This is by Justin Hanneken, serving with Christ Community Church in Fort Myers, FL, as Associate Pastor, but also with Ends of the Earth Cycling, in full-time missions.
As we enter into this holiday season, this morning I’d like for us to prepare our hearts for the celebration of our Lord Jesus Christ’ birth and focus on the hope that we have in Him. The first week of advent puts a spotlight on hope. Christmas is often referred to as the season of hope. Whether it’s hope for respite and a warm fire during the long, winter nights, or hope for the perfect Christmas present, or hope for a better life just beyond the horizon, the idea of hope often shines brightest when the days are darkest. We went through some health struggles with our daughter as a newborn, and what stood out to me the most was the HOPE God gave us through HIS people showing up to pray for her.
We can have hope because Jesus is the Light of the World.
The context of this passage comes on the heels of Ch. 8 of Isaiah ending in the dark times of war, anarchy and spiritual confusion consuming Israel and Judah. The Lord gives Isaiah a vision of what is beyond the darkness, the light that is coming. In this passage, Isaiah, (700 years before Jesus) sees a King who would restore justice, and the knowledge of God. Who is this King? The King of Glory, the King of kings, Jesus Christ – the Son of God.
Let’s look at our passage once again and break it down a few verses at a time: V.1 Zebulun and Naphtali are tribal territories in northern Israel. These are some of the first lands to fall, but they will also be those who would see a great light. These 2 lands are part of the region called Galilee, which was predominantly Gentile after Assyria deported the Israelites.
Now when Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, He departed to Galilee. And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles: The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, And upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death Light has dawned.”
From that time Jesus began to preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Matthew 4:12-17
Jesus could have chosen any area to go and begin His public ministry. As the Light of the World, He goes with His message of HOPE thru repentance and belief in His Name to the very places that Isaiah mentions in 9:1. And He preaches His message to the Gentiles, not just the lost sheep of Israel for whom He came.
Jesus’ light shined brightest in the dark.
Perhaps some of you have heard this before, but the term “daybreak” means the point at which light shines the brightest, usually when it’s darkest. The first appearance of light is a remarkable thing. I don’t know how many of you have ever sat around a campfire on a dark evening, but it’s captivating. Something about it draws people in. Isaiah 9:2 says the people had walked in darkness. How long had they been in darkness? A mighty long time – even since their inception as a nation – they were in a spiritual darkness. They were without hope. The oppression of the Jewish people can be traced back for centuries. The oppression from their Assyrian enemies was overwhelming.
Isaiah 9:3-5 says that when Jesus came, the Jews expected their Messiah to be the Promised King. They wanted Him to liberate their nation from the Romans the same way the Jews wanted a ruler to liberate them in the time of Isaiah. In the first century, it was expected that a Messiah would re-establish an earthly kingdom in Israel, and rule & reign on the throne of David. Certain Jews were looking for a Warrior Prince, not One who would be meek and lowly in heart. This is the juxtaposition here – of expectations of worldly HOPE, vs the reality of an eternal hope. The difference between this world’s idea of hope and a believer’s is that our hope is truly promised. It is a secure assurance, a deposit with a guarantee. God has not failed us in the past and we have no reason to think He will. This is the message the author of Hebrews wanted their readers to get in 11:1-3. Faith is hope turned into action.
The active trust in what is coming, developed in a way that leads to a change in a person’s behavior/attitude as a result. Hope changes us. No longer are we destitute, but even in this weary and parched land, we can live as those who have everything, because we unwaveringly trust that we do have it all – in Jesus. Because of what God has done, we can stake our tent on what God will do. We are secure in His promises and can now look forward and hope – not for things that we want to happen, but don’t really know if it will, but anticipate the arrival of victory, living on the knowledge that His return is imminent.
Think about it like this – Jesus did not meet the Jews’ expectations, however He began to enlarge the nation – as Isaiah 9:3 said He would do – in fact, He did this by grafting in the Gentiles, previously aliens to the commonwealth of Israel. He became the PEACE and HOPE for the Jews and for us! We are the benefactors of His obedience to God – have you ever thought about that? See how Paul puts it in Ephesians 2:11-22. These verses tie in so succinctly with our discussion about Isaiah 9:1-7. Jesus Christ is the Light of the World and we can have peace with God because of what He did for us. We can have HOPE because He made us fellow citizens in the household of God, He gave us His Spirit, the Promised One, the seal for our day of redemption. And how did He accomplish all of this? 700 years after Isaiah saw the vision:
In the fullness of time, God sent forth His only Son.
A Son would be given – Luke 1:26-35. Just like in Galatians 4:4, God’s timing was perfect. No prophetic voice, no Divine revelation for 400 years, and in the perfect will of God, He sent His Son. And listen to the 5 Names given to Him, 5 attributes about His character – prophesied about in Is. 9:6:
Wonderful – isn’t He wonderful? His ways are far too great for us to comprehend – Isaiah 55:8-9 says
Counselor (one who plans, purposes and carries out a plan of action with wisdom)
Mighty God
Everlasting Father – how many of you know He’s a good Father, amen?
Prince of Peace (shalom – wholeness and well-being in every area and in all aspects of life – health, harmony between people, prosperity, commitment, and so on. Peace is not just the absence of war.)
The rule and reign of Jesus is eternal.
Isaiah 9:7 – Of the increase of His Government. Think about that for a second. Whether it’s the Israelites oppressed in Isaiah’s time by Assyria, or the Jews in the 1st century oppressed by Rome – His Government, His Rule, His Reign is 100% Righteous, 100% good and 100% glorious. He doesn’t have an off-day. He doesn’t make poor decisions that He’ll regret later. He doesn’t grow tired or weary. He is always in the zenith of His glory all the time and He always does what is right. And then it says, His peace – will have NO end. If you think about the idea of peace – the OT Hebrew word was Shalom. Isaiah 26:3 is a special promise for those who make the Lord their peace. “Shalom Shalom,” the Scripture says – for him whose mind is fixed on YHWH.
I don’t have to tell you how much the world lacks true peace and how much they are searching for it. Our Prince of Peace, Jesus, is the place where we find true and everlasting peace. Eternal peace. And His Kingdom will have no end. The rest of the verse speaks to the very things the Israelites longed for – His judgment and justice, and God is zealous to do what He plans to do! How might we respond?
Takeaway #1 – Put your hope in Jesus alone.
Reject every counterfeit hope this world has to offer. Don’t put your hope in politics or politicians. Don’t put your hope in militarized conquests. Don’t put your hope in stocks or bonds, things that moth & rust will destroy. Don’t put your hope in pastors or famous Christian preachers. Don’t put your hope in your abilities, talents, or gifts. Purpose today to put all of your hope in the only One who will never let you down, the only One who will never fail you. Put your Hope in Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith who for the joy set before Him, endured the cross, bore its shame and rose victorious over sin, death and the grave. Put ALL your HOPE in the One who is seated at the right hand of the Father, who will come again to judge the living and the dead and His Kingdom will have no end.
Takeaway #2 – Let His Light shine through you, especially in dark places.
We serve a missional God, amen? We serve a God who’s heart is for the broken, the disenfranchised, the down and out. We serve a God whose heart is for nations! We serve a God whose heart is for Lake Wales, FL. How will you be His Light this Christmas season? In a world overwhelmed with darkness, hear afresh the mandate Jesus gave to us: Matthew 5:14-16
“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.
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