Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders.”
Isaiah chapter 9 is well known as “messianic” prophecy; meaning, it foretells the coming of the Messiah, the anointed One. Verse 6 describes him as “a son” being given; and this passage is quoted in Matthew, Mark, and Luke as referring to Jesus.
By nature, a gift has three components: 1) the giver’s intent to give the gift, 2) the actual act of giving the gift, and 3) the recipient choosing to receive the gift.
Our Heavenly Father, from before the foundation of the world (Revelation 13:8) made a covenant with His only begotten Son, Jesus. Before He created the Heavens and the Earth, He had already made a plan with His Son. He intended to give us the gift of Jesus.
On the night of Jesus’ birth, an angel of the Lord appeared to shepherds out in the fields, announcing His birth. In Luke Chapter 2:10-14:
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. “This will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased.”
On this Holy night, God actually gave the gift of His Son.
When a child is born – even during the months of the pregnancy – the parents ponder, discuss, dream about what the name of their child will be. Names are important. They carry weight, and meaning.
The importance of a name is no less true in the case of the Savior of the world!
In Luke chapter 1, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary:
“Behold, you will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David, and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never end!” (v 31-33)
In Matthew 1:20-21, the Angel of the Lord appears to Joseph and tells him: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to embrace Mary as your wife, for the One conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
Jesus – In Hebrew, pronounced ‘Yeshua’ – is the equivalent of Joshua. Joshua, in Hebrew, means, “The Lord is salvation.”
The third component of the gift is receiving the gift intended, and actually offered.
We – as God’s chosen above all creation – are the intended recipient of His gift.
Jesus – salvation personified. May each one choose to receive His precious, priceless, indescribable gift.
John Chapter 1:12-13 tells us: “But to all who did receive Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God— children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God.”
This was true when John wrote these words. It is true now.
Thank you, Father; for the gift of your Son, Jesus. I received Him. I receive Him each day, in the tender mercies You offer, new every morning. He rules in my heart now; and will forever.
Amen.
