For to Us a Child Is Born - Pt. 2

 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this. (Isaiah 9:5-7 ESV).

 

We still get a few Christmas cards through the mail. Some of them are family portraits with a letter detailing some of the year’s events; others are winter scenes with fresh fallen snow; and a few are pictured with a representation of the nativity scene. I recall one Christmas season many years ago as we were opening Christmas cards, one of the boys asked, “Why is there a circle behind baby Jesus’ head?” I think it was our oldest who answered quickly with appropriate wisdom, “It’s called a halo; it’s there because he’s God.” I couldn’t help but smile.

 

In our reading we come to this second name of this Child given to us: He is “Mighty God.” All things in heaven and earth were created by him, “and in him all things hold together” (Colossians 1:16-17). The wind and the waves obey his command (Luke 8:25). People marveled at the authority of his words (Matthew 7:28-29). He is “the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End” (Revelation 22:13). There is no one greater; he has no equal. He is eternal God, who is, was, and is to come (Revelation 1:8).

 

Jesus stands above time and space—the all-present, all-knowing, all-powerful, all-glorious Lord, “who, being in very nature God … made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness” (Philippians 2:6-7). For us and our salvation, God in Jesus entered this world as a helpless baby.

 

He did all this for us. We should be stunned by the incarnation: God coming to us in human flesh. With this great event we are called to devote our life in gratitude to the babe in the manger, for he is our God.