"For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder: and His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."-- Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah was the greatest of the prophets and his poetic writings provide the best picture and the richest revelation of Jesus Christ in the Old Testament. To understand the full impact of just how closely he described the life and times of Jesus, you need to understand that Isaiah lived about 740 years before Christ! His ministry to the people of Judah, the southern kingdom of the Jews, began when the ten tribes that made up the northern kingdom of Israel were being carried away into captivity by the invading Assyrians and ended some fifty years later, about the time Judah was taken captive into Babylon. That he was able to so accurately and beautifully predict how our Christ would come to us, live with us, and die by us is nothing short of amazing, and clearly indicates just how God-inspired are his words.
As I write this message, the hustle and bustle of the holiday season is beginning to subside and we can take a few moments to stop and think about what Christmas really means to us. Over the last few weeks we had many opportunities to celebrate the birth of our Savior, to reflect on how God with us impacts our lives. We had church services we could attend and concerts of special Christmas music and Nativity scenes our children depicted for us. But now all that crashing wave has passed and we can think about the message Isaiah and others gave us.
That Isaiah lived so long before Christ yet was able to so clearly describe His life is a sure indication that God spoke through Isaiah, and that the promises He makes are true and trustworthy. The passages from the Old Testament that relate directly to New Testament scripture and the Gospel can be used to corroborate one another, giving validity to both for those who need more "proof" than faith alone can offer them. It is not just that what Isaiah predicted came true, it is that he so accurately described what would come to life over 700 years later that gives perfect credence to his words.
But for myself, when I read this particular verse of Isaiah, I not only feel wonder in his prophesy, but I take great comfort in his choice of words. "For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given." Not just to you, not just to me, not just to those scattered tribes of Israel or to the people of Judah who were slipping into idolatry, but to all of us did Jesus come. He was born for all our sakes. This makes it personal, this birth of the Christ, this giving of a Son. He was given for all of us, this greatest gift, and all the rule of heaven was placed upon His shoulder.
And note that Isaiah did not say that a Child will be born, or that a Child was born, but that a Child is born. Even though Isaiah knew that he and everyone that lived during his days would be dead long before this Child would be born, he realized that the Savior would be for him and all the people of his time, just as He would be for those alive when Jesus walked the earth. And that also means He came for us who were born long after Jesus rose from the grave, and for all of those who will come after us until the end of time when Jesus comes again as Judge.
Unto us a Child is born, the Prince of Peace, the Son of God.
Amen.
