A Child Is Born. . . . A Son Is Given
Seven hundred years before Mary gave birth to the Son of God, the prophet Isaiah was given a vision of His coming and character, “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.”
It is interesting to note the order and wording of the prophet. “Unto us, a child is born,” he said, and “unto us a son is given,” he finished. The first part, a child is born, is a direct reference to His humanity, His incarnation. The second part, a son is given, speaks of deity. When Mary held her baby that Christmas night, in her arms was God in flesh and blood. When she kissed her baby, she kissed the face of God.
What message did God convey to us through the child born and the Son given? Jesus could be called Wonderful because only He was born free of a sinful nature. The adjective wonderful is indicative of a miracle. Jesus Christ was the miracle child. That is what makes Christmas unique and special to Christians. Think of it this way. Mary was told by Gabriel, “The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). Gabriel did not say that he was the son of Joseph, but the Son of God. Therefore, being the Son of God, no sinful nature was passed on to Him and no sin was ever found in Him. Pontus Pilate himself would state, “I find no fault in him.” His very nature was wonderful. God Himself said of Jesus, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). And Jesus said of Himself, “He that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him” (Jn. 8:29).
The Lord Jesus was called Counselor. When Jesus had ended the Sermon on the Mount, “the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mt. 7:28-29).
At the age of 12, the boy Jesus astonished the scribes and elders with his knowledge and authority. Luke recorded the incident saying, “And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers” (Lk. 2:47). When Jesus spoke the people listened. On one occasion, Jewish officers said, “Never man spake like this man” (Jn. 7:46).
He is The mighty God. This title comes from the combination of two Hebrew words: El Gibbor. El is the name for God, and Gibbor means strong, mighty, and champion. Some say El Gibbor also can be defined as hero. The great might of our Savior confused His own family and people. They could not comprehend such mighty power. Once when He had finished teaching in one of their synagogues, Matthew wrote of the response of the people, saying, “that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works?” Confused by both His words and works, the people queried, “Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas?” (Mt. 13:54-55).
The Gift-Child shall be called The Everlasting Father. The title literally means The Father of Eternity. Implied by the prophet was that the Messiah was the source of eternal life. Thus Jesus could say unto Nicodemus, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (Jn. 3:16-17). And John 3:36 says, “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life.” Everlasting life has its source in the Son, called also the Everlasting Father.
The last of the five divine titles is The Prince of Peace. Sar-Shalom from which Prince of Peace translates indicates that the mighty God will be a benevolent ruler bringing eternal peace on earth through the establishment of His kingdom. The Prince of Peace is Immanuel, God incarnates, the fulfillment of Gabriel’s message of praise to the shepherds, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men” (Lk. 2:14).
What child is this? He is the Son of the Highest, the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ.
Merry Christmas !!!!!
