“For 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.” (Isaiah 9:6)
Whenever a child is born it is a momentous event. There is truly something life-changing about bringing a child into your home. It is such a significant event that we mark that date as it rolls around every year not only to track the age of the one born but to celebrate that special day.
However, when the prophet Isaiah made the announcement, “For unto us a child is born” he was not announcing a new arrival at the prophet’s house. They did not fly a blue ribbon in their window because they gave birth to a son. No, as you listen to the rest of his message there was something very unique about this Son who was given — He would carry the weight of government on His shoulders. He would be a king. Then the titles He would bare were even more astounding, “wonderful counsellor, mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Wow, who is this child who was born, who is this Son given? It was not the son of Isaiah and his wife but the child who would be born hundreds of years later to a young woman named Marry. Just two chapters earlier Isaiah had given this prophecy: “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” (Isaiah 7:14)
“A sign” — something miraculous, something unmistakably God at work, a virgin shall bear a son. Another title “Immanuel” — God with us.
This is why over two thousand years later we still mark the birthday of that child who was born to a virgin named Mary in a little Hebrew town called Bethlehem. He was no ordinary child but the mighty God, the Everlasting Father become a man. He has another name — Jesus — God our Saviour.
So, if when Isaiah announced, “unto us, a child is born” he was not announcing a child born into his family, then who is the “us” to whom this Son is given? Not just to Isaiah’s family, but to all of us is this Son given.
Jesus Christ is God’s Christmas gift to you and me, to all mankind. He became a man so that He might die on the cross for our sins. All those who have put their faith in Him have received the gift of Immanuel, God’s presence, of the Prince of Peace, peace with God, of a Wonderful Counsellor and an Everlasting Father. I pray you would receive God’s Christmas gift, His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Merry Christmas.