Our first lesson gave us this “irrefutable” nugget of prophecy:  God is WITH us.  We serve a “with us” God.  His name?  Immanuel.  Isaiah’s prophecy in 7:14 pointed to Jesus Who would be born by a miracle birth to a virgin girl.  Matthew’s gospel confirmed this in chapter one.  He records a message given in a dream to Joseph, husband of Mary.  

Today’s lesson from Isaiah 9 points to the the light that will shine in the darkness.  John’s gospel confirms this message God sent to the world through Isaiah.  In the “prologue” which comprises most of the first chapter of John, Jesus is described as the Word of God who was WITH God and who WAS God.  Jesus is also displayed as the light of God that would never be “overcome” by the darkness of evil.  

Once again, we will see that the prophecy of God is irrefutable!  Remember:  Immanuel is a “present always in the present.”  He has always been.  He has never not existed.  He will never not be!  Spanish people speak Spanish.  French people speak French.  English people speak English.  When God speaks, He speaks…JESUS!  Jesus is the “Word” of God.  As God speaks, His word is accomplished simply in the speaking.  The coming of Jesus into the world was God’s idea and His perfect plan for the restoration of sinners to Himself by the blood of the cross of Calvary.  

The New Testament quotes more from the book of Isaiah than from any other Old Testament book.  Isaiah speaks of the virgin birth (Is. 7), the name Immanuel (Is. 7), the Suffering Servant (Is. 53) and the light coming into a dark world (Is. 9).  Is it any wonder that the Lord has preserved all 66 chapters of the manuscript of the book of Isaiah?!  In Jerusalem at the Shrine of the Book, there is a complete copy of Isaiah on display  for observation and pure amazement!  Jesus would read from Isaiah in Luke’s gospel chapter four.  He was speaking to the people of Nazareth, His own home town folks.

In Isaiah 9:1-3, we read of the gloom in the land of Zebulun and Naphtali.  These areas are very near to the Sea of Galilee. Nazareth, the home town of Jesus, was located there.  They were devastated when Assyria attacked Israel during the 8th century BC, the time of Isaiah. This prophecy of light in the darkness refers to their despair during that point in history. It also describes The Light Himself, Jesus, whose coming 700 years later would dispel all darkness.  It also looks forward to a day in the future when the kingdom of righteousness will be established by Jesus at His second coming. Prophecy from an eternal God has a very long reach!  Isaiah said that the people who walk in darkness will see a great light.  Death will be replaced with life.  All of this will happen because the love of God reaches out to the discarded ones.  John, the disciple of Jesus, will also know the inspiration of the Holy Spirit as he writes on this same theme in his gospel account of the life of Jesus.  

John 1:1-9 explodes with Isaiah’s same song of life, light and love.  John declares Jesus to be the Word of God, the Light of God and the Life of God.  John reaches all the way back to creation…in the beginning…then stretches forward to the life of Jesus, connecting the two events with precision.  

Jesus is the life, not simply breathing and movement, but eternal life.  Jesus is the light, not simply a burning candle for a moment’s usage, but light that can never be snuffed out.  Yes, His life was given away freely on the cross.  Yes, there was darkness inside that tomb in the garden. But, as promised, His resurrection revealed the death of death and the restoration of life and light.  

God spoke the creation.  God spoke the ten “words” of the Law of Moses.  God spoke through the prophets.  Then, God spoke Jesus (Hebrews 1:1-2).