1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:00,840 Amen. 2 00:00:02,180 --> 00:00:03,800 So I understand you guys have been camping out 3 00:00:03,800 --> 00:00:08,800 in Matthew's gospel, and in Matthew four, verse 12, 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:15,080 as you probably heard last week, we hear the following. 5 00:00:16,700 --> 00:00:20,540 Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, 6 00:00:20,540 --> 00:00:24,620 he withdrew into Galilee, and leaving Nazareth, 7 00:00:24,620 --> 00:00:27,100 he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea, 8 00:00:27,100 --> 00:00:30,860 in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali. 9 00:00:32,140 --> 00:00:36,240 Why did Jesus end up living in Capernaum by the sea? 10 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:41,240 Why do we find him in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali? 11 00:00:42,360 --> 00:00:46,820 Well, Matthew tells us, and this is where our chapter 12 00:00:46,820 --> 00:00:49,960 from Isaiah comes into the fore. 13 00:00:49,960 --> 00:00:52,480 He tells us in Matthew four, verse 14, 14 00:00:52,480 --> 00:00:55,880 so that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah 15 00:00:55,880 --> 00:00:57,840 might be fulfilled. 16 00:00:57,840 --> 00:01:00,300 The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, 17 00:01:00,300 --> 00:01:02,940 the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, 18 00:01:02,940 --> 00:01:06,940 Galilee of the Gentiles, the people dwelling in darkness 19 00:01:06,940 --> 00:01:09,860 have seen a great light. 20 00:01:09,860 --> 00:01:14,180 And for those dwelling in the region and shadow of death 21 00:01:14,180 --> 00:01:18,500 on them, a light has dawned. 22 00:01:18,500 --> 00:01:21,260 Why is Jesus in Galilee? 23 00:01:21,260 --> 00:01:26,260 Because there's darkness there, thick, black darkness. 24 00:01:30,860 --> 00:01:33,500 When does the light come into this world? 25 00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:38,040 He comes into this world where things are at their blackest. 26 00:01:39,020 --> 00:01:41,300 What was this darkness? 27 00:01:41,300 --> 00:01:44,980 It was a blindness and ignorance of the peoples. 28 00:01:44,980 --> 00:01:48,220 It was a despondency, it was a wickedness. 29 00:01:48,220 --> 00:01:53,220 It was a culture that would take a man who had done no wrong 30 00:01:53,620 --> 00:01:56,520 and crucify him horrendously. 31 00:01:57,820 --> 00:01:59,620 We have heard this story told, 32 00:01:59,620 --> 00:02:02,580 perhaps numerous times in our lives. 33 00:02:03,740 --> 00:02:06,940 What does this story speak to the darkness 34 00:02:06,940 --> 00:02:08,780 of the people who lived back then? 35 00:02:08,780 --> 00:02:13,100 That public crucifixions were the norm. 36 00:02:13,100 --> 00:02:16,660 Slavery was the norm. 37 00:02:16,660 --> 00:02:20,260 There was no human rights. 38 00:02:20,260 --> 00:02:25,260 This was a wicked and corrupt and brutal and bloody people. 39 00:02:26,300 --> 00:02:30,760 That the very leaders of the so-called church back then, 40 00:02:31,660 --> 00:02:36,260 the very leaders, the high priests themselves 41 00:02:36,260 --> 00:02:40,820 would take Jesus, they would abduct him at night, 42 00:02:40,820 --> 00:02:44,960 they would take a lynch mob of soldiers, 43 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:49,960 conduct a kangaroo trial, have him strip naked, 44 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:55,600 flogged, mocked, and hung up on a cross to die. 45 00:02:58,240 --> 00:03:02,580 This was a time of great darkness. 46 00:03:04,220 --> 00:03:06,660 And this is when the light comes 47 00:03:06,660 --> 00:03:09,660 and the light goes to this darkness. 48 00:03:09,660 --> 00:03:14,660 And this light will change the darkness. 49 00:03:14,940 --> 00:03:18,380 This is the Christ who comes into this world 50 00:03:18,380 --> 00:03:20,540 as the savior of this world. 51 00:03:20,540 --> 00:03:25,540 He is the one spoken of by Isaiah in Isaiah nine. 52 00:03:26,100 --> 00:03:28,260 So that when we find him in Matthew four, 53 00:03:28,260 --> 00:03:30,980 we need to know what's going on. 54 00:03:30,980 --> 00:03:34,140 Who is this person who's preaching this gospel? 55 00:03:34,140 --> 00:03:35,740 Telling everyone everywhere, 56 00:03:35,740 --> 00:03:40,740 repent the kingdom of God is here. 57 00:03:41,220 --> 00:03:45,220 You see, he is the great light that wipes out the darkness. 58 00:03:45,220 --> 00:03:48,860 He is the life that swallows up the shadow of death. 59 00:03:49,860 --> 00:03:54,140 To those who live in darkness, light has come. 60 00:03:54,140 --> 00:03:57,500 The king of the kingdom has arrived. 61 00:03:57,500 --> 00:04:00,340 And there's a lot to unpack in Isaiah nine, 62 00:04:00,340 --> 00:04:03,420 in these seven verses. 63 00:04:03,420 --> 00:04:06,980 We're gonna just look at one of those this morning. 64 00:04:06,980 --> 00:04:08,980 We're gonna look at verse six. 65 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:13,140 And we're just gonna think a little bit about verse six 66 00:04:13,140 --> 00:04:16,900 and what it tells us about this great light. 67 00:04:18,100 --> 00:04:21,540 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, 68 00:04:21,540 --> 00:04:24,820 and the government shall be upon his shoulder, 69 00:04:24,820 --> 00:04:27,980 and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, 70 00:04:27,980 --> 00:04:32,980 Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 71 00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:38,540 Let's look at each one of these in turn. 72 00:04:38,540 --> 00:04:43,060 What does it mean for him to be called Wonderful Counselor? 