Christmas Eve 2020 – 9:00 – Is. 9:2-7
“THE GREAT LIGHT”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text for this evening is the Old Testament reading, from Isaiah 9. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- A baby is born in Bethlehem, in the middle of the night. There is fanfare – angels appearing to shepherds, wise men from the East following a star and looking for a newborn king. But the fanfare passes and Jesus grows up, seemingly a remarkable but normal human being. That is, until the time of His three year ministry and then the great self-sacrifice to atone for the sin of the world.
- But much had been written about this child in the Holy Scriptures, this man, this king, this only-begotten Son of God. Our text is one of those places! He is identified as “A GREAT LIGHT,” among other things. The nature of this “GREAT LIGHT” is also described in our text, and in other parts of Holy Scripture.
- But there is so much for us to consider and rejoice in just in these few verses. But we need to understand that:
I. God Sends His Great Light, The Lord Jesus, For Those In Darkness
Text: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.”
Statement: We know that this is the darkness of sin, and the consequent ignorance of God. We are born into this world with this inherited sinful nature – the carnal mind, Paul calls it, which is an enemy of God. There is no self-made or human invented way to escape this darkness. It is as Jesus told Nicodemus: “You must be born again.” [John 3:7] The means by which this new birth, this illumination occurs, is “THE GREAT LIGHT,” our Lord Jesus Christ, the gospel of His salvation. It is as Paul wrote: “I am not ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to all who believe.” [Rom. 1:16]
Application: Because we have been Christians a long time, having this illumination of the light of God’s love in Christ within us, we can scarcely remember being in this darkness. But we can see it and converse with it in the unbelievers of our time, and certainly we recognize it from time to time in ourselves. But be assured, Christ has come to dispel this darkness – and so He is doing even now! Yes:
II. The Great Light Is Christ Himself, The Very Son Of God, Almighty God, Our Savior
Text: “For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Statement: It may seem a confusion of the Persons of the Holy Trinity that Jesus is referred to as “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” All three Persons of the Trinity are identified – emphasizing the unity of God, the unity of the three Persons of the Godhead. This is much like what Jesus declared: “I and the Father are One.” [John 10:30]
Application: There can be no question then that this little baby, this humble man who submitted to death on the cross for our guilt and salvation, is none other than God Himself. This guarantees to us His success – for God is almighty and nothing is impossible for Him! The matter of the redemption and salvation of all people is sure and certain! Therefore the effects of His coming are also clear:
III. Jesus Came To Bless His People
A. He Multiplies The Church
Text: “You have multiplied the nation.”
B. He Increases The Joy Of God’s People
Text: “You have increased its joy; they rejoice before You as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.”
Statement: Of course Jesus grows and multiplies the church. He assure His disciples that He would be building His church upon the confession that He is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, the Savior of the world and that even the gates of hell would not prevail against this. [Matt. 16:16-19] There are now some 2 billion Christians in the world and the number is growing! And of course Jesus brings greater joy – our sins are forgiven, we have peace with God, we are children of God and heirs of God, and we have eternal life! What could be more joyous?
Application: So let us be sure to find this joy tonight and always – regardless of the hardships and heartaches all around us in our life in this world! This is what Jesus came to do, and this is part of the dispelling of darkness and gloom! And our joy also increases when we realize that:
IV. Jesus Rules Forever And Conquers All
A. There Is No End To His Advance And Increase
Text: “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it.”
B. Justice And Righteousness Will Ultimately Reign Forevermore
Text: “Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.”
C. It Is The Zeal Of Almighty God That Will Accomplish All Of This
Text: “The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.”
Statement: You see how the story ends! Imagine the power and authority of “the zeal of the LORD of hosts! While we struggle with evil in the world, and it often seems that evil has the upper hand, this is illusory. It simply is not so. And the longer the world goes on the more Christ’s church will grow, and the greater Christ’s rule of justice and righteousness shall become!
Application: All of this is enlightening and all of this increases the joy of God’s people! This is the joy of Christmas and the joy of all Christians! God has done all of this for us, so that we might be “lit up” with His great love!
Conclusion: It is often highly interesting to reread a book after you have reached the end of it. The little things that added to the plot line and made the ending dramatic are often even more poignant once you have grasped the whole picture.
So it is good for us to look back at the birth of Christ knowing the whole story. The particulars of the prophecies are more poignant and informing! The particulars of the history of Christ’s redemption are even more powerful and uplifting! Thanks and praise be to God – and “THE GREAT LIGHT” of our salvation! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.