The Birth That Changed The World
Introduction
We are now hearing more people giving their public opinions about what they think of the Christmas Season. They are saying that we should not include “Christ” in this Christmas Season. They are letting their opinions be known by saying that “Christmas Carols”; and the story of Christ is offensive. What I would like to do for the next few moments Is Not debate their feelings about Christmas. I would like to discuss one fact about Christmas. Let’s think for a few moments about the One who was Born 2000 years ago, and take a closer look at this Birth that changed the world. There is great discussion about this Child that we are told that was born around this time of the year.
Muslims, for example, believe that Jesus was born of a virgin just like Christians do. But they see Him as a great prophet, and call him “Isa Ibn Maryam”; or “Jesus the son of Mary, a great man but nothing more than a prophet.”
Many Jewish people now see Jesus as “a great teacher, and a political performer, but nothing more.”
Hindus have come to revere Jesus as a self-realized saint who reached the highest level of "God- consciousness."
Buddhists see Him as a Bodhisattva, which is a perfectly enlightened being, full of compassion who helps other people. But none of these world religions see Him as Christians see Him.
So the question still remains; What Child Is This? Who Was This Baby That Was Born? 700 years ago before Jesus Christ was born, a Prophet of God explained Christmas before anyone had even experienced Christmas.
Seven Hundred years before that cradled rocked; before the stars shone; before the Wise men gave their gifts; before the Angels sung their song - Isaiah dipped his prophetic pen into inspired ink and wrote what has become the centerpiece and cornerstone of Christmas Prophecy. Walking in the past - looking to the future - and giving good news for the present, Isaiah wrote about the greatest single event in all of human history; the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah tells us, while under the leadership of the Holy Spirit that no one should misunderstand from this moment forward “Who” this Child was. I would like to take a closer look through the eyes of Isaiah and learn something about the Birth that changed the world.
I. There Is Something Special About This Child’s Nature
Look at the first part of this verse: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given.” We are given firsthand 3 tremendous truths about this child.
A. This Child Was Gentle
Isaiah said “For unto us a child is born.” This speaks of the Humanity of Jesus. Jesus was born the Son of Man. Jesus was born of an earthly mother; put on human flesh, and lived 33 years on earth as a human being.
Let me tell you what this means. Jesus walked like a man - Jesus talked like a man - Jesus thought like a man - Jesus had feelings like a man - Jesus ate like a man - Jesus had emotions like a man - Jesus hurt like a man - Jesus was tempted like a man - Jesus hungered like a man - Jesus thirsted like a man - Jesus got tired like a man - Jesus suffered like a man - Jesus died like a man - Jesus was buried like a man.
When Jesus was born in the flesh, it revealed His gentleness. You see, when He put on human flesh, He knew from that moment on what you and I would feel and go through.
Every feeling that you could ever have, He had. Every thing that you could ever face, He faced.
This is what the writer of Hebrews said in {Hebrews 4:15}- “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, Yet Without Sin.”
(1) Jesus could reach out and touch a [child] because He was a child.
(2)- Jesus could relate to the [poor] because He did not have His own earthly home.
(3)- Jesus could reach out and help those who felt [lonely] because so many times He was left alone because so many turned their backs on Him.
(4)- Jesus could reach out to those who were devastated by death because death had taken someone He loved, who was Lazarus.
This Child that was born on Christmas was gentle. He could say with those that He came in contact with; “I know how you feel.” {This Child Was Gentle!}
B. This Child Was God
Isaiah said, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son Is Given.” The phrase “a child is born” speaks of the Humanity of Jesus. The phrase “A Son Is Given” speaks of the Deity Of Jesus.
As a Child He is the Son of Man; As a Son He is the Son of God.
As a Child He helps us to understand His earthly beginning; As a Son He helps us to understand His Eternal being.
As a Child this tells us that He was the Babe of Bethlehem; As a Son this tells us He was the God of Glory.
As a child He was born to live with us; as a Son He was given to die for us.
Yes, Jesus was born of an earthly mother, but He was given by a Heavenly Father. Jesus has Royal Blood; the blood of His Heavenly Father flowing through His veins. {Isaiah 7:14}- “Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel.”
One Bible teacher once said; "The great mystery of the manger is that God could translate deity into humanity, without discarding the deity or distorting the humanity."
