Here's a statement for you. Properly understood, there is
more about the Lord Jesus Christ in the Old Testament than there
is in the New Testament. Properly understood, The Lord
Jesus Christ is in every book of the Old Testament, in every
prophecy of the Old Testament, in every type, in every allegory,
in every symbol. He is the object of worship. He is the theme of poetry. He is the context in which the
march of history must be understood. and he is the subject of all
wisdom and truth. Believers in the Old Testament,
in the Old Testament time, Old Testament believers, if you like,
certainly knew and trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ. They knew
him by name. although the names were perhaps
different to the ones that we most often use of him. They knew him by the wonderful
attributes of his character. They knew him by his achievements
and his accomplishments. And they knew him by his glorious
reputation. Right now, we're getting ready
for the Christmas season and the celebrations that will take
place in our society, in our world, and in our own homes as
well. And right now, I am enjoying
watching the excitement of anticipation for Christmas in the minds of
my grandchildren. They are eager and they're excited
about what is going to happen and what they might benefit from
it. But I have no doubt that the
Old Testament saints were just as excited in anticipating the
coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world as we see the
anticipation for Christmas in the hearts and minds of these
youngsters. Sure, they had different names
for the Lord, but I am certain that the Old Testament Church
knew much more, both in a general overview and in specific detail,
concerning the coming Christ than we give them credit for
today. And that knowledge was not only
within the confines of the Old Testament believers, or even
more generally in Old Testament Israel, but it also reached the
nation's roundabout. Those wise men that came from
the East seeking the child, the king that had been born, they
weren't Jews, they weren't from Israel, they had come from afar. They had come from a foreign
country because there was an understanding and an expectation
that a messiah, a king, would be born. And I'm not saying,
of course, that they had the fullness of understanding because
it was an opening revelation and we see that, we know that,
we're told that in Hebrews, that God has in these last days spoken
unto us by his Son, Jesus Christ. The coming of the Lord Jesus
Christ and the fulfilment of the prophecy was of greater insight
and depth than the giving of the prophecy, certainly. But
that understanding was present and it was sufficient for spiritual
men and women to see Christ and to trust God's grace for righteousness
and for justification. Isaiah is a good example of that. He provides incredibly clear
accounts of the Lord's birth in chapter nine and of his death
in chapter 53. And throughout that prophecy,
we see Isaiah alluding to and touching upon and dwelling upon
wonderful things concerning the coming Christ. And I mention
Isaiah because it's to him that we are going to be turning today. We've taken a little break away
from Mark for a week or two perhaps and we're going to be thinking
today about the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ into the world. The verses that we have before
us are Isaiah chapter 9 and verses 6 and 7. I'm just going to read
the two verses and give this sermon the title from that second
verse, from verse 7, The Zeal of the Lord. So look at Isaiah
chapter 9 and verse 6 and 7 with me please. For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given, and the government shall be upon his
shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor,
the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. 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 hosts will perform this. Amen. May the Lord bless to us
this reading from his word. There is no doubt that this passage
is messianic and it speaks of the Lord Jesus Christ. Angels,
apostles, Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist, all applied
to the saviour these words and drew direct lines between these
verses and the person and work of the Lord Jesus. The Holy Spirit
tells the church in the Old Testament by the prophet Isaiah that a
child will be given, that a son will be given. There will be
a child born, there will be a son given. And that that child and
that son would be given unto us. That is the church. There is a church in the Old
Testament. There was a church in the wilderness.