73 00:04:45,020 --> 00:04:49,500 What kind of a king has a counselor, a wise king? 74 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:52,020 In fact, all the great kings of history 75 00:04:52,020 --> 00:04:54,820 have had great counselors. 76 00:04:54,820 --> 00:04:59,820 Those kings who do not have great counselors do not succeed. 77 00:05:00,820 --> 00:05:03,060 We look at a great king like King David. 78 00:05:04,940 --> 00:05:05,980 And what are we told? 79 00:05:05,980 --> 00:05:08,940 He had a counselor called Ahithophel. 80 00:05:08,940 --> 00:05:10,780 2 Samuel 16 verse 23. 81 00:05:10,780 --> 00:05:13,500 Now in those days the counsel of Ahithophel, 82 00:05:14,580 --> 00:05:16,300 the counsel that Ahithophel gave 83 00:05:16,300 --> 00:05:19,380 was as if one consulted the word of God. 84 00:05:19,380 --> 00:05:22,660 So was all the counsel of Ahithophel esteemed, 85 00:05:22,660 --> 00:05:25,380 both by David and by Absalom. 86 00:05:27,420 --> 00:05:28,260 Why? 87 00:05:28,260 --> 00:05:31,660 Because as Proverbs tells us, Proverbs 11, 88 00:05:31,660 --> 00:05:34,340 where there is no guidance, the people falls. 89 00:05:34,340 --> 00:05:38,780 But in an abundance of counselors, there is safety. 90 00:05:38,780 --> 00:05:41,540 Again in Proverbs 15 verse 22, 91 00:05:41,540 --> 00:05:43,780 without counsel plans fail, 92 00:05:43,780 --> 00:05:46,820 but with many advisors they succeed. 93 00:05:46,820 --> 00:05:49,440 We live in a time where we've got lots of kings, 94 00:05:49,440 --> 00:05:54,440 princes, presidents who don't have good counselors. 95 00:05:56,940 --> 00:05:59,620 And so we find ourselves in a world 96 00:05:59,620 --> 00:06:02,860 that by and large is losing the plot. 97 00:06:03,860 --> 00:06:05,820 Some of the things just 10 years ago 98 00:06:05,820 --> 00:06:09,260 that would be considered absolutely mad 99 00:06:10,980 --> 00:06:13,400 are being promulgated through legislation 100 00:06:13,400 --> 00:06:15,660 in countries around our world today. 101 00:06:15,660 --> 00:06:16,940 In the first world. 102 00:06:16,940 --> 00:06:21,940 We live in a time where kings do not have great counselors. 103 00:06:23,060 --> 00:06:28,060 A counselor is needed, a man of wisdom and intelligence. 104 00:06:28,060 --> 00:06:32,020 And here's the amazing thing about Jesus Christ. 105 00:06:32,020 --> 00:06:35,020 He is not a king who needs a counselor. 106 00:06:35,020 --> 00:06:39,020 Of all the kings that need counselors, he doesn't need one. 107 00:06:39,020 --> 00:06:39,860 Why? 108 00:06:39,860 --> 00:06:42,860 Because he is a wonderful counselor himself. 109 00:06:42,860 --> 00:06:47,860 Because he is a wonderful counselor himself. 110 00:06:49,100 --> 00:06:53,080 And to see the fulfillment of Isaiah nine 111 00:06:53,080 --> 00:06:58,080 in the New Testament, we only have to look in a few places 112 00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:03,700 to discover the wisdom, the incredible wisdom 113 00:07:03,700 --> 00:07:04,820 of Jesus Christ. 114 00:07:04,820 --> 00:07:06,020 So here are just a few. 115 00:07:06,020 --> 00:07:08,220 Matthew seven verse 28. 116 00:07:08,220 --> 00:07:10,680 When Jesus finished saying these things, 117 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:14,300 the crowd were astonished at his teaching. 118 00:07:14,300 --> 00:07:16,060 They were astonished. 119 00:07:16,060 --> 00:07:18,400 For he was teaching them as one who had authority 120 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:21,060 and not as their scribes. 121 00:07:21,060 --> 00:07:23,100 Again in Matthew 22 verse 33. 122 00:07:23,100 --> 00:07:24,420 And when the crowd heard it, 123 00:07:24,420 --> 00:07:27,080 they were astonished at his teaching. 124 00:07:29,200 --> 00:07:32,120 There's a funny incident that takes place in John's gospel. 125 00:07:32,120 --> 00:07:33,560 John seven verse 32. 126 00:07:33,560 --> 00:07:34,800 The Pharisees heard the crowd 127 00:07:34,800 --> 00:07:36,380 muttering these things about him. 128 00:07:36,380 --> 00:07:38,160 And the chief priests and the Pharisees 129 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,340 sent officers to arrest Jesus. 130 00:07:41,340 --> 00:07:43,960 As I said before, these men were wicked. 131 00:07:43,960 --> 00:07:46,540 They were jealous, envious of the success 132 00:07:46,540 --> 00:07:48,580 of Jesus' ministry. 133 00:07:48,580 --> 00:07:52,740 Everyone was going out to hear this man preach and teach. 134 00:07:52,740 --> 00:07:56,320 And so they sent their officers to go and arrest Jesus. 135 00:07:57,240 --> 00:07:58,740 Well, how did that go? 136 00:07:58,740 --> 00:08:00,300 Verse 44 of John seven. 137 00:08:00,300 --> 00:08:02,100 Some of them wanted to arrest him, 138 00:08:02,100 --> 00:08:04,780 but no one laid hands on him. 139 00:08:04,780 --> 00:08:07,420 The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees 140 00:08:07,420 --> 00:08:10,060 who said to them, why did you not bring him? 141 00:08:10,060 --> 00:08:13,820 The officers answered, no one ever spoke like this man. 142 00:08:14,780 --> 00:08:15,820 Isn't that amazing? 143 00:08:16,740 --> 00:08:19,660 When they heard the words that were coming out of his mouth, 144 00:08:19,660 --> 00:08:22,820 they were so gobsmacked, they didn't even touch him. 145 00:08:22,820 --> 00:08:25,340 They left empty handed. 146 00:08:25,340 --> 00:08:28,540 This man is a wonderful counselor. 