Isaiah 9:6–7 (NKJV)
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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
I love the Christmas season. This time of year thoughts of family near and long gone, traditions, and phrases like “peace on Earth, goodwill to men” flood my heart. There is so much beauty everywhere we look… the lights, decorations, even the smells overwhelm our senses. I never get tired of the sights and sounds of Christmas. I must admit though that the hustle and bustle of the season I feel at times causes us to lose a grip on why exactly we celebrate. It is then I hear the familiar phrase Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason for the season because his birth is the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
Isaiah 9:6 tells us – “For unto us a child is given. Unto us a son is given.”
The first question – who is us? To whom is the son given?
When I think about it the answer is US - you and me. All of us. There is no exclusion in us so the son is given:
That includes everyone everywhere. From the young Girl in California to the man in New York.
For the one born in Israel and the one born in Kenya.
It also means the child is given and born for the princess, the prostitute and the prideful.
For the happy, well adjusted, popular and carefree and for the depressed, despised, anxious, shamed, suicidal and the despised.
For the one born into a family and the one abandoned or alone.
He is born and given to the poor and the rich. The well and the sick. For the sober and the drug addicted and the felon.
The one who loves and follows him, and the one who does not yet know him.
Jesus is the reason for the season. And the season is for everyone.
Next – Why do we need the gift of a son?
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.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
I love the Christmas season. This time of year thoughts of family near and long gone, traditions, and phrases like “peace on Earth, goodwill to men” flood my heart. There is so much beauty everywhere we look… the lights, decorations, even the smells overwhelm our senses. I never get tired of the sights and sounds of Christmas. I must admit though that the hustle and bustle of the season I feel at times causes us to lose a grip on why exactly we celebrate. It is then I hear the familiar phrase Jesus is the reason for the season. He is the reason for the season because his birth is the greatest gift ever given to mankind.
Isaiah 9:6 tells us – “For unto us a child is given. Unto us a son is given.”
The first question – who is us? To whom is the son given?
When I think about it the answer is US - you and me. All of us. There is no exclusion in us so the son is given:
That includes everyone everywhere. From the young Girl in California to the man in New York.
For the one born in Israel and the one born in Kenya.
It also means the child is given and born for the princess, the prostitute and the prideful.
For the happy, well adjusted, popular and carefree and for the depressed, despised, anxious, shamed, suicidal and the despised.
For the one born into a family and the one abandoned or alone.
He is born and given to the poor and the rich. The well and the sick. For the sober and the drug addicted and the felon.
The one who loves and follows him, and the one who does not yet know him.
Jesus is the reason for the season. And the season is for everyone.
Next – Why do we need the gift of a son?