A CHILD IS BORN, THE MAN GOD HAS COME

 

A CHILD IS BORN

 

Isaiah 9:6 (New Revised Standard Version)

For a child has been born for us,

    a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders;

    and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

This is now Christmas season and many around the world will celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Christmas is not Santa Claus, no matter how good, jolly, kind, generously magical children conceive him to be. This jolly, bearded, fat old man in red might be adorable but don't mistake him to be the reason of the season.  Christmas is the season that the birth of Christ, our Savior and Lord is celebrated. This year the  covid 19 pandemic is likely to  change the ever festive atmosphere and crass commercialism of the season. To people used to merry making, the celebration of Christmas this year would be subdued, or restrained, given the imposition of health protocols we are required to observe. But on the other hand, this is an opportune time for us Christians to understand the spiritual significance of the human birth of the Savior which in normal times is likely to be forgotten, if not lost, in the festive celebration, eating, drinking, parties, and spending.

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year. It is the time for gift giving, as we remember the greatest gift ever given.

The  prophet, Isaiah proclaimed the prophetic message written more than 700 years, prior to the birth of Christ. Try to imagine this. The miraculous birth of the Savior was prophesied by the great Prophet Isaiah 7 centuries before it was exactly fulfilled, with the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

This passage of Scripture may no longer be familiar to the generation of  the cyber age but to the Christians the fulfilled prophecy has been the subject of many sermons in the pulpit of churches. 

Isaiah proclaimed, "For a child has been born for us; a son given to us." The Incarnation, is the central Christian doctrine of the Christian faith based on Scripture which reveals that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man in the form of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Second Person of the Holy Trinity. Isaiah declares “For unto us a child is born”. Although Isaiah would not live to see it, he prophesied of the coming of Christ the Lord. With prophetic gift, Isaiah foresaw the birth of the Son of God, coming in the form of a man, robed in human flesh. The coming to earth of the Son of God in the flesh. And what is amazing is that the Messiah was born of natural birth, as an infant, a baby.  He is the Son of God born through the virgin womb, of Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit.  

John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.  

Phil.2:7 – But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men.

Mat.1:21 – And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name Jesus: for he shall save his people from their sins. Jn.3:16 – For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.   

The Baby whose birth Christians celebrate did not remain in the manger, to be a Christmas decoration, or to be fashioned as a statue to be carried around in festivals. You must know him as Savior and Lord of your life. Come to him. Receive Him as Lord and Savior today.