Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the LORD Almighty
will accomplish this.Isaiah 9:1-7
Isaiah brings forth a profound prophecy over 700 plus years before its enactment. Although written in poetic style, the words used are exacting. No one would consider them to be symbolic for the declaration is that a child will be born who is designated “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God.” In view of the reticence of the Jews to utter the sacred name of God, this declaration takes on even greater weight. Obviously, Isaiah had no understanding of how this would come about. 2000 years after the event, we still don’t clearly understand the how, but we truly accept the “Why.” Being created rather than Creator places us in a position of accepting things as true despite not clearly understanding the “how”. Now with 2000 years of investigating the concept of the special child, we marvel at the mind who planned and carried out this unlikely birth. This infant is destined for greatness in a pattern that no one ever guessed or completely understood.
The same author in his extensive writings takes us to the strange circumstance of the death of this child grown to manhood.
See, my servant will act wisely;
he will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.
Just as there were many who were appalled at him—
his appearance was so disfigured beyond that of any human being and his form marred beyond human likeness—
so he will sprinkle many nations,
and kings will shut their mouths because of him.
For what they were not told, they will see,
and what they have not heard, they will understand.Isaiah 52:13-15
No longer a child, He now is referred to as “my servant.” At first glance it would appear that during life “He will be raised and lifted up and highly exalted.” One would suppose that this is because he is “Mighty God.” Often the prophet says more than he understands and this is certainly the case in this instance. His lifting up is on a tree for the sole purpose of crucifixion as the cause of His death. Paradoxically, it is His death that demands His being exalted because He is resurrected from the grave. This is the proof that He is Mighty God.
The Birth of Jesus
In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register.
So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
Luke 2:1-7
A census was taken every 14 years for the purpose of levying taxes. Humanize this scripture by visualizing a 12-14 year old pregnant girl riding on a donkey the many miles from Nazareth to Bethlehem. The Prophet Micah declared over 700 years earlier that the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. This town was small and insignificant at that time and not where one would anticipate the birth of a King. His ancestry was through the Tribe of Judah and in the line of King David. The validity of this child being the Messiah grew with each prophecy that He fulfilled.
Luke pursues the idea of paradox by involving the shepherds in the story. They are the lowest of the low on the tree of social importance. Mary and Joseph are likewise poor. The seeming inconvenience of “no room in the inn” is perhaps God’s providence since inns were notorious places at that time. So far, nothing seems very royal. He was not born in a place or to parents of means. Except for three Magicians from the East who ultimately arrive to see this child, no one seems to pay much attention. For the first 30 years of His life this seems to be the case excepting a visit to the Temple at Jerusalem at the age of 12. His brilliance, shown as he questioned and spoke, testified to His intent to be about His Father’s business.
A careful look at His life in all 4 gospels showed that He pleased only those that he healed of emotional or physical illnesses. Any respect that He received was sporadic and rarely fitting with what He had accomplished. Later His acceptance by the people occurred in association with the feeding of more than 5000 people. This acceptance quickly evolved to rejection when a crowd echoed the request to “crucify Him.”
To completely understand the birth of the Messiah, we must rush ahead to His crucifixion to see why He must come at all. His coming is very personal for only He could become the perfect sacrifice to cover the sin of man. He Himself became perfected as our Savior thru hardship and persecution.
Perhaps this is the real theme that underlies this story. Jesus becomes the Perfect and perfected Messiah through suffering. Perhaps this is part of the answer to the question of why good people suffer.
This is a time for celebration. Death and sin are overthrown by a son born to a poor unwed peasant girl 2000 years ago. Only God could accomplish this. The compassion of this story arises from the heart of God who is Love.