147 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:32,460 We have never ever heard someone as wise and intelligent 148 00:08:32,460 --> 00:08:34,380 as this man when he speaks. 149 00:08:34,380 --> 00:08:37,040 How can we estimate the wisdom of Jesus? 150 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:39,080 We cannot. 151 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:42,480 But I thought I would provide you with perhaps 152 00:08:42,480 --> 00:08:44,760 a small illustration. 153 00:08:44,760 --> 00:08:47,400 I have before me here a commentary 154 00:08:47,400 --> 00:08:52,400 on the first epistle to the Corinthian church. 155 00:08:53,120 --> 00:08:57,280 It is 880 pages long, written by Gordon Fee. 156 00:08:57,280 --> 00:08:59,800 I have not read this commentary. 157 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:01,400 I've read parts of it. 158 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:03,640 I've read parts of it. 159 00:09:03,640 --> 00:09:06,160 You know what he says in the introduction to this commentary, 160 00:09:06,160 --> 00:09:10,400 this 880 page volume on one Corinthians? 161 00:09:10,400 --> 00:09:12,880 He says in his introduction, if anyone, 162 00:09:12,880 --> 00:09:14,920 and this is way back in 1953, 163 00:09:14,920 --> 00:09:17,880 so it's a fairly, it's not a new commentary. 164 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:22,280 Back then, he says, if you want to write 165 00:09:22,280 --> 00:09:24,960 a commentary on one Corinthians, 166 00:09:24,960 --> 00:09:31,720 you need to read at least 2,000 books. 167 00:09:32,600 --> 00:09:37,600 That's what it takes to be able to properly ascertain 168 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,040 what has been written on this book. 169 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:47,560 Now we say to ourselves, that's a commentary, 170 00:09:47,560 --> 00:09:52,240 that's an 880 page commentary on one Corinthians. 171 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:53,960 What is one Corinthians? 172 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:58,160 One Corinthians is one book out of 27 books 173 00:09:58,160 --> 00:09:59,340 in the New Testament. 174 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,120 Paul wrote it. 175 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:03,800 What's Paul doing in one Corinthians? 176 00:10:03,800 --> 00:10:05,280 Do you know what he's doing? 177 00:10:05,280 --> 00:10:09,840 Paul is trying to help us understand Jesus. 178 00:10:09,840 --> 00:10:12,520 Paul is taking some of the things that Jesus said, 179 00:10:12,520 --> 00:10:14,320 some of the things that Jesus did, 180 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:18,040 and he's trying to explain to us Jesus. 181 00:10:18,040 --> 00:10:21,320 In other words, one Corinthians is a commentary on Jesus. 182 00:10:21,320 --> 00:10:26,320 How many commentaries like this one have been written 183 00:10:27,200 --> 00:10:30,080 on a commentary on Jesus? 184 00:10:30,080 --> 00:10:32,560 That's one book of the Bible. 185 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:36,280 We have libraries filled with books 186 00:10:36,280 --> 00:10:40,640 that have been inspired by what Jesus said and did, 187 00:10:40,640 --> 00:10:42,200 and here's the astounding thing. 188 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,560 Did Jesus ever write a book? 189 00:10:44,560 --> 00:10:45,400 No. 190 00:10:45,400 --> 00:10:46,240 No. 191 00:10:46,240 --> 00:10:49,880 No. 192 00:10:49,880 --> 00:10:53,920 And yet his sayings and his life have, 193 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:56,080 of all the things in this world, 194 00:10:56,080 --> 00:10:59,760 stimulated the most literature ever. 195 00:11:01,000 --> 00:11:02,640 How do we know that this man was profound? 196 00:11:02,640 --> 00:11:03,960 How do we know that he was wise? 197 00:11:03,960 --> 00:11:05,260 How do we know that he was intelligent? 198 00:11:05,260 --> 00:11:09,480 How do we know that he was the most wonderful counselor ever? 199 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,240 We have demonstrable empirical evidence 200 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:15,680 standing in libraries all over the world. 201 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:16,520 And you know what? 202 00:11:16,520 --> 00:11:18,120 Guys haven't finished writing commentaries 203 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,200 in the New Testament. 204 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:20,640 Thousands of years from today, 205 00:11:20,640 --> 00:11:22,480 if this universe is still sticking around, 206 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:25,480 we're gonna have bigger buildings needing to be built 207 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:28,340 to fit in all the books that are gonna be written. 208 00:11:30,240 --> 00:11:31,720 This is how John's gospel ends. 209 00:11:31,720 --> 00:11:33,120 Do you know how John's gospel ends? 210 00:11:33,120 --> 00:11:34,920 Here's how John's gospel ends. 211 00:11:34,920 --> 00:11:36,320 John 21 verse 25. 212 00:11:36,320 --> 00:11:39,640 Now there are also many other things that Jesus did 213 00:11:39,640 --> 00:11:42,320 that you and I are never gonna hear about in this life. 214 00:11:43,200 --> 00:11:45,200 Where every one of them to be written says, 215 00:11:45,200 --> 00:11:48,040 John, I suppose that the world itself 216 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:51,080 could not contain the books that would be written. 