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HENRY T. MAHAN TAPE MINISTRY

 

The Mystery of Christ

Isaiah 9:6 ¥ tv071b

 

 

A television broadcast sermon delivered

Sunday, august 6th, 1979

By

Henry T. Mahan

 

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Transcribed, edited and published

November 3rd, 2017

 

Henry T. Mahan Tape Library

Zebulon Baptist Church

6088 Zebulon Highway

Pikeville, KY 41501

PH: 606-631-9053

 

 

__________

 

 

 

Isaiah 9:6

ÒFor unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.Ó

 

 

Listen to this text from Isaiah 9:6:  ÒFor unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given:  and the government shall be upon His shoulders: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of peace.Ó

 

IÕm going to speak to you today on the subject:  ÒTHE MYSTERY OF CHRIST.Ó 

 

ÒWe preach Christ and Him crucified.  I determine to know nothing among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified.Ó  Who is Christ, what did He do, why did He do it?  Let us look into this subject:  ÒTHE MYSTERY OF CHRIST.Ó

 

We hear people using that name, some as a by-word, some as a curse word, some as a play word, and some as a preached word, but who is Jesus Christ?

 

Now I understand as much as anybody who is listening to me the difficulty of this task which I have chosen, speaking publicly on the mystery of the person Jesus Christ.  Oh, the mysteries of Christ; how complex and mysterious is this person Jesus Christ.

 

In the same breath the prophet Isaiah called Him Òa child.Ó  He called Him, ÒThe Counselor.Ó  In the same breath that the prophet called Him, ÒThe SonÓ he called Him, ÒThe mighty God.Ó 

 

Now this is what a lot of people get all confused and messed up.  The infant is the infinite.  ThatÕs right!  He says, ÒThe Son,Ó and then called Him, ÒThe everlasting Father.Ó 

 

He says here in this Scripture:  ÒHeÕs a man of sorrowsÓ and yet ÒHeÕs the mighty God.Ó The Scripture says here that, ÒHe is despised, rejected, and hated,Ó but He is ÒWonderful.Ó  Now do you understand that?  The Scripture says here in this chapter, Isaiah 9:  ÒHis garments are rolled in bloodÓ and yet HeÕs ÒThe Prince of Peace.Ó

 

ThatÕs the mystery of Christ, the complex and serious subject Jesus Christ.  Now this ought to remind us of the necessity of studying, by searching, of inquiring, of trying to rightly understand the person of the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

ThereÕs no way possible that we can arrive at a full understanding of the mysteries of Christ in this life.  ÒWe know in part and we prophecy in part, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.Ó

 

But I want to understand something of the person of Christ.  I want to enter into the mysteries of Jesus Christ.  Job wrote this, ÒCanst thou by searching find out God?Ó  I know this; this understanding of Christ does not come by reasoning.  It does not come by research; it comes by revelation.  I know that much.

 

I know we must be Holy Spirit taught, God taught, because understanding the person of Christ, the natural man does not understand the person of Christ.  The preaching of Christ crucified is foolishness; its sure nonsense to the natural man.

 

He does not understand it.  He cannot enter into it.  His natural eye canÕt see nor his ears hear nor does his heart understand the mysteries of Christ.  ThatÕs what Job is saying; ÒCan you by searching find out God?  Can you find out the almighty to perfection?  Why itÕs higher than the heavens.  What can you know?  ItÕs deeper than hell. What can you know?  The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader than the sea.  What can you know?Ó 

 

That ought to cause us deep concern.  That ought to drive us to our knees and drive us to the Bible, drive us to the Word of God, and drive us to the dependence of the Holy Spirit because we cannot by reason and we cannot by research; we can only by revelation understand anything about the mysteries of Christ, this person Jesus Christ.

 

The apostle Paul was an educated man, in fact, he was so well taught that one of the rulers (he appeared before Felix and Agrippa and many other rulers).  And one of them said to him, ÒYouÕve just studied so much Paul that youÕve gone crazy.Ó  ThatÕs what he said.

 

Paul was a student before he met Christ.  He didnÕt understand Christ.  He didnÕt know Christ.  He didnÕt believe on Christ.  He didnÕt embrace Christ.  He didnÕt know Him. 

