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A CHILD BORN, A SON GIVEN

During this time of the year there is often a lot of emphasis upon the baby Jesus. However, the Scriptures tell us that there is much more to the story. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “For unto to us a child is born; unto to us a Son is given” (Isa. 9:6). Isaiah prophesied the coming of Jesus Christ as the “child born” and the “Son given”. As to His humanity He is the “child born”. As to His deity He is the “Son given”. He is in one Person, fully and perfectly united, both God and man. Think of the mystery of it. The eternal Son of God is also the Son of Man. He did not merely occupy a human body. His incarnation was real. He assumed human nature spiritually, mentally and physically by being born of the Holy Spirit and of the virgin Mary.

His becoming man did not mean He ever ceased to be God or was ever born with or possessed a sinful nature. He has always been and is even now without sin. Isaiah depicted Him in marvelous terms. He proclaims Him “wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace” (Isa. 9:6). As the Son, He was co-equal with the Father. He laid aside that glory, but not the Deity (Phil. 2:6). It is the divine glory of the child born which makes the birth of Christ so mysterious, so wonderful, and so uplifting. He was the second Adam who came to bring life and redemption.

The genealogies of Matthew and Luke reveal to us the “Child born”. Yet, He is different from any other child born then or ever, for He is Emmanuel, God with us (Matt. 1:8). He is also “Jesus” who will save His people from their sins. He is a Savior who is Christ the Lord (Luke 2:11) who will be good news to all people (Luke 2:11).

The gospel of John reveals Him to us as “the Son given”. John’s pictures of Jesus are filled with striking imagery. He is “Christ the Lamb of God” who is to be sacrificed for sin (1:29). He is also seen as “water to the thirsty” in John 4:14 and 7:37. He is bread for the hungry (6:35) and light for those who walk in darkness (8:12). He is the “door” to enter into God’s presence (10:9), the Good Shepherd who gives His life for the sheep (10:11), and He is the only way to the Father and to glory (14:6). Moreover, He is the true vine for all spiritual growth (15:1).

John also declares Him to be God’s answer to any person’s need, whether that person is rich or poor, moral or immoral, or religious or unbelieving. He gives a new birth to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews (John 3). He gives “living water”, forgiveness, hope, and new sense of purpose to the Samaritan woman who had been married five times and was now living with a man who was not her husband (John 4). He has mercy, grace, and forgiveness for the woman taken in adultery. He gave resurrection life to Lazarus, and comfort and encouragement to Martha and Mary (John 11). He was so pure that He could say, “Which of you accuses Me of sin?” Paul and others would declare “in Him was no sin at all”. Yet, He prays to the Father that we as His children might be with Him, behold His glory, and share in His glory (John 17:24).

No wonder the apostle Paul declares, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable Gift” (2 Cor. 9:16). For it is “unto us” that the Child is born and the Son is given. He was a Jew with Gentile ancestry, a man for all people. In Him was God’s love and purpose manifested. God’s love was manifested in that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”. He is God’s gift of grace to the helpless and hopeless. Someone has written:

Not even God a greater gift could give

Nor heaven itself a dearer boon impart

When Jesus came and died that I might live,

God gave without reserve His very heart.

But the story doesn’t stop there, for He soon comes again to rule and to reign upon the throne of David. The One who once was slain is the One who now must reign. One day all opposition will be put down. A King will reign in righteousness. Every knee must bow, “the government must be upon His shoulders” (Isa. 9:6). He is the fulfillment of prophecy, history and destiny. All God’s purposes find their fulfillment in Jesus Christ. And He shall reign forever and ever and by God’s grace we shall reign with Him (Rev. 22:5). Sin, sickness, suffering, and sorrow shall be no more. Hallelujah! Christ was born, Christ died, Christ arose, Christ ascended, and Christ is coming again to reign!

Larry Windham

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