217 00:11:53,640 --> 00:11:55,740 It should blow your mind. 218 00:11:55,740 --> 00:11:58,600 Isaiah says, a wonderful counselor's coming. 219 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,720 Did we notice when he came? 220 00:12:01,720 --> 00:12:03,520 Yes, we did. 221 00:12:03,520 --> 00:12:06,320 This whole world testifies to the fact 222 00:12:06,320 --> 00:12:09,760 that the most translated book, the best selling book, 223 00:12:09,760 --> 00:12:11,800 the most book, the book that's produced 224 00:12:11,800 --> 00:12:16,560 the most other books, all centered on that person 225 00:12:16,560 --> 00:12:18,560 who lived way back in the first century. 226 00:12:20,660 --> 00:12:25,260 Wonderful counselor, mighty God, mighty God. 227 00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:30,960 If power without wisdom is chaos, 228 00:12:30,960 --> 00:12:35,200 then wisdom without power is pointless. 229 00:12:35,200 --> 00:12:38,600 Does he merely come into this world with great ideas? 230 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:41,300 Hey, I've got some suggestions for you people. 231 00:12:41,300 --> 00:12:45,240 I'm wise, but can you fix anything, Jesus? 232 00:12:45,240 --> 00:12:46,660 Look at our world. 233 00:12:46,660 --> 00:12:47,820 Look at how dark it is. 234 00:12:47,820 --> 00:12:49,760 Look at how sinful and broken it is. 235 00:12:49,760 --> 00:12:52,400 Look how confused people are, how lost they are. 236 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:54,020 Can you fix this? 237 00:12:54,020 --> 00:12:58,720 Yes, he is also mighty God. 238 00:13:01,040 --> 00:13:03,960 So when Jesus comes, what do we see him doing? 239 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,700 Is he the one spoken of in Isaiah nine? 240 00:13:06,700 --> 00:13:11,000 Well, we find he cures cancer by saying the word. 241 00:13:11,000 --> 00:13:13,200 Skin diseases vanish at his touch, 242 00:13:13,200 --> 00:13:15,440 lifeless limbs are mobilized, 243 00:13:15,440 --> 00:13:17,960 paralysis flees at his command, 244 00:13:17,960 --> 00:13:21,160 the winds obey him, the waves bow down to him, 245 00:13:21,160 --> 00:13:23,080 and he walks on them. 246 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:27,000 A man with thousands of demons comes running up to Jesus 247 00:13:28,080 --> 00:13:31,720 to kill him, to beat him up, no, 248 00:13:31,720 --> 00:13:36,640 to fall down flat before Christ and cry out, 249 00:13:36,640 --> 00:13:38,200 what will you do with me? 250 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:40,480 Have you come to destroy me? 251 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,560 The demons know who this person is when he comes. 252 00:13:44,560 --> 00:13:46,760 He can read minds, he can predict the future, 253 00:13:46,760 --> 00:13:49,240 he can raise the dead, he can make loaves of bread 254 00:13:49,240 --> 00:13:51,000 and fish appear out of thin air. 255 00:13:51,000 --> 00:13:53,400 He can make wine out of water. 256 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,280 On one occasion, a crowd tries to throw him off a cliff, 257 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:57,560 and what does he do? 258 00:13:57,560 --> 00:13:59,080 He walks right through the middle of them 259 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:00,400 like a hot knife through butter. 260 00:14:00,400 --> 00:14:01,480 They can't touch him. 261 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:02,320 Why? 262 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:03,720 Because that's not my time to die. 263 00:14:04,920 --> 00:14:08,320 He tells his disciples, I lay down my life on my own terms 264 00:14:08,320 --> 00:14:11,560 by my own will, according to my own timetable, 265 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:14,280 no one, no one takes it from me. 266 00:14:15,800 --> 00:14:18,320 And when death meets Jesus, who dies? 267 00:14:18,320 --> 00:14:19,840 Death dies. 268 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:24,240 John 19 verse 10, so Pilate said to Jesus, 269 00:14:24,240 --> 00:14:25,840 you will not speak to me, do you not know 270 00:14:25,840 --> 00:14:27,320 that I have authority to release you 271 00:14:27,320 --> 00:14:29,600 and authority to crucify you? 272 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:31,720 How does Jesus answer that? 273 00:14:31,720 --> 00:14:34,320 You would have no authority over me at all 274 00:14:34,320 --> 00:14:38,800 unless it had been given to you from above. 275 00:14:38,800 --> 00:14:41,520 Christ is not a victim. 276 00:14:41,520 --> 00:14:43,920 He chooses the time he will die. 277 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:45,960 He chooses how he will die. 278 00:14:45,960 --> 00:14:48,920 He chooses every single detail, 279 00:14:48,920 --> 00:14:52,320 which is why, again, in Isaiah, you have Isaiah 53, 280 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,680 outlining for us the manner in which Christ chose to die 281 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:00,200 when he came into this world. 282 00:15:00,200 --> 00:15:02,320 He was pierced for our transgressions, 283 00:15:02,320 --> 00:15:04,000 crushed for our iniquities. 284 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,200 Upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace 285 00:15:06,200 --> 00:15:07,840 and with his wounds we're healed. 