Date:   12/19/04

Text:   Isaiah 9:1-7

Title:   Reasons of Hope in a Season of Hope

Theme: The Messiah's attributes form the basis of our Hope.

Introduction:

  By now you may feel pretty good. The orchestra, the choir and the music were great. The Christmas songs certainly lifted our spirits. There is joy and hope in the air. It is as if we have just collectively experienced an emotional high. In another 30 or 40 minutes, we will be heading home. And in a few hours, what is left is the after taste of a positive experience. When Monday comes around, everything will be back to normal. Or in this year's calendar, by the time next Sunday comes around, this high is gone and may have even led to an emotionally down experience.

Yes, the songs we sang, the music we heard do bring us a sense of joy and hope. This is the reason this time of the year is known as the season of hope and joy. However, it is also of paramount importance that we understand the reasons for such a hope.

  This morning I want to take you on a trip back into history. The time was about 700 years before the birth of Jesus Christ. The nation of Israel was externally and internally weak. The glorious days of King David and Solomon were now history. She was facing attacks and threats from neighboring countries and had lost her national pride and dignity. She lived in the midst of wars and rumors of wars. Socially, there was great unrest; with the increasing gap between the poor and rich. The poor, the widows, the orphans and the helpless were mistreated. Culturally they had become pluralistic. Instead of worshipping the one true Creator God, they were also worshipping gods imported from neighboring countries. They had lost the sense of moral rightness. There was the form of religion but lacking content. It was a land covered by darkness and into such a scene, entered the prophet Isaiah and other prophets. Their messages were full of warnings but also of hope.

  This sounds familiar to us, right? We live under the shadow of terrorist threats and wars and rumors of wars. In our affluent society, the poor, the weak and many of the elderly are feeling increasingly helpless. Our culture is pluralistic. There is nothing wrong with being pluralistic and diverse. But in the name of pluralism, we have lost the sense of the moral right and wrong. Everything is ok, even if they contradict each other. Therefore, it behooves us to listen to the message the prophet Isaiah proclaimed to the nation of Israel 2700 years ago and understand what it means to us today. In a nutshell, in this book of Isaiah, Isaiah was telling God's people about the coming of a Messiah, a King. In the passage we just read, it speaks of what will happen to God's people with the coming of this King, the Messiah.

1.   The Messiah comes to bring hope to his people.

  Vs.2, “ The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” With the coming of the king, there is great light upon those who live in darkness. Vs.3, “You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil (end of wars).” It tells us the king's people would rejoice because of harvest; they'd rejoice because God would bring an end to the wars. With the coming of a Messiah, they will see light and rejoice greatly. Isaiah's message to God's people in distress was one of hope.

  However, if Isaiah would stop at vs. 3, it would be like taking the people to a service with good and uplifting music and then take them home. They would go home with an emotional high, telling themselves about the hope to come. Or like the doctor sending his patients home , telling them that they will be ok without giving them any medicine. But Isaiah did more than this. He not only told them about the hope that would come because of the Messiah, he also explained to them why. From verses 4 through 7, there are 3 ‘for's. This gives the reasons for the hope.

II.   The reason for hope is because of the Messiah's liberating work.

  Vs.4, “For the yoke of his burden (suffering as a way of life), and the staff for his shoulder (suffering inflicted by others), the rod of his oppressor (personal hostility experienced), you have broken as on the day of Midian.” This is an imagery of war. The Messiah King would liberate his people from suffering, relieve them from the pain of oppression. Vs.5, “For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.” This is about God's people entering the battlefield after the battle is won. They took part in the victory celebration, burning clothes and instruments that were tainted by blood. It ' s like parents working hard to provide for the children and making ends meet. The children do not have to do anything except to enjoy what is done for them. Or like soldiers fighting in the front line so the citizens can enjoy freedom and safety. The Messiah will come to deliver and liberate his people from burden and suffering.

Isn't this what Jesus Christ, the Messiah , did when he came into the world? Throughout his life, we see a warfare going on between him and the devil, Satan. At times Satan seemed to have the upper hand. When Jesus was on that cross, he bore the sins of his people. If his life ended with death on the cross, then he really was no God, no Messiah; just another human being. But 3 days later he rose from the dead. The scripture tells us that this is his victory over death, victory over his arch enemy, Satan. He fought the battle with Satan and he won.

  Because he won the war, he was able to invite us to join us in his victory. Matthew 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He liberated us from the bondage of sin and offers us his peace. He wants us to come to him so we can be restful.

  Moreover, because of his victory over sin, over Satan, he is able to reconcile us with God; that we can be at peace with God. We are no longer under his wrath, for he had placed his righteousness over us and God considers us as righteous and holy.

