GOD SENT HIS SON

First and middle names are often used together- Betty Jean, Mary Louise, Mary Jo. The funniest is likely Billy Bob. But what is it that we should call God’s Son and what do they mean? Christians know the name Jesus Christ. Actually, Jesus is a name; Christ is a title equal to “Messiah”. Early Christians put the two together as a proper name. God came to earth as Jesus, our Savior and Immanuel. These two names tell us that He saves us and is with us. To consider these two names- Jesus Christ- in some depth can help us to arrive at a fresh understanding of Him as Jesus “Immanuel”. As I was writing this, the Christmas season was in full swing for several weeks-for our church it was the Lottie Moon Dinner Auction, Music Cantata, Deacon’s Dinner, preparations for Journey Through Bethlehem, and many personal activities. Everywhere we turn, we encounter a seasonal emphasis. However, we all need a reminder of an important truth: The significance of Christmas is something more than even a baby’s birth long ago. It is the arrival of God Himself among us. In Christ, God took the human flesh and became one of us to redeem us. Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us and thus to save us. God sent His Son.

              Isaiah 9:6-7 Jesus Promised to Us 

As we read in the last section, Isaiah predicted the coming of God’s Son. Isaiah’s prophecy in 9:1-7 was a beacon of hope penetrating deep darkness. God promised to send a light “who” would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death. Isaiah told of God’s promise likely around 730 BC- over seven hundred years before it happened. This prophecy came during the pending attack of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. Isaiah also had prophesied that Judah’s (Southern Kingdom) destruction would NOT be complete, but the nation’s life would be threatened severely. God said it was time to give His people a promise of hope for the ages. Isaiah presents the events as if it were the time of the child’s arrival (a child will be born for us and a son will be given to us) with an exception of what He will achieve (v. 7), when he says “… there shall be no end” and “from now on and forever”.

Do you know where and by whom the words of verse 6 were made famous today? (Handel’s Messiah musical.) One of my many blessings in serving the Lord was when I had the great honor to lead the choir in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1964 in this marvelous music (while serving in the Air Force). I believe that was one of the major reasons that I have such a fondness for the Book of Isaiah and just had to lead in its study recently. The significance of the promised names in verse 6 relates to those names for God we have studied this month. First, we are told a child would be born to us that would fulfill the promise- not adopted, not grown from an earthly king, and not appointed. To be a “Wonderful Counselor”, He is one who is able to make wise plans and whose wisdom is far beyond human capabilities. To be a “Mighty God”, He is a mighty or heroic warrior, capable of unsurpassed strength or power to accomplish His purposes and promises.  As the “Eternal Father”, He possesses constant love, concern, and provision for His people to fulfill His caring and endless rule. Then finally, the “prince of Peace” tells us of the absence of hostilities but much more than that. It means “completeness”, “soundness”, and ‘welfare”, with health and prosperity included. John 10:10 gives us the promise of a full, rich, joyful life that Jesus gives.

Can there be any doubt that Isaiah was predicting the coming of Jesus? Most of the attention by many concerning Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah centers on Isaiah 53, and certainly it is well-deserved. However, Isaiah tells all of the coming of the Messiah all through his book and no more evident than in Chapter 9. God promised that Jesus’ rule would be “vast” and it would increase as He reigns forever. The last part of verse 7- “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts” ensured the messianic reign would become a reality, where “zeal” means a “glowing fire” and conveys deep feelings. The term “Lord of Hosts” refers to God as the Commander of Heaven’s armies, and heavenly bodies (Rev. 19:14 “the armies of Heaven”).

                   Matthew 1:18-21 Jesus Comes

It is easy to turn the pages of our Bible from Isaiah’s prophecy of the “birth of the child” to Matthew’s account of actual birth of Jesus. Most of the time we read Luke 2:1-14, what we have called the true “Christmas Story”. However, Matthew 1:1-17 carefully trances the lineage form Abraham through David to Joseph. This stressed that Jesus was related to all people by including Rahab and Ruth. This Son of David fulfilled God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 that I mentioned last week, and of course it fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Matthew also clearly defines Mary and Joseph’s situation that led up to the birth of Jesus. Matthew tells us Mary had been engaged to Joseph before the pregnancy by the Holy Spirit. The Greek term “engaged” means betrothal. Betrothal among the Jews lasted for a year during which time the man and woman were considered married but did not live together and were not intimate. Divorce was necessary to end the betrothal even though the actual marriage ceremony had not taken place prior to Mary being “found with child of the Holy Ghost” (KJV).