There are those that try to bring doubt about the fact that Jesus was born of a virgin. They believe that it is impossible.
There was a pastor I heard about who was preaching on Jesus and His virgin birth. A man came up to him after the message was over and said, "I don't believe that story. If an unwed mother were to come to you and tell you a story like Mary said, that that which was conceived in her was conceived by the Holy Spirit, would you believe her?"
This wise preacher said, "Yes, I would believe her if she had a son and the angels sang at his birth; if it was foretold thousands of years before it happened; if a star stood over his birthplace in fulfillment of prophecy; if her son had power over the wind, and the waves, and disease, I would believe it. If he were crucified and raised again from the dead, I would believe it; if he ascended from the earth I would believe it; if his disciples through the centuries were numbered by the millions, yes, I would believe it." The man looked at the Pastor and said; "So would I, and so I do."
May I remind you of the facts about the Lord Jesus.
Jesus was so human that He could be born in a stable to the Virgin Mary - but He is so divine that angels came to announce His birth.
Jesus was so human that He could get tired and lay down in a boat while crossing the Sea of Galilee - but He is so divine that He could speak to a storm and hush the winds.
Jesus was so human that He could go up into a mountain and pray all night - but He is so divine that He was the One through whom God created the mountains.
Jesus was so human He could weep at the grave of Lazarus - but He is so divine He could raise Lazarus from the dead.
Jesus was so human He could die on a cross - but He is so divine He could come back to life and conquer death never to die again.
This Child Was Gentle - But This Child Was God!
C. This Child Was A Gift
Before we move on in our study, I must draw your attention to back to the phrases; “”unto us a Son is given.” As a child (the Son of Man) Jesus was born, but as the Son of God Jesus was given.
Now we are not told that the Son was born; we are told the Son was given.
*That's exactly what the greatest verse in the Bible says in John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."
God's Christmas gift to the world was a Person of Deity wrapped up in the package of humanity. This little baby was not only God, He was a gift.
I want you to remember this. God has given you two things He did not have to give you.
(1)- He has given you life; He didn't have to create you.
(2)- He has given you a Lord that can give you eternal life.
Years ago a wealthy English family was entertaining some friends at their estate. As the children swam, one of them got into the deep water and was drowning. The gardener heard the other children screaming and jumped in the water and saved that child. That youngster's name was Winston Churchill.
Deeply grateful to the gardener, the parents asked him how they could ever repay him. He hesitated, but then he said, "I wish my son could go to college some day and be a doctor." Churchill's parents said, "He will, because we will pay his way."
Many years later when Winston Churchill was the Prime Minister of England, he became ill with pneumonia. The best physician that could be found was called to the bedside of this great leader. His name was Sir Alexander Fleming, the developer of penicillin, and the son of that gardener who had long ago saved Winston Churchill when he was drowning. Winston Churchill later said, "Rarely has one owed his life twice to the same person."
May I say that we owe our physical life to God the Father who created us. And we owe our chance for eternal life to God the Son who died for us.
II. There Is Something Supernatural About This Child’s Name
Notice what Isaiah said, “and His Name Shall Be Called.” Now, Isaiah didn’t say “And His ‘Names’ shall be called…” Isaiah said “His Name shall be called.”
Let me give you something that the Holy Spirit revealed to me as I was studying this verse. A Single Name Cannot Describe Him! May I remind you that God first revealed Himself as “God” and then continued to give Himself other names. In God's case, it was not because there were many gods. It is simply because it was impossible to reveal Himself in one single name.
*For example, in Genesis 1:1 He revealed Himself as "God."
Herbert Lockyer said that “This Name is God's signature to the book holy men would write under His inspiration”
The name speaks of “The Might Of God”. In the beginning He revealed Himself as “a God of might” and then demonstrated His might in the creation of the heaven and earth.
Although the name "God" is very informative and inspiring, this Name says nothing about Him being a God of Love, Grace, Mercy, Justice, and Patience. Our God is so Great and so Glorious that it is impossible to reveal Him in a single name.
A single Name cannot describe Him!