  You and I can have hope because, Jesus Christ , the Messiah, has come and enable d us to have peace with God and with ourselves.

III.   The reason for hope is built upon who the Messiah is.

  We have hope because of what the Messiah did to his people. The other reason for hope is built upon the truth of who he is.

  vs.6-7 is probably one of the best known verses in the Bible; especially during this time of the year, “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. 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. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.” The other reason for hope is that a child will be given to God's people. This child is of human parentage, but given by God. No child in the history of Israel is given such titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace. This child is the Messiah, the King that is to come. Let's take a closer look at this.

  Wonderful means the most wise, or the supernatural one. He is the one that can give the most wise advice in life. He provides direction when we are confused. Give instructions so we can distinguish the right from wrong.

Mighty God. It is about his power. When we look at our situations, often we feel so hopeless. We don't see the light at all. It's like an email I received this week. The title is: a really bad day. In it there are several pictures. A car fell into the water. So a tow truck with crane was dispatched to pull it out, but half way up, the truck tilted and ended in water. So both the truck and the car were now in the water. A second tow truck was brought forth. It lifted the car and placed it on its deck. It then began to lift the first truck out of water. Half way through, this second truck also tilted, lost its balance and felt into the water. Now, 1 car and 2 trucks are in the water. Don't you sometimes feel life is like this? It can't be any worse than this. When people tell us, its going to be ok, don't worry, these words can sound so empty. But we need to remember, this Messiah is the mighty God. With man it is impossible, but with God, everything is possible. We say it is going to be ok; not because of our human strength, it is because our God is the mighty God. He can cho o se to change our circumstances, but more often than not, he chose to change us, give us the strength we need to over come those difficult situations we may find ourselves in. As I hear some of you share with me your stories, I am often amazed to see how God worked in our lives, bringing you to where you are today. From a person of bitterness and resentment, changed to a loving and forgiving person. With God, all things are possible. The last sentence in vs.7, “The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”

The first two titles have to do with who this Messiah is: Wonderful counselor, mighty God. The next two titles have to do with the condition he will bring. First, he is the everlasting Father. The biblical understanding of a father is one who loves and cares for his children. The Messiah king is the one who will provide us with what we need. He will provide us with our material needs and emotional needs as well . Very often , we expect our spouses or friends to meet some of our emotional needs. We want them to meet our deep est needs of being cared for and loved. How disappointed we can be when we realize they cannot satisf y such deep yearnings. Only God the Father can completely satisfy us. Not only providing us with what we need, but the father is also the one who disciplines us. He disciplines us so we can be strong, mature and be like him. He is the everlasting father; he can always meet our needs. The Messiah king brings to us the eternal security that we need

  The fourth title: Prince of Peace. The Messiah is a ruler, head of his government. When he rules, there is this total well being. There will be no wars. When he rules in his people's lives, there will be complete personal wellness, including personal fulfillment, freedom from anxiety, goodwill and harmony with others, perfect integrity and rounded, healthy personality.

  The Messiah, the Jesus Christ , who came is the wonderful Counselor, mighty God, everlasting Father and Prince of Peace.

Conclusion:

This past year a family member and friend had both adopted children from China . I am always curious as to what goes on in the child's mind. As they grow in the orphanage, sooner or later they w ill notice that their future destiny depends on one of those visitors. There must be well meaning visitors telling them not to worry, they would be ok. But what really counts is one day, when one couple shows up, pays the fees in cash, and take s him/her home. Hope is guaranteed only when the couple shows up.

Isn't this what Christmas is all about? The long a waited Messiah had come. Or else, all the promise of joy, light and hope will be just empty talks. But with his coming, it is guaranteed. It's like the Chronicles of the Narnia. The moment Aslan landed, hope began to materialize, and winter slowly turned into spring. The Messiah has come and hand picked us. As he takes us with him, we begin to experience all the good in his Kingdom and family. There is light and joy, peace with God, with self and with others. There is direction and instruction in life, as if a light shines in the darkness. And we also look forward to the day when he will come in his full glory, when we will experience full restoration and total wholeness and well being. All these have nothing to do with our merits, for we have none. He gives and we receive. Our hope is not built upon who we are and what we can do. To be honest, there is nothing we can do. However, it has everything to do with who God is and what he does for us.

By now, you probably noticed that this Messiah did not come on a white horse with a sword and checked into the Jerusalem Hilton . Instead he came as an infant child, born in a lowly stable with smelly animals . And you know what, for us to connect to this Messiah who came as an infant child, you and I also need to be like a child. With child-like simple faith, in humility, we must put our hands into his and let him lead us like a shepherd leading his sheep.