He’s everywhere! From the opening pages of Genesis, and the
Seed of the Woman who will crush the serpent’s head (Gen.3:15), to the closing
pages of Revelation and the eternal reign of the Star of the Morning who will
shine forever (Rev.22:16), Jesus walks through the Word of God. Christ Himself sums the subject up this way,
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First
and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” (Rev.22:13 HCSB) Alpha is the first letter in the Greek
alphabet and Omega, the last letter—so we would say, “Jesus is the A, the Z, and
every letter in between: all there is!”
Jesus is the source of all creation, the subject of all Scripture and
the sum of all God’s glory.
Isaiah has introduced Him to us as
“Immanuel” (Isa.7:14), the name meaning, “God with us.” This ancient Hebrew prophet, perhaps as none
other, in the Old Testament has Christ as the theme of his writing. Isaiah’s name appropriately means, “The LORD
is salvation,” and so he sets forth our Savior, Christ the Lord.
God is with us: THE LIGHT HAS RISEN.
“Nevertheless, the gloom of the
distressed land will not be like that of the former times when He humbled the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali Jordan , and to Galilee
of the nations. The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light
has dawned on those living in the land of
darkness.” (Isaiah 9:1-2 HCSB)
Matthew quotes this text as being
fulfilled with the ministry of Jesus Christ.
Christ Himself claimed to be, “The Light of the World.” (John
8:12). With the advent of Christ, a new
day had dawned. The Sun of Righteousness
had risen with healing in His wings (see Malachi 4:2). God’s revelation was manifested in the person
of His Son. His moral perfections, miraculous
performances and marvelous pronouncements all testified that God had come down
to earth, for no mere man ever lived like this, did the works He did and said
the words He spoke!
God is with us: THE CHILD IS BORN.
“For a child will be born for us…” (Isaiah
9:6a)
The infinite became an infant. When Mary cradled that tiny baby in her arms,
she held her God! Wonder of wonders is
that! Charles Wesley said it perfectly,
poetically:
“Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the everlasting Lord!Late in time, behold Him come,
Offspring of the Virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh the God-head see;
Hail th’incarnate Deity,
Pleased as man with men to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel.
Hark! the herald angels sing,
‘Glory to the newborn King.’”
God is with us: THE SON WAS GIVEN.
“a son will be given to us…” (Isaiah
9:6b HCSB)
His mission to earth was to die in our place. Christ became one of us that He might die for
us. John the Baptist announced that all
the Old Testament sacrifices found ultimate fulfillment in Him, “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the
world!” (John 1:29) Each step He took
moved Him closer to the last road—the Calvary
Road
God is with us: THE KING IS COMING.
“the
government will be on His shoulders. He will be
named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. The dominion will be vast, and
its prosperity will never end. He will reign
on the throne of David and over his
kingdom, to establish and sustain it
with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.” (Isaiah
9:6c-7 HCSB)
The grave was not the end! He conquered death in His resurrection. He ascended into heaven where He intercedes
for us. He has poured out His Spirit, so
that He is always with us. Then, some
glorious day, He will return to earth to reign over us! Immanuel—God with us—and he shall reign
forever and ever!
He is the Wonderful Counselor. His perspective is always available. He is the Mighty God. His power is always accessible. He is the Eternal Father. His provision is always abundant. He is the Prince of Peace. His peace is always abiding. All He is, and all He has, is ours for He is
Immanuel—God with us.
Glory to His name!
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