LITTLE ROCK — “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.Of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end,upon the throne of David,and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
Who is the Child born in Bethlehem two millennia ago? Though there be those who still believe and teach that Christ Jesus is somehow less than Jehovah God Himself, this ancient prophecy of Isaiah, spoken some 700 years before Messiah’s birth leaves no doubt about the truth.
This Child, descended of David and who would assume David’s throne at the head of God’s people, is none other than Jehovah God Himself come into this world as a babe born in Bethlehem. Why do we say this? Because the inspired Scriptures tell us that this Child, promised of old, would be called: “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Jesus is not only the son of Mary, He is the Son of the Most High (cf. Luke 1:32). He is of miraculous and wonderful birth, conceived by the Holy Ghost and born of the virgin Mary; and He indeed is the wonderful fulfillment of God’s plan to send a Savior.
He is our Counselor and Advocate, rightly making known the truth about our sinfulness and the salvation God provided in Him and coming to our aid by paying in full for our sins and winning for us life and salvation.
He is the mighty God, though born a babe - a human child - and humbling Himself to fulfill all righteousness for us and to pay the price for our sins by His innocent sufferings and death upon the cross, He is God Himself.
He is the everlasting Father - not less than the Father or in some way inferior to Him, but one and the same with the eternal Father who created all things and by whom all things continue to exist.
And He is the Prince of Peace, the promised Shiloh of Genesis 49 who established peace between God and man by His atoning sacrifice upon the cross for the sins of all people (cf. Ephesians 2:13ff.).
Indeed, the divine truth expressed here - that Jesus is Jehovah God come into this world as the Babe born in Bethlehem to go to the cross for us and redeem us - is all important; for, if Jesus were just a man, His sufferings and death would not have been sufficient payment for the sins of all mankind (cf. Psalm 49:7-8). But Jesus is true God and true man, making it possible for Him to take our place under the law of God and die in our stead and making His obedience and sacrifice sufficient to redeem the whole world!
The government rests upon His shoulders and “of the increase of His government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.”
The risen Lord Jesus, even now, reigns over His Church - made up of all who look to Him and His sacrifice for their salvation. And Jesus’ kingdom continues to grow as more and more learn of Him and what He has done to open up the gates of heaven to sinners, for the Holy Spirit works through God’s Word to convince men of their sins and to comfort them with the good news of forgiveness and life everlasting in Christ Jesus.
And, as the Scriptures promise, Jesus shall come again to judge this world and condemn all who refuse to repent but continue in rebellion against Him. And He shall establish His kingdom and rule over His people “with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.”
Who is this Child born in Bethlehem and laid in a manger? He is none other than Jehovah God, the King of glory, come in human flesh to be our Savior!
Dear Lord Jesus, Son of God and son of man, graciously bring me into Your everlasting kingdom through faith in Your blood, shed for me upon the cross, and keep me among Your chosen people unto life everlasting in Your eternal kingdom. Amen.
[By Randy Moll,The Still Small Voice,Gentry,Ark. Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.]
For The Record, Pages 4 on 12/30/2009