For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. ~Isaiah 9:6
In chapter eight of the book of Isaiah, the prophet paints a dark and depressing picture of the condition of his people and their immediate future. The gloom spills over into chapter nine but here in the sixth verse a starburst of hope and beauty explodes across the canvas. A Messiah is coming; a Savior who shall be born to His people and for His people! Isaiah sees a day when a Child would be born who take upon His shoulders the governing of an eternal kingdom. Who is this Child? Who is this Savior? He is the Wonderful Counselor, He is Mighty God!
Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. ~Isaiah 7:14
Earlier in the book of Isaiah the prophet speaks of a sign which would be given to king Ahaz of Judah concerning God’s promise to deliver the nation from a coming military assault. But, it is this prophecy which also speaks of the coming Messiah who is to be both man and God! Humanity and divinity conceived in the womb of a virgin girl by an act of God. When the prophecy says His name shall be called “Immanuel”, it means “God with us.”
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ~John 1:1
According to the Holy Spirit inspired words of John the Apostle, the Word of God is eternal, co-existing with God Almighty and is in fact God Himself. Later we find out this Word was made flesh… God the Creator lived among His creation as a man.
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. ~John 1:14
I have had a number of conversations with people who call themselves Christian but do not yet understand Jesus is God. Jesus is God! Now that statement is one which can get you in a lot of trouble today. Jesus is not just “a god”, but the one and only Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth. Remember the picture Isaiah was painting of the utter despair and gloomy predicament for his people and nation? That is the same condition our society, nation and world exists in today. Humanity lives in a land of deep darkness where there is pain, hunger, gloom and anguish. Sin and the suffering it brings has ridden over us and conquered this world like some dark marauding army. People need to know God has come, people need to hear the good news that a Child was born and a Son has been given! People need to hear about Jesus.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” Luke 2:10-14