In the name of Christ Jesus, dear fellow redeemed people of God,

In October of 1931, millions of Americans turned off their lights and sat in darkness. They did this as a tribute to a man who had just died. As they sat in that darkness, they wondered what life would be like if it were not for that one man. The man who had just died was Thomas Edison, whose inventions brought light to our evenings. Life would be different without light bulbs. We wouldn't be able to drive cars at night. It would be harder to read this evening. Christmas would seem different too. We would have candles, but not the bright, shining, blinking Christmas lights. Edison brought light to darkness, but his work pales in comparison to the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. The prophet Isaiah wrote: (2) The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.

This world would be a very dark place for us, if it were not for our Savior. We would live in despair, with no hope, and nothing to look forward to but an eternity in hell. But the prophet announces joyful news!

(6) For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. This Child, this Son, is Jesus Christ. 700 years in advance, Isaiah writes as though the first Christmas had already taken place. Seven centuries before it happened, he writes: "Child is born," the "Son is given."

He has special names or titles. He is called, "Wonderful." He used that name once in the Old Testament. One day, the Son of God appeared to Samson's father, Manoah (Jdg 13:18). When Manoah asked for His name, our Lord said, "Why do you ask my name? It is wonderful." Since he would be true God and true man in one person, the Savior would be a wonderful miracle all by himself. He's the "Wonderful Counselor." Many people seek help through counseling. Pastors spend much time counseling people. Not all counselors are good, but the Savior would be great! The Savior would be the Wonderful Counselor. He counsels us with God's wonderful Word. If you are depressed, frustrated, or discouraged, Jesus can help. Other counselors can just give advice, but our Savior can actually do miracles!

He is the "Mighty God." Jesus is not just a nice man or moral teacher. Jesus is mighty God. He can change things to help us. He is in control. And, he knows our problem perfectly. We don't have to describe our problems in detail, if we don't want to. We can pray to Him saying, "Lord, you know what I'm going through. Help me!" That's because Jesus is Almighty God.

His next title is, "Everlasting Father." The Son of God is "everlasting" or eternal, without beginning or end. Like any true son, Jesus receives His Father's name. He treats us with fatherly care and concern. Psalm 103 says, "As a father has compassion on his children, so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him." Jesus has fatherly compassion on us.

Jesus is called, "Prince of Peace," because he brought peace between God and man. He didn't come to bring earthly peace. He said that there would be wars and rumors of wars to the end. And even after the capture of Saddam Hussein, war continues. He didn't come to bring peace between false teachers and true teachers, between false teaching churches and true teaching ones. There will be persecution of the truth and of true preachers and teachers to the end. There will be family divisions too. Jesus actually said that he came to divide families that way! For too many years, those famous words of Christmas have been misunderstood and misused. "Peace on earth, good will toward men" does not refer to peace between nations or peace between people! These words mean that on that first Christmas, God extended peace and good will toward men by sending Jesus! The passage talks about God's grace to men in giving his Son to be our Savior. In a sense, we could say that God smiled on earth that first Christmas by giving His only-begotten Son. For God so loved the world that He gave His only-begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life. Jesus came to redeem us with his pure life and atoning death, and redeem us he did! Trust in Him, and you will not perish, but have eternal life. Trust in the Prince of Peace, the Son of God, our Savior.

(7) Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. Christ's reign will never stop increasing. His kingdom will keep growing. Christ's kingdom increases in our hearts as we grow in faith. It increases in numbers as many more people are brought to faith. And Christ's kingdom will continue forever! It says that he will reign on "David's throne" because, God had promised that the Savior would be David's Son, yet David's Lord. But this king would reign forever. And his kingdom will increase until he returns. It will increase through the preaching and teaching of the gospel, for faith comes from hearing the message.

Sometimes things aren't as they seem. Sometimes, this world seems like it's completely under the control of the devil. But it isn't. Christ is still ruling over all. Not long ago, Iraq seemed like it was completely under the oppressive control of that dictator, Saddam. This Sunday, we saw pictures of his moment in the lights after he had to crawl out of a humiliating hide out, a hole in the ground. One day, the devil and his followers will want to hide from the Judge, but nobody will escape.

Don't get caught on the losing side! Jesus won the battle. Jesus won the war. And when he returns, that will all be clear. He did everything for us to get to heaven. He's the light of the world. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light: the light of God's Son! May we worship him in coming days.

You know, Thomas Edison's light bulbs have been a big help in our Christmas celebration. Now we can turn on the lights at home and read the Christmas account in St. Luke chapter two. Now we can turn drive cars with our headlights and streetlights to come to church for worship. Now, we can turn on all of these lights and worship in evening services. But the real light in here is the gospel. May the Light of the world be the light of our lives, and may we reflect that light in everything that we do. Amen.