Several Names Cannot Define Him! You can list the Name of God such as…
"Elohim" - The Mighty One "El" - The Strong One "Elah" - The Adorable One "El Elyon" - God Most High
"El Olam" - The God of eternity
"El Shaddai" - The All-Sufficient One
"Adon-Adonai" - Jehovah our Ruler
"Jah" - The Independent One
"Jehovah" - The Eternal, Ever-loving One
“Jehovah-Elohim" - The Majestic Omnipotent One
"Jehovah-Jireh" - The One who will provide
"Jehovah-Rophi" - The Lord our Physician
"Jehovah-Nissi" - The Lord our Banner
"Jehovah-Shalom" - The Lord our Peace
"Jehovah-Rohi” - The Lord is our Shepherd
"Jehovah-Tsidkenu” - The Lord our Righteousness
You can list all the names of God if you want to, yet you still have not fully defined who He really is. You can take the alphabet and go through every letter, listing and thinking about the names of God. But you still will never be able to scratch the surface of His Greatness and Glory.
Isaiah said that this Child has a Name. We know Him as Jesus; Lord, Master, Savior, Christ. He has many titles; King of Kings; The Lion Of The Tribe Of Judah; The Rose Of Sharon; The Bright And Morning Star!
Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Wonderful” because He is Wonderful. Isaiah said that you can call this Child a “Counselor” because He is the One that can guide you. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Mighty God” because there is nothing this Child cannot do. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Everlasting Father” because He is the only One who has no beginning and no ending. Isaiah said that you can call this Child “Prince Of Peace” because He comes to you to give you peace.
Let’s look briefly at this Name given to this Child at Christmas and see how this Child can gladden the grieving, heal the hurting and save the sinning.
A. To The Hindered - He Is The Amazing God
He is called “Wonderful”. It is a name that speaks of One who is out of the ordinary. It speaks of God as being unique and different. He is the Marvelous One, the Astonishing One.
When Moses stood before Pharaoh he said in {Exodus 8:10} "And he said, Tomorrow. And he said, Be it according to thy word: that thou mayest know that there is none like unto the Lord our God."
If you feel that you are bored with your life, then look to the Lord Jesus Christ. There is no one like Him; there is none besides Him. The Lord puts the “Wonder of it all” back into your life.
Someone asked Gypsy Smith why he seemed so happy all the time being a Christian. “I’ve never lost the wonder of it all.”
B. To The Helpless - He Is The Approachable God
He is called “Counselor”. This Name speaks of One who can give you guidance and direction. Isaiah 29:29, “This also cometh forth from the Lord of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working.” A counselor is someone you can turn to for help and advice. Our Lord is the Supreme Counselor. He will guide you as you read His Word. He will speak to you when you are in need of His leadership. You can obtain advice; you can listen to opinions. But there is only one true Counselor that will help you through this day so you can face tomorrow.
Psalms 16:7, “I will bless the Lord, who hath given me counsel.”
C. To The Hopeless - He Is The Almighty God
He is called “The Mighty God.” Now, as Counselor, the Lord can tell you what is right. As the Mighty God - He can empower you to do what is right.
God Is Mighty In His Presence
God Is Mighty In His Provision
God Is Mighty In His Power
God Is Mighty In His Perception
God Is Mighty In His Promises
God Is Mighty In His Protection
As long as there is God - there is hope. As long as there is God - there is help. As long as there is God there is - healing. There is nothing impossible with God. For the hopeless He is the Mighty God.
Jeremiah declared in Jeremiah 32:17, "Ah Lord God! behold, Thou hast made the heaven and the earth by Thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for Thee."
God Himself responded in Jeremiah 32:27, "Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for Me?"
D. To The Hurting - He Is The Affectionate God
He is the “Everlasting Father”. He is the One from eternity past that has entered into a relationship with man. He is not some distant God that man cannot know - He is a Father that loves and cares for His own.
We read in Psalm 68:5, "A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation."
We read in Psalm 103:13, "Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him."
He Is Always Where You Need Him To Be When You Need Him The Most!
E. To The Heartbroken - He Is The Assuring God
He is called “The Prince Of Peace.” He is the One who will fill your life with peace and assurance. The Prince of Peace will not leave you comfortless; He will not leave you all by yourself; He will come to you; He will help you; He will comfort you. He will love on you.
I want you to know that the Peace that Jesus gives to you may not keep you out of a storm, but it will help you stay calm in the midst of the storm that you are going through.