286 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:11,760 This is a God who knows exactly what he's doing 287 00:15:11,760 --> 00:15:14,160 and is in full control every moment, 288 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:15,920 every second, every day. 289 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:21,000 At the cross, what does the centurion say? 290 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:25,600 Truly, this was the Son of God. 291 00:15:25,600 --> 00:15:28,320 Here's a man who crucifies people for a living. 292 00:15:28,320 --> 00:15:30,680 I don't know what you guys are good at. 293 00:15:31,560 --> 00:15:33,120 What you do for a living? 294 00:15:33,120 --> 00:15:37,480 This man kills people for a living and in a horrible way 295 00:15:37,480 --> 00:15:40,920 and he stands at the cross and he's seen a lot of people die. 296 00:15:40,920 --> 00:15:43,640 And when you get crucified, this is not an easy way to die. 297 00:15:43,640 --> 00:15:45,360 This is not with palliative care. 298 00:15:46,360 --> 00:15:48,080 This is horrendous. 299 00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:53,560 And Jesus dies in such a way that the conclusion 300 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:56,640 this centurion comes to is that man's God. 301 00:15:57,960 --> 00:16:01,400 How powerful do you have to be to convince people 302 00:16:01,400 --> 00:16:03,200 you're God by the way you die? 303 00:16:06,840 --> 00:16:08,800 Christ dies like a boss. 304 00:16:11,000 --> 00:16:12,960 There's no other way of saying it. 305 00:16:12,960 --> 00:16:15,760 We shouldn't be surprised when he walks out of the tomb. 306 00:16:17,360 --> 00:16:20,520 Death doesn't hold him, he holds death. 307 00:16:20,520 --> 00:16:21,880 It's his timetable. 308 00:16:22,920 --> 00:16:25,200 He is, as he says to Mary and Martha, 309 00:16:25,200 --> 00:16:34,400 I am the resurrection and the life. He came, he saw, he conquered. 310 00:16:34,400 --> 00:16:36,080 Here we are, 2,000 years later. 311 00:16:37,400 --> 00:16:41,200 That child spoken of in Isaiah nine has transformed the world. 312 00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,520 Objectively, 2.4 billion Christians today 313 00:16:46,520 --> 00:16:48,520 bear the name of that child as their identity. 314 00:16:48,520 --> 00:16:53,320 2.4 billion people in this world call themselves Christians. 315 00:16:53,320 --> 00:16:56,200 I'm not saying all of them are genuine believers 316 00:16:56,200 --> 00:16:57,920 because there's a lot of confusion out there, 317 00:16:57,920 --> 00:17:02,760 but these are people who have chosen Christ as their identity. 318 00:17:02,760 --> 00:17:04,320 2.4 billion. 319 00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:09,160 A further 1.9 billion Muslims acknowledge Jesus 320 00:17:09,160 --> 00:17:12,160 as a central figure, born of a virgin, 321 00:17:12,160 --> 00:17:15,120 and a prolific miracle worker. 322 00:17:15,120 --> 00:17:18,760 In other words, more than half of everyone alive on this planet 323 00:17:18,760 --> 00:17:23,280 today recognizes Jesus Christ either as God or superhuman. 324 00:17:25,080 --> 00:17:26,640 Why? 325 00:17:26,640 --> 00:17:31,400 Because this child in Isaiah nine is mighty God. 326 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,920 So what are your expectations of this child? 327 00:17:37,120 --> 00:17:41,840 Because in verse seven, we're told of the increase of his government, 328 00:17:41,840 --> 00:17:43,960 the greatness of his government and of peace, 329 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:47,520 there will be no end on the throne of David 330 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:50,800 and over his kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice 331 00:17:50,800 --> 00:17:53,760 and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. 332 00:17:55,440 --> 00:18:00,240 Jesus Christ changed this world and is changing this world. 333 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,320 He's not called the savior of this world for no reason. 334 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:09,240 The darkness is going away. 335 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:12,440 This light will not be quenched. 336 00:18:13,560 --> 00:18:15,280 And if you just look over history 337 00:18:15,280 --> 00:18:18,720 and you think of where we've come from, 338 00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:22,600 and you think of the impact that that one person had, 339 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:27,320 you have to acknowledge the prophecy is true. 340 00:18:27,320 --> 00:18:29,400 Isaiah is not lying to us. 341 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,160 And Isaiah is not lying to us because these are not just Isaiah's words to us. 342 00:18:33,160 --> 00:18:36,520 These are the words of Jesus Christ himself speaking 343 00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:38,800 by the power of the Holy Spirit. 344 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:42,720 More than 700 years before the first century. 345 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:46,560 So we have wonderful counselor, mighty God. 346 00:18:46,560 --> 00:18:49,640 What about everlasting father? 347 00:18:49,640 --> 00:18:50,720 Everlasting father. 348 00:18:50,720 --> 00:18:52,840 And I want you to know it's been Christmas a while back, 349 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:55,120 but I want you to picture the Christmas scene. 350 00:18:56,640 --> 00:18:57,960 We're in Bethlehem. 