 

But when God revealed Christ; (now watch this) he said:  ÒGod who separated me from my motherÕs womb was pleased to reveal His Son in me.  God revealed His Son in me.  I didnÕt learn it in school; I learned it from God.Ó

 

Our Lord one day asked the disciples; He said, ÒWhom do men say that I the Son of man am?  What are they saying out there?Ó  And one of the disciples said, ÒWell, some say that youÕre John the Baptist and some say youÕre Elijah and others say you are one of the prophets.Ó

 

But He said, ÒWhom do you say that I am?Ó And Peter looked at Him and said, ÒThou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.Ó  And He said, ÒBlessed are you Simon Barjona; flesh and blood didnÕt reveal that to you but my Father which is in heaven.Ó

 

And this thing of Christ, the person of Christ, the glory of Christ, and the mysteries of Christ; we are not going to learn it by research and reasoning; you are going to learn it by revelation.  God must teach you who Christ is.

 

ThereÕs no seeing Christ except by His own light.  Now this is where so many folks miss it; they want to see Christ in the light of todayÕs lifestyle or todayÕs educational processes, or todayÕs mathematics and science, and todayÕs religious approach.  But thereÕs no understanding Christ except in His own light.

 

Now hereÕs what IÕm saying; IÕm saying, ÒChrist is the doorÓ but HeÕs the one who opens it and shuts it.  IÕm saying Christ is the lesson but HeÕs the teacher.  IÕm saying Christ Jesus is the riddle but HeÕs the answer.

 

IÕm saying that Christ Jesus is the destination but HeÕs also the way there.  IÕm saying that Christ Jesus is that which is to be seen and the light by which you see it.  He is not one of the prophets He is the prophet.  He is not a messenger of God; He is the mighty God.  ÒGod was in Christ reconciling the world unto Himself.Ó 

 

ThatÕs what led Paul to write.  ÒOh you say; this is getting complicated.Ó  My dear friend; you might as well try to put the ocean in a thimble as to try to put the infinite God in one of these minds or brains of ours.

 

ÒThe heavens canÕt contain God. The heaven of heavens is His throne and the earth is His footstool.  He considereth the nations as a drop in the bucket and the inhabitants thereof as grasshoppers.Ó

 

Paul wrote; ÒO the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and the knowledge of God.  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out.Ó 

 

The simplicity of Christ is the mystery of Christ.  ThatÕs right!  You say, the Bible talks about Òthe simplicity of Christ;Ó thatÕs the mystery.  Man complicates everything.  The simplicity of Christ is the mystery of Christ.

 

John wrote in 1 John 5:20:  ÒThe Son of God is come and hath given us an understanding that we may know Him that is true.Ó  May the Spirit of Christ give you that understanding, of the mystery of Christ. 

 

ItÕs no easy thing; itÕs no Òshake my hand and IÕll meet you in the Promised LandÓ proposition, to know the living God.  Why do you think the apostle Paul cried:  ÒO that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection? I count not myself to have apprehended.  (IÕm not already perfect.  I have not arrived).  I forget those things which are behind and I press for the mark of the prize of the high calling of Christ Jesus my Lord, that if by any means I might attain to the resurrection of the dead.Ó  You better get serious about this matter; youÕre entertaining sinners on their road to hell.  

 

The mystery of Christ; letÕs look at some of these things:

 

First of all:  Here in the text; look at it Isaiah 9:6:  ÒUnto us a child is born.  Unto us a Son is given.Ó

 

Now, the average person thinks the Holy Spirit is just repeating Himself.  He not; He is not wasting words.  And the student of the Scriptures and the student of Christ knows what HeÕs saying, ÒUnto us a child is born.  Unto us a Son is given.Ó 

 

As Jesus Christ is a child, He was born.  As He is the Son of man He was born.  He was born of Mary. He was conceived of the Holy Spirit in her womb.   And He was born after nine months just like any other child is born. 

