Isaiah 9: 2The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 6For 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 simply part of what was to come some 600 years later, yet it is written as if it had already happened. Isaiah didn’t write “unto us a child will be born” or “unto us a son will be given.” He wrote in present tense: unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given. It is simple. Everything about Christmas is simple yet complex. What was intricate or complicated worked out simply because with God all things are possible. If a person thinks it’s hard to get saved, remember it is only as hard as the person makes it. We tend to get in God’s way sometimes thereby making the simple seem hard.
At the time of Isaiah the Persians ruled the known world. The Greeks were on the rise. Rome was in its infancy, not really in the picture. We know what all happened, but Isaiah wrote many years before it happened that regardless of what soon-coming king or ruler came to power, it wouldn’t matter. Alexander the Great wouldn’t stop it. All the Caesars of Rome wouldn’t stop it. In spite of everything that tried to get in the way, it was done—a child is born; a son is given.
This was not just any son. It was God the Son. Eternity past to eternity future knew him. He was with the Father in heaven. The essence of Christmas is in the fact that he left heaven for 33 years and became flesh. Chapter 7 says behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. That son was God in the flesh in the person of Jesus Christ. Immanuel means God with us. We see ourselves with God because unto us he was born.
Salvation identified the need. We were as people thrown overboard from the ship who needed to be rescued from the water. Jesus came to our rescue because we could not save ourselves. He willingly drenched himself in his own blood to save us from drowning and perishing in our sin. God threw us a life preserver in the form of a baby named Jesus.
Not only did salvation identify a need, but it required a Savior. Somebody that is able, qualified, and willing to save was needed. Our problem with being overboard spiritually is that it takes a lot to fix us. Physically we may have many doctors who look after us, but spiritually we have all we need in Jesus. Man’s core problem is sin. Jesus’ purpose was to seek and save the lost. It’s Jesus, not Jesus and me. It’s not Jesus and the church. It’s not Jesus and somebody or something else. Jesus saves! The Bible says than in him dwells the fullness of the Godhead. Only He is qualified to be the Savior. We have the perfect Christmas gift in Jesus Christ. John said the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He stepped out of the safety of heaven into the danger zone of humanity. Through his suffering—death, burial, and resurrection—we have a Savior. The same hand that Mary held is the hand that saves us from our sin.
Salvation must also be deemed necessary by those who need it. It’s easy to see failures of others, to see the need of lost humanity, but we must recognize our own necessity of salvation. We must realize the need for a personal Savior and ask Jesus into our heart.
Guess to whom the Son is given. Guess to whom the child is born. US! That means you and me. The face of every member of Adam’s race—your face, my face—was on his mind that day on Calvary. UNTO US—you and me. He did it all for us. That’s what makes him Wonderful. That’s why he’s our Counselor. That’s why he’s Mighty God, the everlasting Father and Prince of Peace for our frightened soul. The essence of it all is in the Son, a child that is born unto us, that is given unto us. As many as are willing to receive him the Bible says are given the power to become the sons of God.
Unto you and me a Son is given. Unto you and me a child is born. It’s a done deal. He came over 2,000 years ago as our Savior. It’s time to receive our King. Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King. Let every heart prepare him room. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and nature sing. And heaven and heaven and nature sing!
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 