Luke 15:11-24 - The Pursuit of the Father

The Ultimate Rescue Story

Good evening and welcome to the Well Community Church. If you’ve just joined us, it is so good to be here with you tonight. If we haven’t met, my name is Josh. I’m one of the pastors here, and I would love the opportunity to meet you afterwards if we get a chance.

Tonight, we’re continuing in our Advent series. You know, there are few things that grab our attention quite like a powerful and successful rescue story. For example, several years ago, a movie came out called World Trade Center. Maybe you’ve seen it. It’s the true story of two Port Authority officers who rushed to the scene of the 9/11 attacks to rescue people who were trapped. As the story unfolds, they themselves actually end up trapped under dozens of feet of rubble.

We join these two characters in the story and hear their dialogue as they battle just to stay alive. They’re dehydrating, they’re crushed under the weight of the debris, and they keep talking to one another to stay conscious. At a point where it seems like all hope is lost, a light shines down into that rubble. Tears begin to flow as we realize these men are going to be saved. Their families are crying, and there’s just something about that moment that causes our spirits to soar. It’s more than just a sense of relief; we are filled with actual hope. We can sense it and feel it.

I share this metaphor with you because I believe it is a powerful picture of the Christmas story. That is what Christmas is really all about: it’s God’s rescue story. It is His perfect rescue story for a world crushed by darkness. Christ came into this world to rescue us, to forgive us of our sins, and to actually make us children of God. That’s Christmas. Tonight, we’re going to be looking at God’s light as it shines in the darkness of our broken world by looking at Isaiah chapter nine.

A Light in the Land of Anguish

If you have your Bibles, turn with me to Isaiah chapter nine. While you’re turning there, let’s look at the context. The prophet Isaiah is writing these words to the people of Judah who, at this point in their history, are feeling very conquered and defeated. The Northern Kingdom of Israel has already been conquered by the empire of Assyria. They’re gone. The Southern Kingdom of Judah, while not completely conquered yet, is being dominated and bullied by Assyria. It is a very dark time.

Isaiah 9:1-2 (NASB)

But there will be no [more] gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make [it] glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them.

There are a couple of things to notice in the text. The land of Zebulun and Naphtali refers to tribes of Israel located up by the Sea of Galilee. They were the first lands to be conquered by Assyria, which is why the text says they were treated with contempt. But notice that these words are speaking about a coming deliverer—a light that will bring hope.

This is speaking about Jesus, who would eventually come right out of those very lands. While Jesus was born in Bethlehem, He was raised near the Sea of Galilee. He had His headquarters for ministry and launched His work right in the very area where this darkness first hit. Seven hundred years after Isaiah wrote these words, Jesus was born, fulfilling this prophecy. Matthew applies this passage directly to Jesus in Matthew chapter four.

Just as the people in Isaiah’s day were living in darkness, the people in the time of Jesus were also living in darkness. They were under Roman rule, overburdened with taxes we could never dream of, and deeply oppressed. They were a broken, humiliated people.

Walking Through Our Own Darkness

As we think about our own lives today, we may not be under the oppression of Assyria or the Roman Empire, but we certainly live in a world that has its own darkness. Increasingly, we can see it and feel it. We think of a pandemic that just won’t go away. We think of how politically divided we are; many have said they can’t remember a time when our nation was more divided. We struggle to have meaningful, respectful dialogue with people of opposing views. We have inflation like we haven’t seen in decades, fears about the future of our children, and concerns about education.

To be honest, the immorality of our culture has gone completely insane; it feels like the direction we’re headed isn’t even sane anymore. Internationally, we see disasters, uncertainty, and fear constantly in the news. On top of all that, we have our own personal issues of darkness, don’t we? There is depression, anxiety, health concerns, and financial challenges. Sometimes it feels like we are living in a very dark land. Just like the people of Isaiah’s day, and just like the people when Jesus was born, we desperately need the light of Christ today.

The Promise of a New Kingdom

Verses three through five of Isaiah describe the Messiah’s power to break the oppression weighing on God’s people.

Isaiah 9:3-5 (NASB)

You shall multiply the nation, You shall increase their gladness; They will be glad in Your presence As with the gladness of harvest, As men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For You shall break the yoke of their burden and the staff on their shoulders, The rod of their oppressor, as at the battle of Midian. For every boot of the booted warrior in the [battle] tumult, And cloak rolled in blood, will be for burning, fuel for the fire.