 

As a child, as a man, He was born and as the Son of David He was born.  As the Son of man He was born.  ÒAs bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh,Ó He was born.  As our representative, ÒHe was born of woman, made under the law.  Unto us a child is born.Ó

 

But now wait a minute!  ÒUnto us a Son is given.Ó  ThatÕs different.  As the Son of God, He wasnÕt born; He was given.  He is the well-beloved, only begotten Son of the living God.  As a man, He was born as the Son of God who was sent. 

 

He was given.  ÒFor God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.Ó  Christ wasnÕt born.  Christ Jesus lived before the stars.  In fact, they were named by Him.  And when He left glory and came down here and robed Himself in human flesh as Jesus of Nazareth; thatÕs the eternal, always existent, immutable, infinite God in human flesh.

 

ÒCall His name Jesus (or Immanuel God with us).  A child is born; thatÕs right, but a Son is given, not born, but sent and given.  ThatÕs what the angel said.  ThatÕs the best news you can hear.  The angel said, ÒBehold, we bring you glad tidings (good news) of great joy.  Unto you is born a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.Ó

 

This person Jesus is born but He is Christ the Lord.  ThatÕs what John the Baptist says, ÒBehold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.Ó

 

When Simeon took that child Jesus in his arms he lifted his eyes to heaven and he said:  ÒFather; IÕve seen thy salvation.Ó  When the Father spoke at the baptism of Christ; (Christ came down to the river Jordan and was baptized of John). ÒAnd the heavens opened and the Spirit of God descended upon Him in the form of a dove.Ó  And the Father spake and said, ÒThis is my Son.  A Son is given.Ó

 

ÒThis is not the son of Joseph; this is my Son.  This is not the son of Mary; this is my Son in whom IÕm well pleased.  This is my Son, my Son before the world was ever made, my only begotten, my well-beloved, my eternal Son.Ó  ThatÕs what the Father said, ÒThis is my Son.Ó

 

God manifest in human flesh; I can have no peace till God in human flesh I see.  And because He came down here I have a representative, a man to restore what a man lost. ÒIn Adam I die; in Christ IÕm made alive.Ó

 

ÒBy the disobedience of one (Adam) I was made a sinner; by the obedience of one, (Christ); I was made righteous.Ó  I have a representative.  And because God became a man I have a ransom; a price is paid.

 

He said, ÒDeliver his soul from going down into the pit; I found a ransom,Ó there is only one ransom, and thatÕs Christ.

 

And because Christ came to this earth in human flesh I have a righteousness.  ÒHe was made sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.Ó  And because God came in human flesh I have a resurrection hope.

 

ÒBeloved; what manner of love God hath bestowed upon us that we should be called sons of God.  It doth not yet appear what we shall be but when He shall appear we shall be like Him.  And he that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.Ó

 

What is this hope?  Christ is coming back.  HeÕs our resurrection hope.  Because He died and He was buried and because He rose again and because He lives I have the hope of living also after I die because He said:  ÒBecause I live you shall live.Ó  ThatÕs the promise because I live you shall live, not because you did this, that, and the other.  Not because you deserved it, but because ÒI live, ye shall live.Ó  A child is born but a Son hath been given.Ó

 

Now watch this, it says next; ÒHis name shall be called Wonderful.Ó  I had a friend say to me one time, ÒEver since I saw this verse I never call anything on this earth wonderful.Ó

 

Thousands of things are called by names they donÕt deserve.  The only one who deserves the title ÒWonderfulÓ is Christ who is, ÒWonderful.Ó  HeÕs called, ÒWonderfulÓ because He is ÒWonderful.Ó 

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His eternal glory.  Before the morning stars sang together, before the sons of God shouted for joy, before the mountains ever rolled out of the deep, before God ever separated the earth by the waters, before God ever made man and put him on this earth; Christ lived in eternal glory.

 

ÒIn the beginning is the Word and Word was with God and the Word was God.  And all things were made by Him.  Without Him was not anything made that was made.Ó  And it was made by Him and for Him.

