Sermon: Jesus, The Restorer
Bible Passage: Isaiah 9:1-7

I. Let’s look at the photograph of Mount Arbel:

1. East of Mount Arbel is: (1) the country of Jordon, (2) Galilee, and (3) Golan Heights
2. On the east side the hill, there is a dangerous steep cliff
3. During wars, people were thrown off the cliff to die
4. During Jewish rebellion against Romans, many rebels hid in caves, but Romans let down baskets, caught the rebels, and killed them
5. Some believe (but there is no record) that dead bodies used to be buried in the caves of the mountain
6. Therefore, east side of Mount Arbel was known as “shadow of valley of death”
7. About mid-morning and afternoon, the mountain blocks the sunlight and casts a shadow on the eastern side

II. The village of Nazareth and northern part of Arbel belonged to Naphtali and Zebulun

1. Assyrians captured Mount Arbel, i.e., the lands of Naphtali and Zebulun, in 740-730 BC
2. Assyrian occupation of Naphtali and Zebulun was interpreted as God’s punishment on them

III. Verses 1-2 describes the state of the people of Naphtali and Zebulun under Assyrians as follows:

1. Gloomy
2. Distress
3. Humiliated
4. Walking in darkness
5. Living in the shadow of death

IV.God promised to reverse their status (9:2-3, 6) through a “Son”

1. Many thought that this prophecy was pointing to Hezekiah or Josiah
2. But both kings did not fulfill everything mentioned in the prophecy
3. Gradually, this prophecy looked for a future King (messianic prophecy)

V. Matthew 4:12-17 identifies Jesus as the “Son” who is promised in Isaiah 9:1-7

1. Jesus reverses people’s gloom, distress, humiliation, and darkness by inviting them to the “Kingdom”
2. Jesus is the restorer of our lives

TAKE AWAY

Turn to Jesus, the restorer of your life