Isaiah 9:6-7
Let me go right to the verses…
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
For anyone who struggles to see Jesus in the Old Testament, may I encourage you to read the prophecies that come to us through the Book of Isaiah? A good 700 years before Jesus is born, God the Father gives Isaiah several prophetic messages to share regarding the birth of Jesus that is incredibly specific and, once Jesus is born, totally fulfilled. He does much the same relating to Jesus’ death and resurrection.
These verses tend to crop up throughout the Christmas season and I believe the reason for that is because of the hope they bring. Some examples…
For a child is born to us… Of all the ways in which God could have sent a Savior, He chose the humblest. Jesus comes into the world a baby, born into a modest if not flat-out poor household. Jesus’ humanity was used by God to make it easier for us to relate to Him. It also made it easier for Jesus to understand our shortcomings as he lives out an entire lifetime willing to die for our sins.
The government will rest on His shoulders… No earthly leader can be greater than Jesus. Political leaders are where they are as part of God’s plan, no matter how hard they try to delude themselves into believing in their own greatness.
With that, Isaiah then gives us a look at the nature of this child who has come to save the world. He will be called Wonderful Counselor, the One who can provide you with wisdom no matter what obstacles you face. Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is mighty, and strong beyond anything we can imagine. Everlasting. Jesus isn’t going anywhere. He leads you in this life and draws you into eternity with Him. Prince of Peace. Jesus is the embodiment of peace, a peace He uses to invigorate us, comfort us, and reassure us. It’s a peace that is there for the asking whenever and whyever we need it.
And finally, Isaiah tells us that Jesus will rule with fairness and justice, forgiving those who come to know Him as Lord and Savior. It is he tells us, a passionate commitment, one that will never be denied to those who turn to Him.
The Christmas season, joyful as it should be, can be brutal for many of us for many reasons. If we can grant ourselves a moment to look at what the birth of Jesus means, the never-ending gift that it extends to every one of us no matter what, it helps us to look past the burdens and trials of this world and focus on the hope that is our Messiah!