 

All right; HeÕs Wonderful in His love.  ItÕs everlasting love.  He said, ÒI have drawn you, with an everlasting love.Ó  ItÕs unchangeable love.  He said, ÒIÕll never leave you.  IÕll never forsake you.Ó

 

ÒHaving loved His own He loved them to the end.Ó  He draws us with an everlasting love, with an immutable love, and with an infinite love, even the death of the cross.Ó  ThatÕs how much He loved us.

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His love.  HeÕs Wonderful in His life.  ÒHe knew no sin.Ó  It doesnÕt say ÒHe did no sin,Ó though He didnÕt; but He actually knew no sin.  He did no sin but He didnÕt even know sin.  He didnÕt even think sin!

 

ThereÕs no sin charged to the perfect Lamb of God.  ÒWhen reviled He reviled not again.Ó  When hated, He loved.  He was Wonderful in His life. 

 

Even Pilate said, ÒI find no fault in Him.Ó  If he could have found just one flaw; he would have exaggerated it.  But he said, ÒI canÕt find one fault in this man.Ó   Even Christ said to the people; ÒWhich of you convinceth me of sin?Ó  He knew no sin!

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His death.  You know; I thought about this; it says Christ in Philippians 2, ÒChrist who thought it not robbery to be equal with God made Himself of no reputation. He took upon Himself the form of a servant, became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.Ó  You knowing that God should die is an amazing miracle.  ItÕs beyond human comprehension that God should die in human flesh.

 

Well, if God should die on a cross, on a hated cruel cross, on a criminalÕs cross that God should die on a cross is unbelievable.  But that God should die on a cross for sinners, for His enemies; that makes it even more wonderful.

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His life, in His love, in His death, and HeÕs Wonderful in His resurrection:

 

ÒBorn among cattle, in poverty sore

Living in meekness by GalileeÕs shore

Dying in shame while the wicked ones swore

Jesus, Wonderful Lord.Ó

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His resurrection.  You know, I was reading the other Sunday that Scripture where the women came to the tomb on that Sunday morning, the first day of the week.  And the stone was rolled away.

 

And they met an angel standing right there before the tomb.  And He asked this question:  ÒWhy seek ye the living among the dead?  HeÕs not here, HeÕs risen.  Why do you seek the living among the dead?

 

Why do you seek Christ among the relics, among the idols, among the dead ceremonies, among the dead rituals?  You take the Holy Land, Jerusalem, and all those relics, and all those shrines, and all those altars, and all those sights; youÕre like the women who came on that Sunday morning looking to minister to a dead Lord.

 

HeÕs not dead; He lives.  HeÕs not there; HeÕs in glory. ÒWhy do you seek the living among the dead?  HeÕs not here; He is risen. HeÕs not only risen but, ÒHe sat down at the right hand of God expecting till His enemies become His footstool.Ó

 

Do you know the Old Testament priests, the sons of Levi and all those fellows, Aaron; they never sat down.  Well, they offered the morning sacrifice, the evening sacrifice, the Day of Atonement, and all of these different sacrifices, but they never sat down.

 

There wasnÕt a chair anywhere in that tabernacle or courtyard because those men never finished their work.  Their sacrifices couldnÕt put away sin. 

 

ÒBut this man after He had offered one sacrifice for sin, one sacrifice, (His own innocent blood), He sat down having finished His workÓ and is waiting until everything He died to accomplish shall be fulfilled.  And then HeÕs coming back to claim His own. 

 

HeÕs Wonderful in His resurrection but watch this: ÒHis name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor.Ó  HereÕs you a good question:  In Isaiah 40: 13; listen to this: ÒWho hath directed the Spirit of the Lord or being His counsellor hath taught Him; with whom took He counsel?Ó

 

ThatÕs a good question isnÕt it?  With whom did the Lord God take counsel, not angry men?Ó  IÕll tell you who, Christ the Son.  Buy you a Bible.  Genesis chapter 1:26; He said, ÒLet us make man, let us.Ó  ThatÕs the Father and the Son.

 

It says in Genesis 11:7 when they started building that tower to heaven, you know, the first idolaters; God said, ÒLet us go down and confound their language.Ó  The Counselor was with Him. 

