What incredible words are spoken in Isaiah 9:2-7! Who knew that the entire Gospel was foretold in these verses nearly 800 years before the appearance of Jesus.
2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.
3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.
4 For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor.
5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
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 Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the greatness 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.
Since Adam, mankind has sat in darkness. When Jesus came He shattered the power that had held us captive and defeated him who had the power of death, breaking his yoke and taking his plunder.
Throughout Jesus’ ministry He used these terms to relate who He was, His mission and purpose. We could go into all sorts of tangents discussing these ideas but I want to focus on the crux of the text and how it is summarised in the New Testament:
Because God's children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death (Heb 2:14).
The Prince of Darkness* has been destroyed, his world of sin and darkness have had a great light beam down on them -- the Son of God coming to earth as the child of man.
As the child He broke the power of death overshadowing all mankind and established His kingdom. This kingdom commenced when He ground the kingdoms of men to a powder and it is now growing into a huge mountain filling all the earth.
It’s your choice to be held captive in your brokenness, hurt, shame and pain or be set free for an abundant life. It’s your choice to either be ground to a powder with the kingdoms of men or stand for eternity with Jesus in that massive cloud piercing, snow-capped mountain.
* The Prince of Darkness is a term used in John Milton's poem Paradise Lost referring to Satan as the embodiment of evil.
All quotes are from the NCV