Dec 25 Devotion: He is Immanuel

 Isaiah 9:6 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.

         This is another Old Testament prophecy concerning the birth of Jesus Christ. It begins by declaring a special child will be born. He will be a son that is given to the world and there will come a time when the government rests upon his shoulder. This description certainly fits Jesus Christ, but it could be interpreted to represent someone else. It could be one in a lineage of earthly kings that will have a special gift of leadership, and he will lift up the nation in a strong and victorious way. It could be a prophecy concerning such a leader, but the rest of the verse explains perfectly who this child truly is. It could not be any other than the promised Messiah, the God of glory.

         “His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” This cannot be anyone else but “Immanuel”. (God with us. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23) No one has the right or authority to be called “The mighty God” or the “everlasting Father” but God himself. To attribute those names to someone else other than God would be blasphemy. Only he could be so wonderful that his name is Wonderful. Only he could be so knowledgeable and wise to be called Counselor. Only he has the supreme power to subdue all enemies and be rightfully called the Prince of Peace. This child, this son, this king can only be God.

         This verse also declares that Jesus Christ (the child that would be born and the Son that would be given) is not a god or some god (as some believe) but is God. He is the Word that was made flesh (John 1:1-14) and “in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) He was not created but is the Creator. He is the ancient of days who was from before the beginning. He is from everlasting to everlasting. He is the second Person of the Trinity which is one God manifest in three persons. He is God. He chose the lowliness of the manger, but make no mistake, he sits on the eternal throne as King of kings, and Lord of lords. He chose to walk this earth as a man, but make no mistake, “by him all things consist”. (Colossians 1:17) He chose to die upon the cross, but make no mistake, he is life and by his own power he conquered death and rose from the dead.

         The Christmas story is about a loving God who came “to seek and to save that which was lost”. (Luke 19:10) He came to “give his life a ransom” (Matthew 20:28) so that through his blood man’s debt of sin could be paid and forgiveness, reconciliation, redemption, deliverance, and salvation could be offered to and received by fallen man. Christmas is not about tinsel and bows, parades and sports. It is about God coming to this earth to redeem mankind. It is not about religion, but is about a relationship that can be obtained by grace through faith. With that let me say, “Merry Christmas”. Jesus Christ has come.

In Christ’s Service,

Bro. Adrian Moore

2 Cor. 4:5