351 00:18:59,760 --> 00:19:01,520 And I don't want you to be deceived. 352 00:19:02,720 --> 00:19:05,440 As you look at that child in the manger, 353 00:19:05,440 --> 00:19:07,360 he's older than the universe. 354 00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,720 That child isn't born that we might father him. 355 00:19:11,720 --> 00:19:16,000 He's born that he might father us. 356 00:19:16,000 --> 00:19:19,560 God does not entrust us with an orphan. 357 00:19:19,560 --> 00:19:23,120 He gives us a son who is an everlasting father 358 00:19:23,120 --> 00:19:25,600 to the widow and the orphan. 359 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:29,520 In that manger lies the author of life. 360 00:19:29,520 --> 00:19:32,320 He created everything. 361 00:19:32,320 --> 00:19:37,040 He is the father of everything, the father of this universe. 362 00:19:37,040 --> 00:19:40,600 And what are we in his hands? 363 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:46,280 Again, Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 64, we're just clay. 364 00:19:46,280 --> 00:19:48,480 You and I are just clay. 365 00:19:48,480 --> 00:19:52,280 But now, oh Lord, you are our father and we are the clay. 366 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:53,360 You are our potter. 367 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:56,840 We are all the work of your hands. 368 00:19:56,840 --> 00:20:00,440 What does it mean for the son to be the everlasting father? 369 00:20:00,440 --> 00:20:02,720 It means that when we approach this child in Bethlehem, 370 00:20:02,720 --> 00:20:06,560 we must recognize that the real children in the picture 371 00:20:06,560 --> 00:20:09,120 are those who are standing around the manger. 372 00:20:10,800 --> 00:20:12,520 When Jesus speaks to his disciples 373 00:20:12,520 --> 00:20:15,320 on the night before his death, how does he speak to them? 374 00:20:16,200 --> 00:20:17,640 What does he call them? 375 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:21,360 John 13, 33, he says to them, little children. 376 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:23,640 That's how Jesus speaks to his disciples. 377 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:24,480 Why? 378 00:20:24,480 --> 00:20:26,240 Because he is the everlasting father. 379 00:20:26,240 --> 00:20:30,560 Everyone in relation to Jesus Christ, a child. 380 00:20:30,560 --> 00:20:33,560 And what does Jesus Christ's fatherhood convey to us? 381 00:20:35,240 --> 00:20:38,080 It tells us of his exquisite love. 382 00:20:39,120 --> 00:20:42,600 In John 15, verse nine, Jesus prays, 383 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:50,080 as the father has loved me, so I loved you. 384 00:20:50,080 --> 00:20:51,400 Abide in my love. 385 00:20:53,560 --> 00:20:55,560 How much does the father love the son? 386 00:20:56,840 --> 00:20:59,080 How much does the father love the son? 387 00:20:59,080 --> 00:21:03,760 How much does the father love the son? 388 00:21:05,080 --> 00:21:07,280 How long has that relationship been for? 389 00:21:08,800 --> 00:21:10,400 Well, there has always been a father 390 00:21:10,400 --> 00:21:11,840 and there's always been a son. 391 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:14,560 That is an eternal relationship. 392 00:21:15,480 --> 00:21:18,960 It's an eternal, perfect relationship. 393 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:23,640 In this room, we have relationships represented. 394 00:21:23,640 --> 00:21:26,960 Some of us are wives and husbands. 395 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:30,120 Some of us are fathers and sons, 396 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:32,720 mothers and daughters, 397 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,800 and all the combinations that come from the idea of family 398 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:39,360 that God gave us and we've enjoyed these relationships, 399 00:21:39,360 --> 00:21:43,440 but they have a beginning in time and space. 400 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,240 Think of those whom you love most in this world. 401 00:21:46,240 --> 00:21:47,880 How long have you known them for? 402 00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:51,480 How long have you been married for? 403 00:21:51,480 --> 00:21:55,840 What does that love mean to you? 404 00:21:55,840 --> 00:21:58,720 The father has known the son forever and ever and ever 405 00:21:58,720 --> 00:22:00,560 and ever and ever and ever. 406 00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:04,000 You can't compare that with any relationship in this world. 407 00:22:05,160 --> 00:22:06,280 And what does Christ say? 408 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:11,280 As the father has loved me, so have I loved you. 409 00:22:11,280 --> 00:22:14,760 I loved you. 410 00:22:20,840 --> 00:22:22,360 He's an everlasting father. 411 00:22:23,560 --> 00:22:24,480 He loves you. 412 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:27,560 I don't know what kind of father you had 413 00:22:27,560 --> 00:22:29,080 in this world growing up. 414 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:30,360 Some of us had good fathers, 415 00:22:30,360 --> 00:22:34,400 some of us have had bad fathers, disappointing fathers. 416 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:38,440 He is the everlasting father, the father of all fathers. 417 00:22:38,440 --> 00:22:40,840 And he doesn't just speak about love. 418 00:22:40,840 --> 00:22:42,560 He's not like all these other fake gods 419 00:22:42,560 --> 00:22:45,120 that people worship in temples across this planet. 