 

In Zachariah 6:13, ÒEven he shall build the temple of the LORD; and he shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon his throne; and he shall be a priest upon his throne: and the counsel of peace shall be between them both.Ó

 

And in John 14:16 the Lord Jesus said to His disciples:  ÒI will pray the Father and HeÕll send you another comforter.Ó  I canÕt explain the Trinity.  I read about it all the way through the Bible.  ÒLet us make man, Let us go down and confound their language.Ó 

 

And at the baptism of the Son the Father spoke and said ÒThis is my Son.Ó  The Holy Spirit manifested Himself in the form of a dove.

 

The Lord Jesus Christ stood here this day and said:  ÒIÕll pray the Father and HeÕll send you the Holy Spirit, the comforter.Ó  I just know that God is God.  Christ is our Redeemer.  The Holy Spirit is our teacher.

 

God almighty chose us and Christ Jesus redeemed us and the Holy Spirit reveals Christ to us.  HeÕs the Counselor.

 

And then in the next place His name is the Òmighty God.Ó  I wish I could make this plain to you.  If I could you would fall on your face before Jesus of Nazareth like Saul did, Saul of Tarsus, and cry, ÒLord; what will you have me do?Ó

 

Or like Thomas; they called him the Òdoubter.Ó  But thereÕs no doubt about this; he said, ÒMy Lord and my God.Ó  And John on the Isle of exile, you know, when he was exiled.   John in the Book of Revelation; he fell on his face and he said, ÒI fell at His feet like a dead man.Ó  HeÕs God.

 

When Paul was saying goodbye to the elders of the church in Acts 20; he said:  ÒNow you feed the church of God.  You feed the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.Ó  Whose blood?  GodÕs church; God purchased it with GodÕs own blood.

 

In Hebrews chapter 1:8; He said:  ÒWhich of the angels said He at any time thou art my Son?  This day have I begotten thee.  To the Son He saith:  Thy throne O God is forever.Ó 

 

This is what raised the anger of those Jews then, the religious leaders.  Christ said:  ÒI and my Father are one.Ó  And they began to pick up these stones.  They were going to stone Him for blasphemy.

 

And He said:  ÒWell IÕve done many good works among you.  For which of these do you stone me?Ó  And they said:  ÒWeÕre not stoning you because you did a good work.  We are stoning you because you are a man and you claim to be God.Ó

 

They knew what He was saying.  Do you know what IÕm saying?  IÕm saying just what you think I am; ÒJesus of Nazareth is God almighty in human flesh, the mighty God, the everlasting Father.Ó

 

Listen; let me tell you something; when God called Moses in Exodus, the first part of Exodus, to lead the children of Israel out of Egypt; well Moses was tending sheep.  He was 80 years old and God spoke to him.

 

First of all he saw this bush that was burning but wasnÕt consumed.  And he walked up closer to it and the voice said: ÒMoses; take off your shoes, you are on holy ground.Ó  And Moses took off his shoes and God talked to him there.

 

God told him to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt.  Moses said, ÒWell now if I go down there and tell Pharaoh to let the people go; whom shall I say hath sent me?Ó  And God spake and said,   ÒYou tell them I AM sent you.Ó  And thatÕs the name of God ÒI AM.Ó

 

Now, when Jesus Christ was in the Garden of Gethsemane praying and the soldiers came after Him, He said:  ÒWhom seek ye?Ó  And they said:  (you read this in John 18:1-6) Òwe seek Jesus of Nazareth.Ó  And He said, ÒI AM.Ó  Now that (He) is in italics; that means itÕs not in the original, ÒI AM.Ó 

 

And those soldiers fell backwards.  The glory of that voice, the deity of that voice, the authority of that voice, the power of that voice, the same voice that John heard on Patmos, the same voice that Moses heard from the burning bush, the same voice that Adam heard; ÒAdam, where art thou.Ó  The same voice that Cain heard, ÒWhere is your brother?  I AM.Ó

 

ÒHe is the everlasting Father and HeÕs the Prince of Peace.Ó  HeÕs the author of Peace between the sinner and God.  HeÕs the author of peace between Jew and Gentile.  HeÕs the author of peace in the troubled heart and HeÕs the author of eternal peace.

 

ÒTherefore being justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace!Ó