December 21 2025, Sunday School Lesson

God’s Glory in the Coming Christ

(Christmas)

Lesson Text: Isaiah 9:1-7

Related Scriptures: 2 Kings 15:27-30; Luke 1:27-33; 2:1-7; Isaiah 49:1-7; Acts 26:12-23

TIME: about 732 B.C.

PLACE: Jerusalem

Golden Text “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Isaiah 9:6a)

Introduction

Christmas is a wonderful time. Sure, a lot of distractions have been added, but Christ’s first coming is worth celebrating, and when our unsaved family and friends celebrate Christmas, it is often a good opportunity to share the good news of Jesus. He came not to be admired as a cute infant but to die on a cross and to one day set all things right.

As we approach prophetic texts like Isaiah 9, we must hold two perspectives at once. On the one hand, Isaiah spoke these words in the eight century B.C., and he saw their initial fulfillment. To appreciate this, we should set ourselves among Isaiah’s original audience witnessing the words come to fruition. On the other hand, Christ completely fulfills the text. We must view Isaiah 9 in light of later revelation. We cannot abandon one perspective for the other.

LESSON OUTLINE

1. GLOOM TO GLORY – Isa 9:1-5

2. A SON IS BORN – Isa 9:6

3. HIS KINGDOM – Isa 9:7

QUESTIONS

1. How did Isaiah’s original audience likely understand this prophecy?

2. Who are the people who walked in darkness, and what does walking in darkness mean?

3. What two broad ways have Christians understand the promise that the nation will be multiplied?

4. What is the day of Midian a reference to?

5. How are all the promises of the first five verses fulfilled?

6. Why do many think “Wonderful, Counsellor” is a single title

7. What seemingly opposing truths did Isaiah affirm?

8. How is Jesus the Everlasting Father?

9. What kind of peace did Jesus bring?

10. How does this passage point toward Jesus’ second coming?

ANSWERS

1. Isaiah’s original audience likely understood chapter 9 to concern Hezekiah, the son of King Ahaz and future ruler of Judah. Hezekiah initiated religious reforms during his reign, restoring forgotten biblical practices. He exercised his authority on David’s throne according to God’s commands. In the face of mounting Assyrian force, the promise of Hezekiah’s reign may have sparked hope among despairing people. Within their lifetimes, Isaiah and his audience saw God realize this promise. During Hezekiah’s reign, Assyria set its gaze toward Judah. After squashing Judah’s allies, Assyria plowed through the cities and strongholds that protected Jerusalem. When Assyria surrounded Jerusalem, the Davidic king and his people turned to God. In Isaiah 37:36-37, the prophet recorded the results. God destroyed the enemy army and saved His people from defeat.

2. Although Zebulun and Naphtali had been brought into contempt through invasion, displacement, and resettlement, the Lord would make them glorious. Out of gloomy Galilee would emerge light. The language of darkness and anguish is a continuation of the preceding verses. Those who rejected God and His Word turned to Assyrian religious practices, like necromancy. According to the prophet, they would be in gloom and darkness (8:18-22). Despite the rejection of His people, God would intervene. Those who had rejected Him would be restored. Although they had turned to necromancers and superstition, God would not abandon them. The darkness of Isaiah 9:1 was not merely a description of their political oppression. It was a description of their spiritual darkness, rejection of God, and embrace of sin. Still, God would not abandon them.

3. Different theologians emphasize different aspects of the nation being multiplied, but these varying points of emphasis are not in conflict. Some emphasize that the kingdom of heaven has come to many nations. One nation has become many! God promised Abraham that he would be the father of many nations (Gen. 12:1-3; 17:4-5). One day, people from all nations will praise Jesus together forever and ever (Ps. 45:17; Rev. 7:9-10). Other theologians emphasize passages that indicate that the nation of Israel itself would be blessed (Jer. 31:27-28; Ezek 36:8-11). That does not need to be a point of contention. God will keep all His promises in ways far more glorious than anything we have imagined.

4. The day of Midian is a reference to Judges 7, when God reduced Gideon’s army down from twenty-two thousand to three hundred men to ensure it was clear that the victory was from Him, not Gideon’s military strength. Against seemingly impossible odds, the Lord delivered His people. The Lord would deliver His people from Assyria, as He saved them from Midian. When the Lord breaks the staff of the oppressor, it is He who does it, not us.

5. At the conclusion of the prophecy’s first section, one might ask how the promises of verses 1-5 are fulfilled. They are fulfilled through the arrival of the Child described in verses 6-7.

6. However, commas did not exist in the original Hebrew, and many scholars understand this as a single title. That is, He is a counselor of wonders or miracles. This would also fit with the other terms, which all consist of two elements, one describing the other: “mighty God,” “everlasting Father,” and “Prince of Peace.”

7. Isaiah would spend chapters hammering the fact that there is only one God and all others are worthless (Isa. 43:10 – 45:22). Yet he also said that this Chis is God.

8. Throughout the ancient world, the word “father” was a common designation for the king. A similar function for people in authority is evident in the Old Testament. Isaiah described a ruler as a father (22.21), and Job claimed this title when he provided for the needy (Job. 29:16). Crucially, in Isaiah 53:10, the Suffering Servant sees His offspring after being crushed by the Lord. These are not His physical descendants but those He has delivered. He protects and provides for His offspring through His death. Jesus – the Suffering Servant delivers us and is thereby our Father forever. He lovingly guides and provides for us, and nothing cn change His fatherly relationship with us.

9. When Jesus was born, a large heavenly army declared peace on earth (Luke 2:14). Roughly two thousand years later, we still see wars everywhere. What kind of peace did He bring? His suffering on the cross earned us peace with God (Rom. 5:1). This is an inner peace that with God now, but one day, He will also bring about full and final peace on earth (Isa. 11:6-9; 55:12).

10. His kingdom will one day fill the whole earth, and it will never be destroyed (Dan 2:35; 44-45; 7:13-14). This kingdom will be the fulfillment of the promises made to David (2 Sam. 7:16). Jesus’ second coming is not isolated from the Old Testament; it is the grand fulfillment of it.