Lesson 364 - Senior
Memory Verse
"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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6).
Cross References
I The Miraculous Birth of Christ
1. King Ahaz was promised deliverance by God; a sign was given prophetic of the deliverance of all mankind, [ISA:7:1-14]; [ISA:52:10].
2. Jesus is born of a virgin, fulfilling the sign, [MAT:1:18-25].
II The Promise of a Great Light
1. The people of Zebulun and Naphtali shall see a great Light, [ISA:9:1-5]; [MAT:4:12-16]; [LUK:2:32].
2. Jesus is the Light of the world, [JHN:1:4-10]; [JHN:8:12].
III The Ministry and Sufferings of Christ
1. He was meek and kind in his ministry, [ISA:42:1-4]; [MAT:12:15-21]; [JHN:12:37-41].
2. Isaiah gives a vivid account of the sufferings of Christ, [ISA:53:1-12]; [ACT:8:32-35]; [1PE:2:23-24].
IV The Coming King
1. The government shall be upon His shoulders, [ISA:9:6-7]; [ISA:11:1-5]; [REV:19:11-21]; [REV:20:1-5].
Notes
A Sign
Isaiah's prophecies of Christ are manifold; they cover his birth, ministry, sufferings, death, and Millennial Reign. On one occasion, when Ahaz, king of Judah, was filled with fear because Syria and Israel were united against the house of David, God sent his Prophet Isaiah to assure him that Judah would have a deliverer. The Lord told Ahaz to ask "a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above," but Ahaz, with a show of piety, would not ask. The Lord then declared to the house of David: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" [ISA:7:14]). This was a miracle that was to take place, which would be a token of Judah's deliverance.
The Virgin Birth
Over 700 years went by before the sign came to pass, but one day a virgin "was found with child of the Holy Ghost" [MAT:1:18]). Joseph, to whom she was espoused, was about to break his engagement with Mary, when the angel appeared to him saying: "Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" [MAT:1:20-21]).
"Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet" (Mathew 1:22). In spite of the clear account of the miraculous birth of Jesus, the message by the angel, the sign promised by the prophet, and the quotation of the Apostle, many so-called Christian leaders today are denying the divinity of Christ and His virgin birth. They would make Him just a man. These modernistic teachers have gone so far as to re-word the Bible in what is called a Revised Standard Version in which "young woman" is substituted for "virgin" in Isaiah's prophecy. In this and many other passages they have subtly tried to do despite to the deity of Christ. But the facts remain unchanged: Jesus is the Son of God; and the sign given through the Prophet Isaiah came to pass -" the great Deliverer was born of a virgin.
The Great Light
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali were a war-torn frontier infiltrated by many Gentiles; its people were not refined as those of the south of Palestine but were looked upon as being uncouth and sinful. The country was described as a land of "darkness" and "the region and shadow of death." To this "Galilee of the Gentiles" came He that was born King of the Jews, whose name Isaiah called, "Wonderful, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" [ISA:9:6]).
To those who were used to lawlessness and the ravages of war came the sweet promise: "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 for ever" [ISA:9:7]). What a ray of light! What a glorious hope to these downtrodden people! The great Light had shone in upon them. To the accusations of the scribes and Pharisees who condemned Him for mingling with sinners, Jesus replied, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance" [LUK:5:32]). Simeon spoke of Jesus as "a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" [LUK:2:32]).
Darkness
"In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not" [JHN:1:4-5]). The great Light that shone into the darkness of Naphtali was the "Light of the world." But the world was not ready to receive Him; they could not understand the nature of His Kingdom. "We have heard out of the law that Christ abideth for ever: and how sayest thou, The Son of man must be lifted up?" [JHN:12:34]). "Many of the people therefore, when they heard this saying, said, Of a truth this is the Prophet. Others said, This is the Christ. But some said, Shall Christ come out of Galilee? Hath not the scripture said, That Christ cometh of the seed of David, and out of the town of Bethlehem, where David was?" [JHN:7:40-42]).
From these words of the people we see that they understood part of the Scriptures -" that His was an abiding Kingdom, that He was the "rod out of the stem of Jesse," but they did not know that he was to be "wounded for our transgressions" [ISA:53:5]). At times they wanted to make him king, and did not understand when He "charged them that they should not make him known" [MAT:12:16]), even though Isaiah had said, "He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street" [ISA:42:2]).
"A Lamb to the Slaughter"
Truly, Jesus was the One Isaiah spoke of when he said: "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder." But the people did not understand that His human existence was only one phase of His coming. They did not know that His first coming must be "as a lamb to the slaughter," as "an offering for sin" [ISA:53:7], [ISA:53:10]). Yet Isaiah had told them of Christ's suffering and grief, of His wounds and stripes.
One of the many detailed prophecies given by Isaiah was: "And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death" [ISA:53:9]). This was fulfilled when Jesus was crucified between two thieves -" "numbered with the transgressors" [ISA:53:12]), -- and when Joseph, a rich man of Arimathæa, laid the body of Jesus in his own tomb.
Prince of Peace
Isaiah's prophecies of Christ do not end with the tomb, but carry forth unto that day when "with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked" [ISA:11:4]). We are assured in the Book of Revelation that this is yet to come. "In righteousness he doth judge and make war. . . . And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron" [REV:19:11-15]). Upon the throne of David there shall yet sit the One who shall "establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever" [ISA:9:7]). After slaying the wicked with the sword, which proceeds out of his mouth [REV:19:15], [REV:19:21]) the Prince of Peace shall take the government upon his shoulders and begin that blessed reign of a thousand peaceful years [REV:20:1-6]), with those who were willing to walk in the light. "Ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands" [ISA:55:12]).
Questions
1. What was the sign the Lord gave as assurance of His deliverance of His people?
2. What are some of the names given to Christ?
3. Where was the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali?
4. When did the great Light shine unto them?
5. When will Jesus slay the wicked with the breath of His mouth?
6. When will Jesus sit upon the throne of David?
7. What are some of the phrases in Isaiah 53 that refer to the Atonement?
8. Give some of the detailed prophecies of Christ's sufferings, and their fulfilment.