Isaiah 9:6, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Approximately 750 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, Isaiah the prophet saw through the eyes of God the first Christmas. As he looked he did not see what we see in our manger scenes. Isaiah did not see the shepherds, the inn with no vacancy, nor did not see the Magi, who arrived later. He did not see what we typically think of in the Christmas story.
But Isaiah did see the child, he saw him born of a virgin, (Isaiah 7:14), he saw that this child was a gift from God and Isaiah saw who this child was and what he would become. This little baby would be the Wonderful Counselor, counseling and showing us the way to salvation. He would be the way to peace on Earth that comes by justification before God. This little child, Isaiah tells us, will be the Everlasting Father, or as Matthew's Gospel reminds us "they will call him Immanuel," which means "God with us."
This little child, Jesus, will be the Prince of Peace, the one who brings peace with God and teaches men and women to live by the greater law of love. Jesus would say toward the end of his ministry on Earth in John 13:34-35, "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."
Isaiah spoke during a time when the nation Israel needed some good news and that is what he gave. Yes he had to speak some hard things to them, that troubles would come because of their rebellion against God but he also gave them great hope - that the Savior would be born.
This week Christians around the world celebrate that hope. We look back more than 2,000 years and we see that baby born in the most humble way and those who look through the eyes of faith see the Savior who would bring the way to God. Believers see the one who would live and die for the redemption of all who believe on him.
For us in America, this can be a busy time but it can be a wonderful time when you reflect on who this little child is in your own life. Is Jesus your Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace?
When the angels came to the shepherds that night, they announced peace that comes by faith. Luke 2:14, "Glory to God in the highest, and on Earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Grace to you this Christmas.
Pastor Rich Lammay of High Sierra Fellowship is a member of the Carson Valley Ministers' Association.
