Scripture

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. 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. For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire. 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.

Jesus is the Promised King who saves us from the darkness of Satan, Sin, and Death.

Devotional

What is Christmas really all about? Jesus! He is the reason for the season. But what about Jesus? What makes Christmas so special?

When we think of Christmas, we usually think of lowly Jesus swaddled in a manger. A precious babe… the Word of God made flesh (John 1:1, 14). But that precious babe was born a mighty King. A King who long ago was promised to come and save us from our sins.

To see the glory of God’s gift of grace that holy Christmas night, we need to go back, hundreds of years earlier, to see what God had promised in that little bundle of joy.

Isaiah 9 is a prophecy all about Jesus. Isaiah wrote, “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 (Isaiah 9:2-3). Matthew quoted this in His gospel to say Jesus is that Great Light… the Shining Dawn… who came to save those dwelling in a land of deep darkness languishing under the shadow of death (Matthew 4:13-16). When Isaiah wrote it, he was writing against the backdrop of judgment in the coming Assyrian invasion against Israel. And in that judgment, Isaiah looked forward to the peace and salvation that Messiah would one day bring.

He said, “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” (Isaiah 9:2-3). By multiplying the nation Isaiah saw there would no longer a small, faithful remnant of God’s people, but a great multitude of salvation… more than anyone could number… reaching out to all those who call on the name of the Lord to be saved (Revelation 7:9).

And from this salvation would come great joy. The joy of abundant blessing as with the joy at the harvest, and the joy of great victory as with those who divide the spoil after conquering a Great Enemy. In Christ we have the joy of abundant blessing and the joy of great victory over our enemies of sin, Satan, and death.

‌Then Isaiah 9:4-6 gives three reasons for this great joy each starting with the word “For.” “For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian” (v. 4). These are all symbols oppression and being weighed down by some crushing burden. In Christ, our burden and oppression of our enemies of Sin, Satan, and Death, were broken. As on the day of Midian where Gideon delivered Israel in an impossible victory by the power of God, so Christ delivered us by God’s grace and power when it was impossible for us to save ourselves. (cf. Judges 6-7).

Then Isaiah says, “For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire” (v. 5). With the Messiah, the war would be over. In Christ there would be peace… peace with God, peace with one another, and peace among the nations. He is the King of Peace who “makes wars cease to the end of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the chariots with fire” (Psalm 46:9).

And then, finally, Isaiah promised that this great joy and salvation would all come in one, great Savior and Deliverer. A Son who would bring everlasting peace. “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” (v. 6). Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor who alone reveals God and His will for our salvation. He is our Mighty God - our Warrior King and the Son of God incarnate in human flesh who delivers us from sin, Satan, and death. He is the Everlasting Father of the New Covenant. The New and Perfect Adam and father of a new human race who saves us from the sin and condemnation we inherited in the First Adam (Hebrews 8:8-13, 1 Corinthians 15:22, 45-47). And Jesus is the Prince of Peace who delivers us by the power of God and makes peace by the blood of His cross (cf. Colossians 1:19-20). He is the King of Peace who reconciled us once and for all to God and brought us into an Eternal Kingdom of life, blessing, rest, and peace with peace on every side (1 Kings 4:20-25).

And then God promises “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” (v. 7). By God’s own power and zeal Christ’s salvation will reach the ends of the earth and gather in all of His elect (cf. Isaiah 49:6).

On that Christmas night, a Son was born. To us a Son was given. And as His star shown in the sky to mark where this Promised King lay… the people who dwelled in darkness have seen a great light. Those languishing under the shadow of death on them a light has shone.

Outline - Points to Hit in Family Worship

BIG IDEA: Jesus is the promised King who saves us from the darkness of Satan, Sin, and Death.

Isaiah 9:2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
- Christ is the Light of the World who saves us from death and darkness (v. 2, cf. John 8:12).
Isaiah 9:3 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.
- ‌In Christ is the fullness of joy; the joy of abundant blessing (harvest) and the joy of great victory (spoil) (v.3).
Isaiah 9:4–5 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian. For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
- ‌Jesus saves us and delivers us by the power of God when it was impossible to save ourselves and brings an end to our war with Sin, Satan, and Death (as on the day of Midian)(v. 4-5).
Isaiah 9:6 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.
- Jesus is:
  - ‌Wonderful Counselor - Highlight how Jesus is the only way to know God and Salvation
  - ‌Mighty God - Highlight how Jesus is a mighty warrior who delivers us from all our enemies
  - ‌Everlasting Father - Talk about the Promises of the New Covenant
    - ‌New hearts that Love God and Love His Law (New Birth/Spiritual Life)
    - ‌I will be their God and they will be my people
    - ‌They will all know me
    - ‌I will be merciful toward their iniquities and remember their sins no more
  - ‌Prince of Peace - Highlight how we have reconciliation with God and how the Gospel brings peace and wholeness that saves us from the curse and the Fall
‌The zeal of God’s grace to give His Son so that we might have Eternal Life (John 3:16)

Hymn

Lyrics - Joy to the World by Citizens

Verse 1

Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King
Let every heart prepare Him room
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and nature sing
And Heaven and Heaven and nature sing

Verse 2

Joy to the world the Savior reigns
Let men their songs employ
While fields and floods
Rocks hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat the sounding joy
Repeat repeat the sounding joy

Verse 3

He rules the world with truth and grace
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness
And wonders of His love
And wonders of His love
And wonders wonders of His love

Refrain

Glory to God in the Highest
Let Heaven and nature sing
Glory to God in the Highest
Repeat the sounding joy
Glory to God in the Highest
Repeat the sounding joy
Glory to God in the Highest