What was the important role that Joseph (part of the lineage that Matthew describes) plays in the story of Jesus’ birth? (God’s message to Joseph was not intended just to save Mary from disgrace, but to save all of humanity.) The angel of the Lord that appeared to Joseph gave him the explanation and confidence to go far out of his comfort zone and believe in God’s wonderful plan. Mary’s pregnancy was the work of God’s creative power through the Spirit. God did what humans could not: He provided the Messiah who would redeem us from enslavement to sin. Joseph played very significant role in this process –not often recognized, albeit a subservient role. A message here for all of us might be to ask the Holy Spirit to be involved in our lives more completely. It is appropriate to say that the Holy Spirit that brought Jesus to earth as a human baby is the same Holy Spirit that resurrected Him on the third day after His crucifixion, and who was given to all of us upon Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:8).

               Matthew 1:22-25 Jesus Is With Us

In verses 22-23, Matthew interrupted his account of Joseph’s vision with the angel of the Lord to stress that the events surrounding Jesus’ birth fulfilled God’s prophecy through Isaiah. Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 not as the source of the belief in Jesus’ virgin birth but to support an account already held to be true. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled completely when the virgin Mary bore god’s Son. In Isaiah chapter 9, the power, grace, wisdom and eternal presence was predicted. Here in verse 7, we learn that God gave the Son a name of meaning- Immanuel. For Isaiah’s and Matthew’s non-Jewish readers, the word is translated: “God is with us”. As Immanuel, Jesus is more than a sign of God’s presence: Jesus is God in person. How do we think that is possible? (The “God Head” has three separate entities, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).)

Our pastor recently (on Sunday night), drew an explanation of what this really means. He drew a big circle that represented the “God Head”. The “Father” is at the head of the circle. Then in a triangle position, he put the “Son” at one point on the circle and the “Holy Spirit” at another point. So we have the “God Head” made up of all three, yet separate. This helps to explain John’s words in Revelation 5:6- “Then I saw a lamb (Jesus)… standing between the throne…” (where in 4:3 John indicates the One seated on the throne was brilliant- but not the lamb- or Jesus until Rev. 5:6). Then in Rev. 4:5, John says he sees the “sevenfold Spirit of God”, which is another name for the Holy Spirit. This helps me to believe that Jesus is with us (Immanuel), the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and is with us always, and God –the Father- puts all together and will come to the new heaven and new earth as described in Rev. 21:3.

Matthew concludes this section by telling us that Joseph married Mary (Jewish formal marriage ceremony) as he was commanded to do. Matthew also makes it clear that Joseph “did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son”. So it is clear that Joseph and Mary were actually married (formally) before the birth of Jesus but that Mary was a virgin. Joseph named Him Jesus (Yahweh saves) as he had been instructed. So God is a person with a name not a comic force or impersonal power. We can and must know Him personally through faith in Jesus. See Hebrews 11:1 for a great definition of faith. But now we see that God sent His Son for all of us.

              Isaiah 9:6-7 Jesus Promised to Us 

As we read in the last section, Isaiah predicted the coming of God’s Son. Isaiah’s prophecy in 9:1-7 was a beacon of hope penetrating deep darkness. God promised to send a light “who” would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death. Isaiah told of God’s promise likely around 730 BC- over seven hundred years before it happened. This prophecy came during the pending attack of the Northern Kingdom of Israel by the Assyrians. Isaiah also had prophesied that Judah’s (Southern Kingdom) destruction would NOT be complete, but the nation’s life would be threatened severely. God said it was time to give His people a promise of hope for the ages. Isaiah presents the events as if it were the time of the child’s arrival (a child will be born for us and a son will be given to us) with an exception of what He will achieve (v. 7), when he says “… there shall be no end” and “from now on and forever”.

Do you know where and by whom the words of verse 6 were made famous today? (Handel’s Messiah musical.) One of my many blessings in serving the Lord was when I had the great honor to lead the choir in Klamath Falls, Oregon in 1964 in this marvelous music (while serving in the Air Force). I believe that was one of the major reasons that I have such a fondness for the Book of Isaiah and just had to lead in its study recently. The significance of the promised names in verse 6 relates to those names for God we have studied this month. First, we are told a child would be born to us that would fulfill the promise- not adopted, not grown from an earthly king, and not appointed. To be a “Wonderful Counselor”, He is one who is able to make wise plans and whose wisdom is far beyond human capabilities. To be a “Mighty God”, He is a mighty or heroic warrior, capable of unsurpassed strength or power to accomplish His purposes and promises.  As the “Eternal Father”, He possesses constant love, concern, and provision for His people to fulfill His caring and endless rule. Then finally, the “prince of Peace” tells us of the absence of hostilities but much more than that. It means “completeness”, “soundness”, and ‘welfare”, with health and prosperity included. John 10:10 gives us the promise of a full, rich, joyful life that Jesus gives.