There was a people who were the Lord's people from amongst the
Jews, within the Jews, a remnant that was kept faithful, that
never bowed the knee. And that is the people that we
speak of when we speak of the Old Testament church. Here was
God's people of faith in Old Testament times. And they believed
in the same saviour that we believe in. They believed in the same
sacrifice that we believed in. They didn't believe in the sacrifice
of the sheep and the goats and the doves. They knew that these
were mere pictures speaking about someone greater who would come. Speaking about Christ. And right
away from the very beginning, from the Garden of Eden, from
Abraham upon Mount Moriah, when the son was saved and God provided
himself a lamb, through the history of the sacrificial system in
the Old Testament, we see this picture being ever more clearly
set before us. And now Isaiah tells us that
we can expect this child to be born and this son to be given. We are always to understand God's
covenant purpose of electing grace in these messianic prophecies. That God reserved a people, that
God had a chosen people, an elect, and from the beginning of time
to the end of time, these prophecies applied to them and the speaking
of the Lord Jesus Christ was for their good and their benefit
and their faith. Christ came into the world and
here amongst the nation of the Jews we are told that there was
an understanding, but not only amongst the Jews, for he came
for his church worldwide. to whom and for whom he was given. And so when Isaiah says, unto
us, this is who he is speaking about. It was to these ones that
the Lord Jesus Christ was given and it was to these ones, to
us, who believe, who are the people of faith, who are the
covenant people of God's elective purpose, that he was sent and
to whom he willingly came. He would be born of woman. He would be united to us in flesh. He was made like unto his brethren. This child was to be a great
light shining upon the people who walk in darkness and who
dwell in the land of the shadow of death. The Lord Jesus Christ
came for sinners like you and me. That's what it means for
him to be a light for the people who walk in darkness. We walk
in the darkness of our ignorance. We dwell in the land of the shadow
of death because we dwell in a land of sin and we are sinners
in it. So the Lord Jesus Christ came
for sinners like us who had no spiritual light, who had no spiritual
understanding. Unto us he was given. And Isaiah
writes that the government shall be upon his shoulder. What does
that mean? Well, it means that he would
rule a kingdom. It means that he would have a
governing responsibility in his kingdom. This isn't an earthly
political nation that we're talking about here. This isn't the government
that is formed in some democracy or theocracy or in some military
regime. We're not talking about that
kind of government. We're talking about the ordering
of the principles of God's judgment and justice. The government would
be upon his shoulders. All the things that needed to
be done would fall to the Lord Jesus Christ. He would be that
executive branch. He would be that one who would
fulfil all that was needful. He would rule in his kingdom.
and he would govern and administer that spiritual kingdom with all
power, with all authority, with all success as the head of his
body, the church. And certain it is that all authority
belongs to Christ. but it's his government of us
that is in view here. Yes, God rules the whole world,
but it's his government of his church that we are thinking about
here. And that government tells us
that all the people that were committed into his care All those
that were in God's electing purpose given to Him, for whom He was
substitute and surety, for whom He took responsibility, they
would be saved. None would be lost. That's why
He was the Governor. That's why government was given
to him. None would be lost. Not one of
the elect committed to his care and keeping placed into his hands
in the covenant of peace would be missed out. The government
of God's eternal purpose of grace and salvation fell upon Christ's
shoulders and was fully discharged. And then in this verse, In Isaiah
chapter nine, God the Holy Spirit supplies five descriptive names
for this child, for this son. And please note with me, the
implicit success or the efficacy that is implied in the phrase,
his name shall be called. His name shall be called. Because
that has more meaning in it than simply, he was given a name. When we name a child, we name
the child, I don't know, probably because we like the name. or
because we want to give some honour and respect to an older
member of the family. But these names describe Christ's
nature and his character and his attributes and his achievements. And when we're told His name
shall be called, it's because He will do all the things that
those names represent. Our Lord Jesus Christ is called
wonderful because He is wonderful, because He is full of wonder. And He still astonishes us today
when we reflect, when we pause, when we think about who He is,
who he is and what he has done. He astonishes
us. God forgive us when we get dull
and cold towards the wonder of Christ. Christ's birth was a
wonderful birth. He being conceived in his mother's
womb by the Spirit of God formed as a union between spirit and
flesh. Not born in sin as others, but
the holy child who grew in favour with God. And Christ's life was
wonderful. It was perfect, sinless, exemplary,
kind, gracious, gentle, meek. We read of him doing all things
well. We read of people constantly
being amazed at the things that he said and the things that he
did. His birth was wonderful, his
life was wonderful, his death was wonderful because as God
he could not die. As man without sin he need not
die. Yet as our sin-bearing substitute,
he bore our griefs, he carried our sorrows, he bowed his head
under God's wrath, and he died in our place. His resurrection was wonderful.
He took his life again. and he rose from the dead, he
destroyed death, he defeated death, he defeated the grave.
