son given and ultimately entrusted with all authority.

That Child would bring peace. That Child would establish justice. That Child would rule forever. It is the birth of that Child which we celebrate today. He was not considered in Isaiah’s day, nor is He considered today to be the solution necessary for our manifold problems. Still, without Him all is ultimately lost, while with Him man’s underlying problem of sin is solved, as individuals are led to acknowledge and embrace Him. May we rejoice this day that unto us a Child has indeed been born—GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION!

His Name—Meditation I: “Wonderful Counselor”

Today when we hear title “counselor” we most often envision a psychiatrist or psychologist—a man with an office and couch who listens to people’s problems and upon occasion offers them advice. That advice may be good, or at times it may be bad. That is the nature of all human counselors in a fallen world. Jesus, however, is not a mere human counselor—He is the “Wonderful Counselor.” He is wonderful for two reasons—first, because of who He is and, second, because of what He says!

Jesus is both true God and true man—Immanuel (cf. Is. 7:14). He is wonderful because He is one with His Father in heaven (cf. Jn. 10:30). He is wonderful because He knows everything about us as our Creator (cf. Jn. 21:17; Col. 1:16-17), and still the Bible assures us that He loves us, gave His life for us, and is now ready to claim us as His friends (cf. Jn. 15:13-15).

Jesus is wonderful because of the truths He was sent to proclaim to us. His truths, the Bible says, set us free (cf. Jn. 8:31f.). His truths, the Bible once again says, last forever (cf. 1 Peter 1:23,25). Consequently, while we ought not always discount the accumulated wisdom man at times offers, for it will upon occasion provide us with valuable albeit temporal help, the timeless wisdom of God when believed and properly applied will provide us with insights that will last forever. Jesus’ words alone provide a message of atonement for sin, of reconciliation with God, and the ultimate solutions for every problem faced by us men, for they point us to the only true source of forgiveness, love, hope, and ultimately of eternal life. The Christ-Child, who became the Wonderful Counselor is GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION!

His Name—Meditation II: “Mighty God”

Jesus was not and is not simply a religious teacher supposedly representing one religion’s interpretation of God. He, in other words, is not merely another human prophet, but rather is God Himself. This is what makes GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION so offensive to so many people. During His ministry the people of Nazareth tried to kill Him when He essentially made that claim by stating that He was the promised Messiah (cf. Lk. 4:21, 29). It was that claim that enraged the high priest and the other members of the Jewish Sanhedrin at the time of Jesus’ trial and brought their demands for His death (cf. Lk. 22:70-71; Jn. 19:7). But was that claim true? Yes, it was and is!

Consider the words of the angel Gabriel when he first announced to Mary that Jesus would be born: “That Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). Consider the fact that He knew what was in the hearts of men and could and did address their very thoughts repeatedly during His ministry (i.e. Mt. 9:4). Consider as well His authority over nature—to still the winds and halt the crashing waves (cf. Mt. 8:27). Think about how Jesus demonstrated power over diseases and demons, showing Himself to be the Master of everything in this universe (cf. Mt. 8:13, 32). Remember how Jesus called Lazarus forth from the tomb—only God has the power to reverse the wages of sin and destroy the bonds of death (cf. Jn. 11:43-44; Heb. 2:14). Truly the Christ-Child was and remains the Mighty God—HIS HEAVENLY FATHER’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION!

His Name—Meditation III: “Everlasting Father”

While Jesus is one with God the Father, He is not the same Person as His Father (cf. Jn. 10:30; Mt. 28:19). To understand the title of “Everlasting Father” as translated into English in Isaiah’s prophecy, we must reverse the order of the words, for Jesus is the “father” or originator of the “everlasting” gift of life that He bestows upon us as our Savior.

Death has become a part of life on this earth. It seems so natural that unbelieving evolutionists claim it is a positive engine for biological progress, but this is not true. Death ends life on this earth and was never part of God’s desire for us, but rather the sad consequence of our sin (cf. Gen. 2:17). The apostle Paul speaks of the “sting” of death (cf. 1 Cor. 15:55), and all who have experienced the loss of a loved one know that sting. Yet, Jesus was sent to overcome sin and destroy death. Jesus is, as He claimed, “the resurrection and the life” (Jn. 11:25). He was sent by God to give life and restore life (cf. John 5:21). His own resurrection is described in Scripture as a “first-fruits” (1 Cor. 15:20), which suggests that our resurrection will follow. The consummation, therefore, of GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION is Easter’s resurrection. Christmas without Easter is mere sentimentality, while Christmas with Easter is God’s triumphant response to and solution for our most pressing need. Yes, the Christ-Child became the Everlasting Father—the father or originator of everlasting life—GOD’S UNEXPECTE CHRISTMAS SOLUTION!

His Name—Meditation IV: “Prince of Peace”

Perhaps the most misunderstood and maligned title given Jesus is “Prince of Peace.” The unbelieving world longs for outward peace among men and scoffs at what it perceives to be the failure of Jesus and His Church to accomplish that goal. Yet, we must realize and attempt to convey to the world that its goals and those of Jesus are not necessarily the same. After all, Jesus did once say: “Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword” (Mt. 10:34). Outward peace between sinful men is not Jesus’ goal, if such peace comes at the price of separation from God!

Jesus is the Prince of Peace, but He brings a peace unlike that known in the world (cf. Jn. 14:27), for such peace never lasts. No, Jesus came as GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION to end the strife that exists between God and man due to man’s sin and rebellion. The angelic chorus proclaimed to the shepherds: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good-will toward men” (Lk. 2:14). They were not speaking of a potential peace, but the reality of the peace which Jesus brings to human hearts when they are led by the Spirit to humble themselves before God and accept with joy His forgiving love. That love is so great that it provides redemption for all of lost mankind. “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…” (Jn. 3:16). “God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” (2 Cor. 5:19). “He Himself (that is, Jesus) is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world” (1 Jn. 2:2).

My dear friends—because of God’s Christmas gift we are at peace with God. This is not because of our efforts, but rather because of His unconditional love. Oh, let us embrace it, and then let us express it, for it is only when the love of Christ moves us that we can truly forgive one another and live with and love one another as our God would have us live and love. Yes, the Christ-Child is and remains the Prince of Peace—GOD’S UNEXPECTED CHRISTMAS SOLUTION! Amen.

—Pastor Paul D. Nolting
Soli Gloria Deo!