Monday, December 21, 2015
Isaiah 9:6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful...
I HAVE CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME: YOU ARE MINE!
In the months preceding the birth of a child the parents consider many names for that child. They purchase books of baby names and they ask friends and family for their opinions. Finally, they settle on one name for the child.
Sometimes the name is chosen simply because the parents like the name. Sometimes the name has a family history. Parents may even choose a name hoping that it will describe their child: a boy gets a strong name or a godly name, a girl might be given a name that sounds very sophisticated or exotic. But, the fact is, when the child is named, the parents really have no idea what the child will turn out to be. Furthermore, as the child grows, family or friends may give the child a nickname that more accurately describes that person, to the point that the nickname practically replaces the given name.
This was not the case with the Savior. Hundreds and even thousands of years before the birth of the Christ-child, God the Father named the Child. In fact, He gave the Child many names, all of which would turn out to be perfectly accurate for describing the Child.
While we celebrate by looking back to Jesus' first coming in Bethlehem two thousand years ago, the Old Testament Church looked forward to the birth of the Savior. Looking ahead to that birth, Isaiah rejoiced saying, "...Unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder." God knew what this Child would turn out to be, and as a result of the description given by God in His Word, His people knew as well. The Christ-Child would be the Son of God, given unto us sinners, to govern us not with a rod of iron, but with the Gospel of the forgiveness of sins, and "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Psalm 2:9). These are the ones who through faith in the Christ-Child have received God's Seal on their foreheads (Revelation 7:2f), for "You are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus..." (Galatians 3:26).