It has no fear for the child of God. His ascension was wonderful
before a great multitude, he ascended into heaven with the
promise that he would come again in like manner. But it's even
more than that. Everything about the Lord Jesus
Christ is wonderful and it behoves us to note this and think about
this in every consideration of him. Whatever we know of his
love, it's wonderful. Whatever we have been given to
experience of His grace, it's wonderful grace. His mercy is
wonderful. His long-suffering and patience
is wonderful. His holiness is wonderful. His
truth, His judgment, everything about Him. Every known attribute of the
Lord Jesus Christ is wonderful and every incomprehensible and
presently unfathomable attribute is too. We shall be eternally amazed
and astounded and astonished at the wonder of Christ. we will
go through eternity being constantly amazed at the Lord Jesus Christ. So God forgive us when we read
about Christ or we hear about Christ and we are indifferent
and cold and sullen about the things that we hear. When he
is so wonderful and he is so glorious He would be called wonderful,
and he would be called a counsellor. The Lord Jesus Christ is a counsellor,
and he was a counsellor when he spoke in wisdom, in eternity,
and when he speaks in time to his people. The Lord Jesus Christ
spoke in the eternal counsel of grace and peace as a surety. He said, here am I, send me. When that great plan of peace,
when that great covenant of grace was set in place, the Lord Jesus
Christ it was stepped forth, God the Son stepped forth and
said, here am I, send me. He was the counsellor, he was
the intercessor, he was the one who interceded for us when we
fell in Adam. He spoke to bring worlds into
being in the creation. He speaks unerringly on every
matter and especially concerning his bride to whom he is loving
and faithful and kind and tender, guiding and providing for all
her need and her everlasting good. He was wonderful. He was a counsellor. He is the mighty God. Jesus is the mighty God. That man, that man that was born
in a little rural village in the backside
of nowhere 2,000 years ago, that man is God, mighty to save. We believe that 2,000 years ago,
a man lived in this world who was God in the flesh. And we believe that he died and
rose again and ascended into heaven. He had come to earth
with a purpose. and he mightily accomplished
all that he willed and desired in the salvation of his people
by shedding his blood. You know the talk that there
is about God in Christ making salvation possible for everyone
and all that they have to do is believe and then they will
receive the benefits of the provision that he made. That is so much
nonsense when we look at these Old Testament statements regarding
Christ. Christ was the mighty God. There on the cross he was the
mighty God. He didn't make salvation possible.
He achieved everything that he determined and designed to do. The salvation of his people.
Call his name Jesus. Why? Because he will save his
people from their sin. And we believe that Jesus of
Nazareth, that man, is the mighty God. And we trust him alone for
mercy and grace before God. And he is the everlasting Father. That was another title, another
name that was given to him by God the Holy Spirit through the
prophet Isaiah. He's not God the Father because
Christ is God the Son. He is God the Son with the Father. But he is an everlasting Father
to his people. because he takes everlasting
care of us, because he provides an everlasting blessing to us,
he gives us everlasting life and he calls us his children
by adoption, by authoring our faith, by supplying all that
we need as a good father should to his children. So the Apostle
Paul can write to the Corinthians in 2 Corinthians chapter 6 and
verse 16 through to verse 18. He says there, ye, so he's speaking
to the Corinthians, he's speaking to believers. He says, ye, you,
are the temple of the living God. And as God has said, I will
dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God, and
they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among
them and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean
thing, and I will receive you and will be a father unto you,
and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. The mighty God, the everlasting
Father, is our Lord Jesus Christ and he has said, I will be a
father unto you and ye will be my sons and daughters. What a blessing to be called
the children of the living God. And the Lord Jesus Christ is
the Prince of Peace. He has by himself made our peace
with God by the blood of his cross. And he has reconciled
us to God forever. That royal title given to Christ
reminds us that he rules in his kingdom. He's a prince. We, his
people, are a people ruled by a peaceable master. Who inspires peace? Peace in
our hearts, peace in our minds. Yet why do we so often feel a
lack of peace? When's this anxiety? When's this
fear? When's this unbelief? It can only be that despite Christ
being our wonderful, peace-speaking, mighty God and everlasting Father,
we do not trust Him sufficiently. Oh, the weakness of our flesh
and the dullness of our heart. Oh, how much more grace we yet
require. The Lord Jesus Christ says in
John 14 verse 27, peace I leave with you. My peace I give unto
you. Not as the world giveth, give
I unto you. The world wants more money. The world wants a bigger insurance
policy. The world wants a big pension. But this is not the peace that
the world gives. Let not your heart be troubled,
neither let it be afraid. You see we know it, but we don't
believe it. Upon the promise of this peace,
we may be confident. Our fleshy weakness is notwithstanding. Of the increase of his government
and peace there shall be no end. That's what Isaiah tells us. We are to trust that of the increase
of his government and peace, there will be no end. Not only has the Lord Jesus Christ
governed the church to bring the church to himself, governed
the church to provide every need for that church, not only has
he made peace with God as our mediator and reconciled us to
God, But there will be no end to this government and no end
to this peace. The success and enlargement of
the Lord's kingdom is both certain, sure and everlasting. And I take that to mean two things.
