Summary of my sermon, based on Isaiah 9:1-7. Preached at Greenhills Christian Fellowship Toronto on December 3, 2023.
A little over a decade ago, Coca-Cola brought us the “Where will Happiness Strike Next” campaign. You might remember those videos—the “Happiness Machines” in North America and Europe dispensing joy in the form of Coke bottles and even surprising students with pizza and flowers. Meanwhile, in the Philippines, a different tale unfolded, more heartwarming and story-like—a Christmas-themed video.
This narrative followed three Overseas Filipino Workers yearning to return home after years away. Lonie and Joey, caregivers in distant lands, watched their own children grow while they cared for others. Jo Mari, a medical technologist, sent money home instead of visiting as his father fell ill. The video culminated in their reunion with family for Christmas, a powerful portrayal of anticipation and homecoming.
If you’ve seen the video, you know its emotional impact, stirring sentiments of family, joy, and, of course, the festive lechon. Yet, amidst these touching themes, one often overlooked element stands out to me—the theme of “Anticipation.”
Imagine the emotions surging within Jo Mari, Lonie, and Joey as they readied to reunite with their families after years apart. Consider the tension building in their hearts during the long journey home. This anticipation mirrors the first part of the Christmas season, the part we’re in right now—Advent.
Advent, often overshadowed by the exuberance of Christmas, embodies the anticipation of Jesus’ arrival. While comprehending this might challenge us, living in the aftermath of the Messiah’s coming, pondering the anticipation preceding his birth remains crucial. For we, too, await a second Advent—the return of Jesus.
Reflecting on the initial sermon in this series, we explored the circumstances necessitating the Messiah’s arrival—a response to rebellion, a world operating as if devoid of God. Today, we delve into God’s promises to Israel that cultivated anticipation for a Savior.
One such powerful prophecy is found in Isaiah 9:6-7: “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….” This promise of a child bearing significant names—Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—foretells his reign, establishing justice and righteousness forever.
Another verse, Isaiah 7:14, prophesies the virgin birth, announcing the coming of Immanuel, meaning “God with us.” This divine intention of God dwelling among his people contrasts starkly with prevalent beliefs. Society often portrays God atop a mountain, and religions as paths leading to him. But Christianity disrupts this notion, asserting that God descends to us.
Jesus embodies this descent—the divine humbling himself to human form, as Philippians 2:6–7 illustrates. He didn’t cling to his divine privilege but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, born among us.
Immanuel—God with us—shouldn’t strike ancient Israelites as peculiar, considering God’s previous dwelling among them through the Tabernacle and the Temple. However, this commonplace idea may have hindered some from recognizing Jesus as the awaited Messiah.
The objections to applying Isaiah 9:6-7 to Jesus stem from claims that the prophecy was fulfilled in historical events involving King Hezekiah. Yet, scrutinizing the prophecy’s description of the child’s attributes points to a divine being.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace—these names evoke a deity’s characteristics, reflecting Jesus’ divine nature. Each name holds significance—Wonderful Counselor, not just an advisor but a miracle-working God; Mighty God, self-explanatory in its divinity; Everlasting Father, mirroring God’s care and reflecting the Father; and Prince of Peace, promising the perfect peace Jesus brings with God.
This everlasting kingdom, as Isaiah 9:7 elaborates, emphasizes the unending reign of justice and righteousness brought forth by the zeal of the Lord. It’s not our doing but the triumph of God’s grace that guarantees our salvation.
Philippians 2:8–9 beautifully summarizes this, acknowledging Jesus’ humble obedience, leading to exaltation.
So, as we navigate this Advent season, let’s not merely revel in the joy of Jesus’ birth during Christmas. Let’s embrace the anticipation, remembering not just his first coming but also anticipating his glorious return—a second Advent. In this anticipation, we find hope, knowing that God’s zeal ensures the triumph of His grace.
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