“Messiah – the Revealing of God”

Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-7

Imagine, for just a moment, what our impression of God would be if Jesus had never come to earth. Would we know that he is a God of peace and love? Would we know just how much he wants us to live with him in eternity? Would we ever understand the difference between salvation by faith, and perfection from the Law? Or would our God be just another option in faith – mixed in with all of the other gods that earth offers up to us. And whether we chose him or another, would it make any difference?

If the truth be known, our understanding of the difference would be so slight that we could never make an intelligent decision regarding the teachings we would follow, if, indeed, we ever needed to choose! The holy incarnation of Jesus made all the difference for the lives of the entirety of humanity.

Read Isaiah 9:1-3

The prophet Isaiah presents many of the prophecies we have regarding Jesus, and in this passage, he begins with the promise that Messiah, one day, will be revealed to the world. But even more than the introduction of the Anointed One of God, it will actually be God who will be revealed through this One who will come.

We are told that this One will bring relief to all who are struggling, that “gloom” will be lifted from their lives. In Isaiah 14:1-4, we read that when relief comes to our lives, that oppression won’t simply be blocked – the one who is causing the oppression will be taken out of the situation.
This won’t just be our worldly oppression, but will be the oppressor who is diligently working to destroy our eternal lives. Jesus Messiah will defeat the Satan Oppressor.

We also read that Jehovah God had once been seen only as one who humbled others, the one who would be the power behind the defeat of Israel’s enemies. But the truth is that when Messiah comes, he will bring glory and honor to the humblest of Israel. The Galilee region of Israel was separated from the rest of the nation by Samaria – the land of half-breed sinners. Distance and separation can cause distrust and conflict, and this division was no different.
The Galilee was also seen as the home of a people with low intelligence. As Jesus began calling his disciples, many would come from this region, and in Acts 2:5-12, where we read of the blessings of Pentecost, as the crowd hears the disciples speaking in other tongues, they question whether these “Galileans” were even capable of learning these other languages! Of course, the words weren’t through the ability of the speakers – it was the power of the Holy Spirit at work.
And this “honor” wouldn’t be limited to the region of Galilee – it will cross “the sea” - the Sea of Galilee, and will move beyond the Jordan – the division between Israel and the Gentile world. The humblest of all the earth, not just those of Israel, would be honored by Messiah!

The prophet also tells us that our darkness will be overcome by the light of God. As we read a little further, we discover that this reference to darkness is a symbol of death. Messiah, the Light of God, will bring a new dawn to the dark lives of this world. He will reveal the power and love of God through that glorious Light. Death will be overthrown by the Light, and the Lord God will be revealed through the Light and Life that Messiah will bring.

This nation of God will grow, and many others will be welcomed into the family of God, simply by faith in Jesus Christ and through the blessing of Abraham (Galatians 3:7-9). This enlarged, and unexpected, increase in the family of God will be united through Messiah, and the joy of this new nation will exceed all bounds. No longer will there be division and distrust in the family, for Messiah will come to reveal the love and joy and unity of our Almighty God.

Read Isaiah 9:4-5

These two verses speak of God’s peace. No more oppression, no more slavery, no more conflict, no more persecution. Of course, while Messiah’s first coming has promised this, the fullness of his word would have to wait until his second coming. Israel knew slavery, they knew all about oppression, they knew the hatred of other nations, and if Messiah could end all of this conflict in their lives, then he must truly be worth of their praise.

But obedience was difficult, and the drawn out timing of the fulfillment of God’s promise brought doubts and concerns into the hearts of the people, and it made trust in Messiah nearly impossible. Many would fall away, but the door would be opened to others who would believe and trust (Matthew 21:33-46). Since Messiah had yet to enter the lives of Israel, they trusted more and more in Law, and less and less in faith. The way of Messiah, though, is not so much in all that we do, but far more in the way of God, in the way of faith for all who believe. Messiah, when he is revealed, will be seen as the way of faith.

Read Isaiah 9:6-7

This is who Messiah will be for the nations – plural! He will be born as a child in the way of earth. He will be a son – Son of God and Son of Man. He will have complete authority over both heaven and earth. He will have ultimate and complete wisdom because he will not only be the Anointed One of God, he will be God. He will come, not as a warrior against the sinners of earth, but as the Peace of God for all who will come to him.

His authority will be infinite, and his peace will be available for everyone - regardless of how many will come to his way, there will always be plenty for all. His throne of grace will exist from before time began, and until the day when time will be no more. He will bring justice, hope, righteousness, mercy, and overwhelming love to the people of his Kingdom. And it is all made possible by the passion of our Good and Gracious God – the amazing love that he has always had for his created order.

Faith and trust in Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, is the only way we will ever experience the true God of eternity. Every other way is woefully inadequate and embarrassingly incomplete. The life and teaching of Messiah, and only Messiah, reveals the truth of our Triune God.

May that truth live within each and every one of us this very day.