For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” vs. 6
Isaiah 9:2-7
The coronation of a new king was, for the people of Jerusalem and Judah, like celebrating the birth of a child, a son sent from God to be their righteous ruler. As early Christians read Isaiah’s words in their scriptures, composed for just such an occasion, their minds were drawn to the person of Jesus, and they began to apply these words to him. Indeed, conditioned by many years of listening to Handel’s Messiah, that’s exactly what most of us have come to believe. And while Jesus, in his lifetime was never addressed in this way, by faith his followers have come to know him as the Christ, the incarnate word of God. And in that role the titles of Isaiah are eerily appropriate. It will be fitting for us to keep this in mind tomorrow night as we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Yes, he was a vulnerable baby in a manger, but to the eyes of faith he is ever-so-much more than that. He really is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and billions of people around the world have come to know him as the Prince of Peace. There’s just one thing. He’s not like the kings of Judah and or any other petty earthly despot. His realm is a spiritual one, and his reign will have no end!
Thought for the Day: Why are the words of the Messiah so powerful?
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