There is quite a bit said there, but essentially, God is depicted as a freedom fighter who, against all odds, leads His people to be free. He references the battle of Midian, where the judge Gideon led 300 men in an impossible battle against thousands of Midianites and achieved victory. God will do this for His people again.

Looking back, we understand that these words describe the second coming of Christ, when He will completely vanquish evil and establish His physical kingdom on Earth. In Isaiah nine, we have words describing both the first advent and the second advent mixed together. We celebrate Christmas as the first advent—the first coming of our Lord Jesus.

The Child Born, the Son Given

This leads us to the beautiful words of verse six, describing the character and person of Christ.

Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

The first part of this verse captures what Mike talked about last week regarding the incarnation. Notice the phrase, “For a child will be born to us.” This speaks to the humanity of Christ. He would be physically born into the world through a human birth. “To us” speaks to the covenant people of God; He would grow up among the people of Israel.

But then we see the phrase, “a son will be given.” This is the heavenly perspective. Jesus is given by the Father. He has eternally existed, so there is a divinity here. He is both born and given. This isn’t the first time Isaiah mentioned this; in chapter seven, he told us a virgin would bear a son and call Him Immanuel—God with us.

As Mike said last week, divinity wrapped Himself in humanity because of His great love for us. Jesus didn’t choose to come as a “big dog.” He wasn’t the most famous, rich, or powerful. He wasn’t even physically attractive. Even if He had come in those ways, it would have been an infinite step down for the God of the universe. Instead, He chose to come as someone humble and poor. He lived His life as a servant. He emptied Himself, hid His glory, and walked among us. He came as an underdog to save us from our sins.

Philip Yancey captures this beautifully in his book, The Jesus I Never Knew. He writes:

“The God who roared, who could order armies and empires about like pawns on a chess board, this God emerged in Palestine as a baby who could not speak or eat solid food or control his bladder. Who depended on a teenage couple for shelter, food and love. The God who created matter took shape within it. As an artist might become a spot on a painting or a playwright, a character within his own play. God wrote a story only using real characters on the pages of real history. The word became flesh.”

Isaiah tells us the government will rest on His shoulders. One day, this child will rule the entire world. He will reign as the true King. In Isaiah’s day, the leaders were unreliable and corrupt. In Jesus’ day, the Roman Empire was oppressive. These words give hope to anyone under corrupt leadership. The Messiah will govern with true wisdom, justice, and compassion. Until the day He reigns over all the earth, we put our hope in the spiritual kingdom He is building in our hearts.

Our Wonderful Counselor

Jesus is given four beautiful titles here to give us hope. The first is “Wonderful Counselor.” This speaks to His authority to rule. He is all-wise and all-knowing. The Hebrew word for “wonderful” carries the idea of being supernatural. His wisdom makes the wisdom of Solomon look like nothing.

On a personal level, there is a massive difference between making decisions based on our own logic and seeking the wisdom of God. I remember the day I married my wife, Chris. A mentor of mine, Joe Broussard—the man who actually organized the event where Brad first came to know Jesus—looked at me during the wedding and said, “Josh, in asking Chris to be your bride, you have chosen wisely.” (I’m not sure if he said the same thing to her, but I’ll let that go!)

Before Chris, I had plenty of relationships that didn’t go well. Most of the time, I wasn’t following Christ and I certainly wasn’t seeking God’s will. Chris was the first relationship where we sought His counsel and the counsel of His people. Looking back twenty-six years later, I can say, “God, thank you for bringing the right person into my life.”

We are not personally wise enough to navigate life alone. We need God’s wisdom found in His Word and led by His Spirit.

James 1:5 (NASB)

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

Maybe you’re in a situation today where you need that wisdom. Maybe it’s a big decision, a challenge in raising your children, a difficult confrontation at work, or fear about the future. God is with us, and He wants to share His wisdom generously. He will guide you as you feed on His Word.

Sometimes, following His counsel is like driving in the Fresno fog. The fog finally came back this year, didn’t it? When you drive in that thick fog at night, you just need enough light to see a few feet in front of you to keep going. That is often how God reveals His counsel. He gives you the next step, and as you move forward in humble dependence, He gives you the next few feet. He keeps us close to Him.

John 16:13 (NASB)

’But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.

Our Mighty God

He is also the “Mighty God.” This speaks of His power to rule supreme. He is omnipotent. Isaiah makes it clear: the Messiah is God in the flesh. Just as He wants to share His wisdom, He wants to share His strength with us.