Can there be any doubt that Isaiah was predicting the coming of Jesus? Most of the attention by many concerning Isaiah’s prophecy of the Messiah centers on Isaiah 53, and certainly it is well-deserved. However, Isaiah tells all of the coming of the Messiah all through his book and no more evident than in Chapter 9. God promised that Jesus’ rule would be “vast” and it would increase as He reigns forever. The last part of verse 7- “The zeal of the Lord of Hosts” ensured the messianic reign would become a reality, where “zeal” means a “glowing fire” and conveys deep feelings. The term “Lord of Hosts” refers to God as the Commander of Heaven’s armies, and heavenly bodies (Rev. 19:14 “the armies of Heaven”).

                   Matthew 1:18-21 Jesus Comes

It is easy to turn the pages of our Bible from Isaiah’s prophecy of the “birth of the child” to Matthew’s account of actual birth of Jesus. Most of the time we read Luke 2:1-14, what we have called the true “Christmas Story”. However, Matthew 1:1-17 carefully trances the lineage form Abraham through David to Joseph. This stressed that Jesus was related to all people by including Rahab and Ruth. This Son of David fulfilled God’s promise to David in 2 Samuel 7:12-16 that I mentioned last week, and of course it fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy. Matthew also clearly defines Mary and Joseph’s situation that led up to the birth of Jesus. Matthew tells us Mary had been engaged to Joseph before the pregnancy by the Holy Spirit. The Greek term “engaged” means betrothal. Betrothal among the Jews lasted for a year during which time the man and woman were considered married but did not live together and were not intimate. Divorce was necessary to end the betrothal even though the actual marriage ceremony had not taken place prior to Mary being “found with child of the Holy Ghost” (KJV).

What was the important role that Joseph (part of the lineage that Matthew describes) plays in the story of Jesus’ birth? (God’s message to Joseph was not intended just to save Mary from disgrace, but to save all of humanity.) The angel of the Lord that appeared to Joseph gave him the explanation and confidence to go far out of his comfort zone and believe in God’s wonderful plan. Mary’s pregnancy was the work of God’s creative power through the Spirit. God did what humans could not: He provided the Messiah who would redeem us from enslavement to sin. Joseph played very significant role in this process –not often recognized, albeit a subservient role. A message here for all of us might be to ask the Holy Spirit to be involved in our lives more completely. It is appropriate to say that the Holy Spirit that brought Jesus to earth as a human baby is the same Holy Spirit that resurrected Him on the third day after His crucifixion, and who was given to all of us upon Jesus’ ascension (Acts 1:8).

               Matthew 1:22-25 Jesus Is With Us

In verses 22-23, Matthew interrupted his account of Joseph’s vision with the angel of the Lord to stress that the events surrounding Jesus’ birth fulfilled God’s prophecy through Isaiah. Matthew quoted Isaiah 7:14 not as the source of the belief in Jesus’ virgin birth but to support an account already held to be true. Isaiah’s prophecy was fulfilled completely when the virgin Mary bore god’s Son. In Isaiah chapter 9, the power, grace, wisdom and eternal presence was predicted. Here in verse 7, we learn that God gave the Son a name of meaning- Immanuel. For Isaiah’s and Matthew’s non-Jewish readers, the word is translated: “God is with us”. As Immanuel, Jesus is more than a sign of God’s presence: Jesus is God in person. How do we think that is possible? (The “God Head” has three separate entities, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit).)

Our pastor recently (on Sunday night), drew an explanation of what this really means. He drew a big circle that represented the “God Head”. The “Father” is at the head of the circle. Then in a triangle position, he put the “Son” at one point on the circle and the “Holy Spirit” at another point. So we have the “God Head” made up of all three, yet separate. This helps to explain John’s words in Revelation 5:6- “Then I saw a lamb (Jesus)… standing between the throne…” (where in 4:3 John indicates the One seated on the throne was brilliant- but not the lamb- or Jesus until Rev. 5:6). Then in Rev. 4:5, John says he sees the “sevenfold Spirit of God”, which is another name for the Holy Spirit. This helps me to believe that Jesus is with us (Immanuel), the Holy Spirit intercedes for us and is with us always, and God –the Father- puts all together and will come to the new heaven and new earth as described in Rev. 21:3.

Matthew concludes this section by telling us that Joseph married Mary (Jewish formal marriage ceremony) as he was commanded to do. Matthew also makes it clear that Joseph “did not know her intimately until she gave birth to a son”. So it is clear that Joseph and Mary were actually married (formally) before the birth of Jesus but that Mary was a virgin. Joseph named Him Jesus (Yahweh saves) as he had been instructed. So God is a person with a name not a comic force or impersonal power. We can and must know Him personally through faith in Jesus. See Hebrews 11:1 for a great definition of faith. But now we see that God sent His Son for all of us.