Sermon Brief: This Is a Good Time for Hope

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Based on Isaiah 9:6-7

ONE GREAT TRUTH: People in darkness have only one hope and it is found in a child – Jesus, who grew up to be the Savior of the world!

In 1942, Bing Crosby sang for the first time his song White Christmas. It was performed in the movie Holiday Inn. Then, in 1943, he recorded I’ll Be Home for Christmas. Both were written for soldiers, their families, and their nation during a time of war. The timing couldn’t have been more appropriate.

Through Isaiah, God had announced an inevitable judgment to come upon the people of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Darkness would fall on the nation and would last about 700 years. But, as he prophesied, in the form of a child hope would come! Light would spring out of darkness because of a baby that would be given to the world.

Hope seems like a strange word in the times in which we live. Things aren’t going so well for much of the world. Families all around us are hurting financially, but the entire globe is involved in a wide variety of crises. In the midst of it all, however, there is hope in Jesus – the Son whom God has given.

I want to glance briefly at the titles of Jesus that Isaiah reveals and see how each one inspires hope…

He is Wonderful: Miracles Happen!

The word “wonderful” means something marvelous, something miraculous. Jesus was a miracle baby by virtue of His virgin birth and incarnation. God wrapped Himself in human form and became a man – that’s miraculous!

He is Counsellor: Comfort is Possible!

He is the comfortor, the counselor, the consoler. Isaiah prophesied of a time when there would be much bloodshed, slavery, and poverty. But the Counsellor comes! Jesus comes “with healing in his wings.”

He is the Mighty God: Jesus Has All Power!

You may not believe that Jesus is God, but God believes it! He inspired the authors of Scripture to foretell this truth and to firmly and clearly delineate to the world the truth that Jesus, that baby in the manger, would be the Almighty God! This phrase speaks of His omnipotence – Jesus has all the power of God, for He is God. Our hope isn’t based in our power, but in His.

He is the Everlasting Father: Hope Lasts Forever!

Jesus, the Son, is identified as being one with the Father, a truth which Jesus Himself proclaimed repeatedly throughout His ministry on earth. In connection with hope, this title reminds us that hope is everlasting! It’s a forever hope that we have in Jesus.

He is the Prince of Peace: Peace is Possible!

Not now. Not while human governments are in charge. But someday, all tyrants will be overthrown once and for all. Some day, all oppressive regimes and blasphemous dictators will be put down for all of eternity. By whom? The Prince (speaks of authority) of Peace (speaks of well-being).

Jesus wants to be all of these to you… have you received Him?