A Child Is Born – Isaiah 9

Isaiah prophesied that a Great Light that would come to visit the people of Zebulun and Naphtali near the shores of the Sea of Galilee.  This area was singled out over all others as the future home for the coming Messiah.

The area of Zebulun likely contained the city of Nazareth, where Jesus would be raised after returning from Egypt.  Joseph had taken Jesus and Mary to Egypt, having been divinely warned by God in a dream to flee from the murderous wrath of King Herod being inflicted around Bethlehem.

The tribe of Naphtali lived immediately west and northwest of the Sea of Galilee.  After Jesus was rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, He set up His ministry headquarters there, in the city of Capernaum. 

Isaiah also prophesied about the nature of this coming Messiah:

⁶ For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Isaiah 9:6 (NKJV)

When Jesus returns to earth in glory as Messiah, or Christ, He will bear the government of the entire world upon His shoulder.  His character and divine nature are clearly spelled out by the five descriptors Isaiah’s prophecy gives as His names. Let’s consider each of them.

• Wonderful

In the time before Israel’s first king, the land was ruled by God through judges.  These judges were called by God to serve as spiritual leaders for the nation, usually to help get them back on track after they had fallen away into sin and were under attack by an enemy.

When the parents of one of these, Samson, were visited by God in the form of the Angel of the Lord, they asked His name.  He responded:

¹⁸ And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” Judges 13:18 (NKJV)

This Angel of the Lord, believed to be God Himself, is also believed by many to be the person of Christ, in pre-incarnate form.

• Counselor

The presence of the Holy Spirit, sometimes referred to as the Spirit of Jesus, is a gift given to people as their Helper, Comforter and Counselor.  He is God and resides in the temple of the hearts of believers worldwide.

Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus told His disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who came upon them during the Feast of Pentecost.  Through this gift, believers around the world are all able to welcome God into their hearts, bearing the fruits of the Spirit and building up the global temple of God as Living Stones (1 Peter 2).

• Mighty God

Several times throughout His ministry, including before His accusers who condemned Him to death for such blasphemy, Jesus admitted to being God.  He was both 100% God and 100% human. A human Child born, a divine, eternal Son given.

• Everlasting Father

Through the mystery of the Trinity, Jesus, the Father, and the Holy Spirit are all One God together. The Trinity was witnessed when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, so as to identify with sinful man, although He had no sin within Him.  When Jesus came up out of the water, the Father spoke approving words to Him from heaven, and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, like a dove.

Jesus also spoke of His unity with the Father to His disciples, when the time for His death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven was approaching.

¹¹ Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me… John 14:11a (NKJV)

• Prince of Peace

¹⁴ For He Himself is our peace… Ephesians 2:14a (NKJV)

Jesus is the true source of our peace.  Peace is one of the priceless fruits of the Holy Spirit listed in Galatians 5.  Jesus often greeted His disciples with, “Peace be with you”, especially if they were experiencing fear.

These five prophetic characteristics and names of the Great Light, the coming Messiah, all point to the wonder, power and majesty of Jesus Christ.  May this Child born and Given to us, bring His peace and Holy Spirit into our hearts, today and every day.

Reflection

Where do you need peace in your life today?

Father God and Prince of Peace, grant that we may know You and Your comforting presence in our hearts today.  Cleanse us from all sin and fill us with Your Holy Spirit.  May we bear the good fruit that you alone bring – peace, love, goodness, purity, and joy.  We ask this in Jesus name, Amen.

May we all walk with God with the peace of Christ in our hearts today.