420 00:22:45,120 --> 00:22:49,480 He is a real God who loves in a real, tangible way. 421 00:22:49,480 --> 00:22:54,480 He comes into this world and bleeds to show that he loves. 422 00:22:54,680 --> 00:22:56,480 He's not full of empty words. 423 00:22:58,160 --> 00:22:59,480 His love cost. 424 00:23:04,160 --> 00:23:07,440 Wonderful counselor, mighty God, everlasting father, 425 00:23:07,440 --> 00:23:09,520 and finally, Prince of peace. 426 00:23:10,680 --> 00:23:12,120 Why is the son given? 427 00:23:12,120 --> 00:23:14,040 Why is the child born? 428 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:18,160 When he comes, we listen to the angels as they sing. 429 00:23:18,160 --> 00:23:20,680 On the eve of his birth, what are they saying in Luke 14? 430 00:23:20,680 --> 00:23:24,600 Glory to God in the highest and on earth, peace. 431 00:23:25,440 --> 00:23:27,840 On earth, peace, goodwill toward men. 432 00:23:29,040 --> 00:23:32,040 He comes to give us peace. 433 00:23:32,040 --> 00:23:34,040 What kind of peace? 434 00:23:34,040 --> 00:23:35,760 Well, the most important kind. 435 00:23:35,760 --> 00:23:39,520 The kind of peace that will require a cross. 436 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,280 Colossians 1.19, for in him all the fullness of God 437 00:23:45,280 --> 00:23:46,720 was pleased to dwell and through him 438 00:23:46,720 --> 00:23:50,280 to reconcile to himself all things, 439 00:23:50,280 --> 00:23:55,280 making peace by the blood of his cross. 440 00:23:56,840 --> 00:23:58,760 When we call Jesus the Prince of peace, 441 00:23:58,760 --> 00:23:59,840 what do we mean by that? 442 00:23:59,840 --> 00:24:02,400 We mean that there is no one who takes peace 443 00:24:02,400 --> 00:24:03,960 as seriously as Jesus Christ. 444 00:24:03,960 --> 00:24:07,040 There's no one who is a peacemaker like Jesus Christ. 445 00:24:07,040 --> 00:24:09,440 In all the conflicts you've had in life, 446 00:24:10,680 --> 00:24:14,120 have you or anyone else gone to the lengths 447 00:24:14,120 --> 00:24:17,440 that God has gone to to make reconciliation? 448 00:24:18,480 --> 00:24:20,440 He finds us, this is the pattern 449 00:24:20,440 --> 00:24:22,040 right from the Garden of Eden. 450 00:24:22,040 --> 00:24:25,120 Do Adam and Eve run to God when they've sinned against him? 451 00:24:25,120 --> 00:24:27,040 They've done that very thing, 452 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:29,600 that only thing they weren't supposed to do. 453 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:31,600 No, they're hiding, they're not interested. 454 00:24:31,600 --> 00:24:32,920 And God comes looking for them. 455 00:24:32,920 --> 00:24:36,280 The everlasting father goes looking for them. 456 00:24:37,640 --> 00:24:39,960 We didn't send an invitation to heaven saying, 457 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:42,160 God, please help us. 458 00:24:42,160 --> 00:24:45,240 We didn't go looking for him, we didn't seek him out. 459 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,120 We didn't have suggestions on how to fix this world. 460 00:24:48,120 --> 00:24:53,120 We were gone, gone, lost, off the charts. 461 00:24:55,360 --> 00:24:56,920 And God came. 462 00:24:56,920 --> 00:25:00,120 He came to make reconciliation. 463 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:02,760 He came to make peace. 464 00:25:03,680 --> 00:25:08,680 Not sweep it under a rug, forget about it, start over. 465 00:25:08,720 --> 00:25:13,720 No, this is peace that cost him his son. 466 00:25:17,400 --> 00:25:20,920 The cross, that's what it cost. 467 00:25:20,920 --> 00:25:23,400 When Jesus hangs on that cross, 468 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,040 from every second to every next second 469 00:25:28,040 --> 00:25:33,040 knowing he could decide to stop it all at any moment. 470 00:25:33,120 --> 00:25:34,760 He could turn it off. 471 00:25:36,400 --> 00:25:38,120 And he doesn't, why? 472 00:25:38,120 --> 00:25:40,280 Because he's serious about peace. 473 00:25:40,280 --> 00:25:43,360 He's serious about reconciliation 474 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:45,200 that we might be made right with him. 475 00:25:49,320 --> 00:25:50,960 Friends, Easter is an invitation 476 00:25:50,960 --> 00:25:55,600 to embrace the Prince of Peace, to find peace with God. 477 00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:59,000 Are you reconciled with your creator? 478 00:25:59,000 --> 00:26:03,200 He has moved everything to come to you. 479 00:26:05,200 --> 00:26:06,760 Will you be reconciled to him? 480 00:26:08,000 --> 00:26:11,840 What will you do with the blood of Jesus Christ? 481 00:26:11,840 --> 00:26:12,760 Will you thank him? 482 00:26:13,680 --> 00:26:14,840 Will you worship him? 483 00:26:15,960 --> 00:26:19,200 Will you embrace him or will you turn away 484 00:26:19,200 --> 00:26:27,160 from the greatest gift ever given? 485 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:30,280 As I said not long ago, we celebrated Christmas. 486 00:26:30,280 --> 00:26:32,120 Why is Christmas a big deal? 487 00:26:32,120 --> 00:26:35,120 Christmas is a big deal because a child is born. 488 00:26:35,120 --> 00:26:37,200 A son is given. 489 00:26:37,200 --> 00:26:40,040 And the government of nations, kingdoms, empires, 490 00:26:40,040 --> 00:26:42,800 visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, 491 00:26:42,800 --> 00:26:45,840 the government of planets and stars and comets and galaxies, 492 00:26:45,840 --> 00:26:50,320 the government of all things is upon his shoulder. 