"For to us a child is born, to us a son is given." - Isaiah 9:6a
Zechariah & Elizabeth. Joseph & Mary. This extraordinary cast of players in the Advent story was strategically chosen by God to point us to Jesus, the central figure not just at that moment in time, but for all time and eternity. The baby lying in the feeding trough was poised to change the world, but for now, He wasn’t saying much. So we’re going to go back to some familiar passages in the Old Testament book of Isaiah to see what He said about Himself. Who was He, and why had He come?
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel." - Isaiah 7:14
In two of the most treasured Christmas passages in the Old Testament, the prophet Isaiah clearly lays out who Jesus was. He was not merely some baby born to poor parents in the obscure village of Bethlehem. The verse above tells us that He was God Himself, come down to man in human form! A few chapters later, we are given several titles by which He would be known: “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). I could devote an entire essay—or more—to these lovely names of Jesus Christ, but I want to encourage you to do a little bit of your own reflection. At any given point in our lives, Jesus shows up in ways that are just what we need: guidance in the midst of uncertainty, peace in life's storms, strength in our weakness, the tenderness of a father… Before you read further, take a moment and meditate on the ways and times in your life that He has been revealed Himself to be these things to you. And then be sure to thank Him for his ever-present care and providence.
"Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore." - Isaiah 9:7
Again Isaiah has the answer to our question. Jesus came to reestablish the broken line of the throne of King David. Jesus’ reign, however, would be markedly different from any of His “predecessors.” (It’s hard to use that word without the quotes because technically, Jesus was the predecessor to all of them!) His reign would never end, because it would be distinguished by its complete and utter justice and righteousness. Though some of Israel’s earthly kings had tried their best to be godly men, they all failed, because they all had the fatal flaw of sin marring their hearts and their governance. As the Mighty God and Everlasting Father, Jesus had none of the failings, and all of the goodness, that those men owned because of their humanity.
So Israel was to get a new, perfect king, who would rule over them forever. But what about the ordinary man and woman? Had Jesus come to do anything for you or me? Isaiah 61:1-2 tells us that Jesus had come to do so much more than sit on Israel's throne (and, in fact, we know that He didn't take the throne at all during His first advent). "The Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, proclaim freedom for the captives and release prisoners from their darkness, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn..." Dear friend, has your heart ever been broken? Do you feel as if you are a prisoner, trapped in the darkness of sin or despair? Jesus came to set you free! He came, as He said in John 10:10, "that they may have life, and have it abundantly." Whether you are already a believer or not, come to Him today in faith and claim His life as your own.
But there was only one way for Jesus to release the prisoners from their darkness, and in Isaiah 53, God tells us the high price that His Son had to pay to make that happen. It is in this chapter that we see the ultimate purpose of the Christmas story:
Surely he has borne our griefs
and carried our sorrows;
yet we esteemed him stricken,
smitten by God, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions;
he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace,
and with his wounds we are healed.
All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned—every one—to his own way;
and the Lord has laid on him
the iniquity of us all...
Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied;
by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant,
make many to be accounted righteous,
and he shall bear their iniquities.
Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many,
and he shall divide the spoil with the strong,
because he poured out his soul to death
and was numbered with the transgressors;
yet he bore the sin of many,
and makes intercession for the transgressors.
- Isaiah 53:4-6, 11-12
The beauty of Christmas for the believer is that the Baby, God With Us, didn't come to be just another king. He came to take away the sins of the world. In His advent, we see His humility to be one of us; in His life and miracles, we see His compassion caring for us; but in His death and resurrection, we see His love bridging the awful, eternal chasm between our sinfulness and God's holiness. If you don't know Him today, seek Him with all your heart and receive the most precious Christmas gift ever given—Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior of the World.
Unless otherwise noted, all scripture used in "Joy in the Morning" is taken from the English Standard Version.
