The Promise of Christmas
“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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end …” Isaiah 9:6-7a (NIV)
“For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given …”
Over 700 years before Christ, Isaiah foretells the first Advent of Jesus! This is the promise of Christmas! It’s a prophetic promise that describes both the humanity and Deity of Christ. “For to us a child is born,” speaks to His humanity! Though born of a virgin, the Son of God would take the form of human flesh as a helpless infant! Yet, while 100% human, He was different! “… to us a son is given,” The Child is born but the Son is given! This speaks to the Deity of Jesus! He was both man and God at the same time! Theologians call this the Incarnation. As fully man, Jesus feels our pain; as God, He offers healing! As man, Jesus understands the trials and temptations of life; as God, He can give us victory over them.
“… and the government will be on His shoulders.”
Although this Advent prophecy from Isaiah is most commonly used at Christmas and you may remember it best from Handel’s Messiah, it also foretells a Second Advent. As with most prophecies in the Old Testament, Isaiah 9:6-7 foretells both a short term and long-term prediction. If the first part came true than readers would have greater confidence in anticipating the second part. That means that Isaiah’s prophecy offers us hope for today and promise for tomorrow! An undetermined number of centuries would separate the first part of Isaiah’s prophecies from the second part. Yet, one day, just as Jesus came the first time, He will come again! The first time He came as a suffering servant to provide redemption for us. The second coming of Christ will be in triumphant glory and every eye will behold Him and Isaiah says the government of mankind will rest on His shoulders! Unlike Presidential candidates today who run for office and identify with some political party, Jesus will not come to take sides. He comes to take over! The New Testament tells us what will happen in that day: “At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10, 11 (NLT)
Every President who has ever lived, every Prime Minister, every Prince, every King or Queen who has ever ruled will bow down and proclaim Jesus is LORD! He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Isaiah adds, “Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end …” (Isaiah 9:7a) How awesome is that!
What will it be like when Jesus is President? Imagine it for a moment with me as we look closer at what the Bible reveals when we make Christ the Commander-in-Chief of every decision in our lives! He is the only one qualified for that job! Isaiah tells us why as He continues the description of this child that was born at Bethlehem. Isaiah gives us four specific descriptions:
1. Wonderful Counselor – Some translations break this description into two. He is both Wonderful and He is Counselor! His counsel is so wonderful because unlike human counselors, He is the Mighty God!
2. Mighty God - That title in Hebrew is El Gibbor and it literally means “Strong Warrior and Champion.” When you make Christ the Commander-in-Chief of every decision in your life you have a Mighty God who is able to keep every promise He ever made! (And the Bible has at least 7,000 of them!)
3. Everlasting Father - A better Hebrew understanding of the title Everlasting Father would be Father of Eternity. This is the great mystery of the Incarnation, God the Father is in God the Son and they are one God. The prophet gave the Christ child to be born in Bethlehem the title Father of Eternity. When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus replied, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don’t know who I am? Anyone who has seen Me has seen the Father! So why are you asking Me to show Him to you?
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak are not My own, but My Father who lives in me does His work through Me. Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me.” John 14:9-11b (NLT)
4. Prince of Peace! – Only Jesus can bring the peace we need. He said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27 (NIV) Have you experienced His peace? It’s a peace that passes understanding.
The promise of Christmas can be yours today. Unwrap the gift of Christmas and receive Christ as your personal Lord and Savior! Make Him commander-in-chief of your life!