When Ronald Reagan was first elected Governor of California, it was in the year 1968. He had to face big decisions on abortion, the death penalty, taxes, budget deficits, and all the other things that faced the governor at that time. Michael Deaver said that one afternoon he pushed open the door to his office in time to see him take out a small bottle and place it to his lips and take a pair of quick gulps. Ronald Reagan noticed him and held the bottle up near his face so he could see it. It wasn't booze, but it was a drug for upset stomachs. He said, "My stomach has been killing me and I have to drink this several times a day."
A few months went by and Michael Deaver was talking to Reagan and said, "Governor, your stomach must be better, I haven't seen that little bottle around lately." Reagan looked at him and said, "Mike, when things were getting worse a few months ago I kept looking over my shoulder for answers." Shaking his head he said, "Where I should have been looking was up. That's when I found peace for my stomach."
We are told in Psalm 4:8, "I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety."
Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in Perfect Peace whose mind is stayed on Thee, because he trusteth in Thee.”
I want you to understand something about that little baby born in that manger 2,000 years ago. The world needs Him. Those that are hindered need Him. Those that are hurting need Him. Those that are hopeless need Him. Those that are helpless need Him. Those that are heartbroken need Him.
By His Name and by His Nature God wants us to know Him and know what He can be to us.
By His Name and by His Nature He makes Himself known and makes known what He can do for us.
III. There Is Something Supreme About This Child’s Nobility
Look at 9:6,7, “and the government shall be upon His shoulder… Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David and upon His kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of the Lord of host will perform this.”
A. One Day The Lord Will Return To This Earth
B. One Day The Lord Will Reign Upon This Earth
Today His kingdom is eternal; it is in the hearts of His people. One day it will be external on the throne of this universe for all to see.
The prophet Zechariah declared {Zechariah 14:9}- “And the Lord shall be king over all the earth: in that day shall there be one Lord, and His name one.”
One of these days this little child who came to a cradle, will come to a Crown.
This little child that was laid in a manger, will sit on a Throne.
This little child that was given gifts by the wise men, will be given the universe by His Heavenly Father.
That’s why we are told in {9:7}- “Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end.” Let me tell you something about this little baby. When He comes again (1)- He won't be voted into office, and (2)- He can't be voted out of office. He won't be coming to take sides He will be coming to take over.
The Birth that changed the world in His day will one day come back and set the world in order. Years ago there was a very wealthy man who, with his devoted young son, shared a passion for collecting art. They traveled together around the world, adding only the finest art treasures to their collection. Priceless works of Picasso, Van Gogh, Monet, and many others decorated the walls of his home. During the wintertime, his son was called to serve his country. After a few short weeks, his father received a telegram that his son had been missing in action. He feared that he would never see his son again. His fears were confirmed; his son had died while rushing a fellow soldier to a medic.
The Christmas holidays were very lonely for the father. His son would no longer visit his house again. On Christmas morning, a young man knocked on his door with a large package in his hands. He introduced himself as the young man that his son had rescued. In the large package was a picture of the father’s son. No one except the father would ever think that this picture would be a work of a genius. The father hung the picture over the fireplace; pushing aside the thousands of dollars worth of art. The painting would never be removed again as long as he was alive.
The father became more intense about the picture of his son when dozens of soldiers sent word that his son had helped them while they were wounded. They knew this father’s son as a man with a caring heart.
The following Spring the father became ill and passed away. The thousands of dollars’ worth of art would be sold; many art collectors would show up for an auction. There was one catch to the selling of all the paintings. The painting of his son had to be sold first. Many who showed up for the auctioning of the art collection was angry because they had to sit there while the painting of the father’s son was sold first.
The bidding begin at $10.00. Finally, a man said that he would take the painting for $10.00. The auctioneer’s gavel fell; cheers went up, but the auctioneer then took his gavel and walked away. The others were stunned. They shouted; “On with the other treasures. We want to buy the other paintings.” The Auctioneer said; “The bidding is over. Let me explain. According to the father - Whoever Takes The Son, Gets It All!
May I ask you a question. What is so offensive about a Child, the Christ child, coming down from the Heavenly Father, full of Grace and Mercy, and reaching out to every one of us in love?
What is so offensive about a Child, the Christ child, coming to this earth; living among men; then taking their sins to a cruel cross that we deserved; dying for those sins; going to a grave; but conquering that grave - now living today, preparing a home for His children making intercession for you and me.
What child is this? That child is God's gift given to you by special delivery, wrapped up in love, Son of Man, Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. This is the Birth that changed the world. When you receive God’s Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, you will have everything.