493 00:26:50,320 --> 00:26:53,840 And this is good news because he is no ordinary counselor. 494 00:26:53,840 --> 00:26:55,480 He is wonderful. 495 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:59,680 He is no impotent manmade deity or idol. 496 00:26:59,680 --> 00:27:01,760 He is mighty God. 497 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:03,960 He is compassionate and kind and loving, 498 00:27:03,960 --> 00:27:06,360 a father to all forever and ever and ever. 499 00:27:06,360 --> 00:27:09,840 He is the one and only Prince of Peace. 500 00:27:09,840 --> 00:27:12,000 For 4,000 years, think about this, 501 00:27:12,000 --> 00:27:14,240 for 4,000 years time was measured 502 00:27:14,240 --> 00:27:16,520 from the birth of this universe. 503 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:18,520 The calendar stretched all the way back 504 00:27:18,520 --> 00:27:19,800 to Adam in the garden. 505 00:27:24,880 --> 00:27:28,000 But 2,000 years ago, someone more important 506 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:29,360 than the universe was born. 507 00:27:30,320 --> 00:27:33,560 So significant we started the clock from zero again. 508 00:27:35,000 --> 00:27:37,720 Everything that ever lived and will live 509 00:27:37,720 --> 00:27:42,120 is now in relation to the birth of this child, 510 00:27:42,120 --> 00:27:44,760 A.D. or B.C. 511 00:27:44,760 --> 00:27:46,480 Isn't that incredible? 512 00:27:46,480 --> 00:27:49,200 We reset the clock when Christ came. 513 00:27:51,360 --> 00:27:53,680 What will you do with Jesus Christ? 514 00:27:53,680 --> 00:27:55,680 He is not your moon. 515 00:27:55,680 --> 00:27:57,400 He didn't come to fit into your life 516 00:27:57,400 --> 00:27:59,720 and to revolve around you, he is the son. 517 00:28:01,640 --> 00:28:03,720 He comes to be your life. 518 00:28:03,720 --> 00:28:06,960 He didn't come to be ogled at or pitied or fawned over 519 00:28:06,960 --> 00:28:09,800 by patronizing philosophers and poets. 520 00:28:09,800 --> 00:28:11,640 He came to be worshiped. 521 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:14,240 What would the shepherds in Magi tell you? 522 00:28:15,520 --> 00:28:17,720 They say when you approach the feeding trough, 523 00:28:17,720 --> 00:28:21,160 remember to take off your sandals and get on your knees. 524 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,120 What lies in there is bigger than the universe, 525 00:28:24,120 --> 00:28:26,080 more precious than life itself, 526 00:28:26,080 --> 00:28:30,400 more glorious than you and I will ever grasp. 527 00:28:30,400 --> 00:28:34,040 The son of God given to us, and for what reason? 528 00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:38,600 To die, to hang on a cross, 529 00:28:38,600 --> 00:28:41,920 to bleed the most precious blood ever spilt. 530 00:28:41,920 --> 00:28:46,800 Not as a victim, not as a symbol of weakness or failure. 531 00:28:46,800 --> 00:28:48,840 The cross of Christ is not the tragic ending 532 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,720 of a pointless drama. 533 00:28:50,720 --> 00:28:53,160 No, it is the beginning of the greatest victory 534 00:28:53,160 --> 00:28:55,640 ever forged in time and space. 535 00:28:55,640 --> 00:28:58,920 Easter tells us the story of how this wonderful counselor, 536 00:28:58,920 --> 00:29:01,160 this mighty God, this everlasting father, 537 00:29:01,160 --> 00:29:04,720 this prince of peace broke the chains of darkness, 538 00:29:04,720 --> 00:29:09,240 crushed Satan, killed death, and cast our sins 539 00:29:09,240 --> 00:29:10,560 into the depths of the sea. 540 00:29:11,440 --> 00:29:13,360 Just as he cast aside the stone 541 00:29:13,360 --> 00:29:15,080 that had been rolled against his tomb, 542 00:29:15,080 --> 00:29:17,840 Easter proves that Christ is King 543 00:29:17,840 --> 00:29:20,400 and that this world has a savior. 544 00:29:22,480 --> 00:29:25,520 And all of these things should be before us 545 00:29:25,520 --> 00:29:29,480 when we meet him in Matthew's gospel. 546 00:29:29,480 --> 00:29:33,200 And Matthew reminds us why is Jesus 547 00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:35,600 in these places of darkness? 548 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:40,280 Because Isaiah told us, hundreds of years before, 549 00:29:40,280 --> 00:29:42,160 this is exactly what he came for. 550 00:29:43,160 --> 00:29:44,000 Let's pray. 551 00:29:46,120 --> 00:29:48,280 Father, we thank you for your incredible love 552 00:29:48,280 --> 00:29:50,680 that you would send us your precious son. 553 00:29:51,680 --> 00:29:54,400 What will we do with your son? 554 00:29:54,400 --> 00:29:57,160 Help us to worship him, 555 00:29:57,160 --> 00:29:59,640 that he may be the center of our lives 556 00:29:59,640 --> 00:30:02,960 as he is the center of all reality, 557 00:30:02,960 --> 00:30:06,480 the truth, the way, the life. 558 00:30:07,640 --> 00:30:09,160 Father, I pray for this community, 559 00:30:09,160 --> 00:30:10,520 this church here in Armidale, 560 00:30:10,520 --> 00:30:15,520 that you would reveal yourself profoundly and powerfully 561 00:30:16,160 --> 00:30:19,360 to these people this Easter, 562 00:30:19,360 --> 00:30:22,320 that they would behold you as a great God, 563 00:30:22,320 --> 00:30:25,320 a wonderful counselor, an everlasting father, 564 00:30:25,320 --> 00:30:27,120 and a prince of peace. 565 00:30:27,120 --> 00:30:27,960 Amen. 566 00:30:27,960 --> 00:30:32,960 Thanks folks.