Do you feel tired? Overworked? Overwhelmed by parenting? Maybe you feel like giving up on your ministry or even giving up on everything. He is the Mighty God. He has power and might that He wants to share with you—power you might not even know about yet. He is waiting for you to ask for His help. He is the God who conquered sin, Satan, and death. He is with us in every situation to supernaturally empower us to follow Him.

Ephesians 1:18-20 (NASB)

[I pray that] the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. [These are] in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly [places],

Do you hear what Paul is saying? The very power that raised Jesus from the dead lives in us through the Holy Spirit.

Our Eternal Father

Next, He is called the “Eternal Father.” This describes His relationship with us. He is a protector and a provider. He is everlasting, and He rules over us like a benevolent parent.

For some, the word “father” is painful. Maybe your earthly father was distant, abusive, or abandoned you. It breaks God’s heart when that is your experience. But what Isaiah is telling us is that we have an Eternal Father whose love is indescribable. His care goes deeper than any human love could ever reach.

Ephesians 1:3-5 (NASB)

Blessed [be] the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly [places] in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,

This means you were loved by God before you were even born. You had a purpose before you were born. God was pursuing you before you were born. This love has the power to redeem any life.

I have a great friend from college named Steve. His biological father abandoned him. Then his stepfather abused him physically and emotionally before also abandoning the family. He was abandoned twice before he even finished elementary school. But today, Steve is one of the most loving husbands and fathers I know. He opened his heart to the transformative work of his heavenly Father. You can trust in that same love and care this Christmas.

Our Prince of Peace

Finally, He is the “Prince of Peace.” This is the fruit of His rule. Peace results when the Messiah reigns. He came so that we could have peace with God through His death and be reconciled through His resurrection.

He wants us to live under the control of His peace, even when life is chaotic. Maybe you have new trials this Christmas—financial pressure, family dysfunction, or health issues. God never promised life would be easy, but He promised relief through His presence. He gives peace that can turn a trial into a tool to make us more like Jesus.

Sometimes He calls us through trials so that others can see how we handle them. They see Him at work in us, and it encourages them. We represent His light in the darkness.

John 14:27 (NASB)

’Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

John 16:33 (NASB)

‘These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.’

A Transformed Heart, A Transformed World

We see the perfection of Jesus in these titles. He is the Wonderful Counselor (qualified to rule), the Mighty God (all-powerful), the Eternal Father (a protector), and the Prince of Peace (the result of His rule). We desperately need all of this.

In this first advent, God isn’t establishing a physical kingdom yet. Instead, He is bringing His kingdom through the transformation of human hearts. A transformed heart leads to a transformed life, which leads to transformed relationships, families, churches, and neighborhoods. Transformation starts with each person humbly submitting their heart to this child who was born.

Where do you need the light of Christ to shine today? Do you need the Counselor’s wisdom? The Mighty God’s strength? Do you need to trust the Eternal Father’s provision? Do you need the Prince of Peace to calm your anxiety or trauma? He is Emmanuel. He knows exactly where you are, and He cares more than you know.

Experiencing this isn’t complex, but it isn’t always easy. God has given us His Word, His Spirit, and His people. We need to feed on the Word consistently. We experience the Spirit through worship and prayer—not as a checklist, but as a place to be honest and develop intimacy. And we experience His people by living out the “one anothers” of the New Testament: praying for one another, bearing burdens, and serving together. That is why community life is so vital here at The Well.

From the Manger to the Cross

Finally, let’s remember that Christmas always points us toward Easter. Before Jesus could bear the government on His shoulders, He had to bear the cross on His shoulders. The manger leads to Calvary.

Jesus lived a perfect life, performed miracles, and loved the outcasts. His compassion led Him to follow the Father’s plan all the way to the resurrection. Now, He calls you to faith and invites you to abide in Him.

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB)

But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A royal PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR [God’s] OWN POSSESSION, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

The name of Jesus brings transformation. Where there is brokenness, He brings healing. Where there is shame, He brings dignity. Where there is fear, He brings courage. Where there is despair, He brings hope. And where there is darkness, Jesus brings light.

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, thank you for this time together in your Word. Thank you that you are Emmanuel, God with us. This Christmas season, we can be so distracted by the busyness. We ask that you would move our hearts so that we would be in awe of the fact that you came, born in a manger, went to a cross, and conquered death. You are with us right now through your Spirit and the hope of the Gospel. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.