Christ's government is perfect, therefore our good is assured. now and forever. We may not feel
safe, we may not feel content and easy in this world, but the
governor is in charge. He is in control and increasingly
working all things together for our good. Paul could say, who
can separate us from the love of Christ? That's his government. And secondly, He will increase
our peace, commensurate with our need for the days ahead. He says, Lo, I am with you always,
even unto the end of the world. Amen. Let it be so. And I speak
to my own heart as much as to yours. The Prince of Peace is
so called because peace characterises his rule and his government. Therefore, our lack of peace
is our lack of faith. Give us more faith. Everything
in the Lord's kingdom corresponds to his wonderful name. it's an
increasing kingdom, it's a righteous kingdom, it's a peaceable kingdom,
it's a glorious kingdom, and it's an everlasting kingdom.
Such is our God, such is our Saviour. And here's our final
thought for today. Christ's kingdom Now I hope you
are realising with me who Christ's kingdom and what Christ's kingdom
is. It's us, it's you and me who
trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. We are Christ's kingdom over
which he is head and over which he has governance. He is the
governor in his kingdom, his church. Christ's kingdom shall
be established with judgment and with justice. The judgment
of God is his covenant, will, and purpose. His plan, if you
like. That great plan and purpose that
God had from before the foundation of the world to gather a people
to himself and redeem them by the blood of his own dear son.
That is the judgment of God. and the justice of God is his
holiness. So that here we see judgment,
the purpose of God, and the justice of God being reconciled in the
person of Jesus Christ. His kingdom will be established
with judgment and justice. Grace and righteousness unite
in the person of Jesus Christ and the sure salvation of God's
elect is thereby established. Nothing will and nothing can
withstand this purpose of God. Why? Well, because we're told
in verse seven, the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. That's glorious. That is such
an amazing statement. I don't know who you're sitting
with but I hope you're shouting out hallelujah right now because
you should be. You should be. The zeal of the
Lord of hosts will perform this. This isn't accidental, this isn't
random, this isn't uncertain, this isn't dubious or doubtful.
This kingdom will be established in judgment and justice because
the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform it. What a statement. Isaiah knew this. Isaiah knew
this hundreds of years before the Lord Jesus Christ came. He
knew about sovereign grace and the people to whom he wrote knew
about it too. What confidence we have. They
had, we have. What grounds for joy. The angel
said, joy to the world. What grounds we have for joy?
The zeal of the Lord is His passionate love. It is His intense desire. It is His fierce commitment. It is His determined purpose. the zeal of the Lord. From the
Garden of Eden to the slaying of the innocents by Herod, Satan
tried to thwart and prevent the birth of that child. The giving of the Son. Indeed,
a large part of the history of Israel. Whether we're thinking
about Egypt, whether we're thinking about Babylon, whether we're
thinking about the occupation of the Holy Land by Rome, a large
part of the history of Israel was Satan's attempt to destroy
the line of promise. But Isaiah says, the zeal of
the Lord of hosts will perform this. Child of God, you have
a wonderful Saviour. You have a mighty God. You have
an everlasting Father, whose government will not fail, and
who promises peace to your soul. Rest assured, trust Him. In His hands you are safe for
time and for eternity the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform
this. Amen. And Amen. May the Lord bless us and may
he teach us by these truths to have peace in our hearts and
to trust in him. We're going to have another hymn
now.