Hope of Christmas
The world celebrates Christmas to remember the birth of Jesus over two thousand years ago. His birth and life had been foretold by prophets hundreds of years earlier, including the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 9:6, it is written, “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.” Isaiah gave us the hope of Christmas and beyond through this powerful proclamation.
“For unto us a Child is born!” Just as Isaiah wrote, Jesus came into this world as a baby born of virgin birth. Christ coming into this world as a baby shows his humanity – the human side of him. While on earth, he experienced all the emotions and temptations of man, but yet did not sin. (Hebrews 4:15). Because of this, Jesus understands our weaknesses very well.
“For unto us a Son is given” speaks of the deity of Christ, as one that was given, indicating that He existed before he came to earth. The Son was given for the redemption of the world. “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, and whoever believes in Him shall not die but have eternal life” (John 3:16)
“The government shall be upon his shoulders” looks beyond the time of Christ’s birth, death, resurrection and His Second Coming. While Christ rules in the hearts of his followers today, this prophetic future kingdom would be a literal earthly kingdom ruled by Christ himself. “Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years.” (Revelation 20:4)
The divine ruler is a ‘Wonderful Counselor’. A good counselor is characterized by wisdom, knowledge and understanding. “God has hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge in Christ.” (Colossians 2:3) Christ has already demonstrated his wisdom as a Counselor during his earthly ministry. “The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” (Mark 1:22)
The divine ruler is ‘Mighty God’ himself. A mighty ruler who governs with power and authority with the best interest of his subjects. Christ has demonstrated his power in many ways – by his ability to forgive sins, in commanding nature to obey him, his authority over sickness and disease, his ability to defeat Satan and the powers of darkness etc.
The divine ruler is the “Prince of Peace”. This future kingdom that is ruled with righteousness and justice, will experience great peace! For us today, our peace comes in making “peace with God”, even in the midst of surrounding chaos. “Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.” (Romans 5:1) and this peace continues to reside in our hearts as we walk with Him. “His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ” (Philippians 4:7)