December 23

“For unto us a child is born”. This child will be no ordinary baby. This child will be born “for our benefit”. Isaiah spoke these words into a situation where Judah felt powerless. This prophesy was about a child who would represent God’s presence and embody God’s characteristics. He would be called Wonderful Counselor and Prince of Peace. These are names that can embody human characteristics. But along with that he would be called Mighty God and Everlasting Father! These are names only reserved for God. He would be fully human and fully divine. Israel was looking for an immediate remedy to physical and political problems. God’s solution would not come for centuries, but it would last forever! This would be a child born to remove the darkness and enlighten the world.

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve. Christmas is almost here. The words of this verse were set to a beautiful melody in For Unto Us a Child is Born from Handel’s Messiah. Many of us have sung this in choirs and it is played often during the Advent season. Take a few moments to listen to this song, really listen, and allow yourself to be fully impacted by the words, the names given to Jesus, and the burden and responsibility he would one day “carry on his shoulders.”

photo credit: unsplash.com/@juoda_morka