Tuesday, July 10, 2012

GOD WITH US

For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders. He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9:6 HCSB)

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. But in the future He will bring honor to the Way of the Sea, to the land east of the 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—and Skull Hill, where He would die in agony, enduring the hell we deserve, that we might enter the heaven we don’t merit.  Paul said it this way, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, Himself human, who gave Himself-a ransom for all, a testimony at the proper time.” (1 Timothy 2:5-6 HCSB)

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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