A Christmas Series: Week One
Before Jesus Christ came into the world, his earthly parents had to make the treacherous journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem. This Christmas Season, we will be partaking in this journey, from the foretelling of Jesus’ birth, to the beautiful night we celebrate each year. Each week, a new miniature devotional following the Christmas story will be released. On Christmas day, join our Perennial Community on any podcast platform, to hear A share the Christmas story as told in the Book of Luke.
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Scripture
Isaiah 8:19 - 9:7
The Darkness Turns to Light
When someone tells you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? Consult God’s instruction and the testimony of warning. If anyone does not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan -
The people walking in darkness
have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of deep darkness
a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest,
as warriors rejoice
when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
you have shattered
the yoke that budens them,
the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor.
Every warrior’s boot used in battle
and every garment rolled in blood
will be destined for burning,
will be fuel for the fire.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Devotional
I don’t remember the day my mom told me I was going to have a little sister. While I can’t remember when she told me, or how she told me, I do remember how incredibly excited I was to watch my little sister grow and come into the world. With a fifteen-year age gap, I was old enough to comprehend what a new baby in the family meant, and I was ready to learn everything needed to help support her healthy development. As my little sister continued to grow in utero, we began picking out potential names for her and musing over what her personality would be.
There was one particular evening where my mom got off work and she, my older sister, and I, all turned the alphabet into cards. We spent hours rearranging the letters as we tried to come up with a name that had a special meaning. Eventually, after debating my questionable naming abilities as I suggested names such as “Cabin” and “Cranky”, we came up with the perfect name. It was a name that held familial significance and gave her a unique purpose.
For nine months, we anxiously awaited the arrival of our new family member and at times, the waiting seemed tedious. Now imagine learning about the birth of a wonderful child, learning what his name will be, and who he will be, and then having to wait over 400 years to meet him. This is where our road to Bethlehem begins; with the prophecy of a birth, foretold 400 years before it would occur.
Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan -
As the prophecy is introduced, God’s people are told that a future of hope will be provided for those who are and will be in distress. Rather than humbling his people by allowing their distress to continue, God shared a plan that would honor his nations by way of Galilee.
Living during a time where Christ has already come, we can use what we know of Jesus’ birth to help us interpret the prophecy. We know that Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, lived in the town of Nazareth, within Galilee, before he had to travel to Bethlehem for the census. Ages before Jesus’ earthly parents were even born, God had a plan in place to make sure that the hope for his people would come from Galilee. That, from this household, a child of hope will be born.
Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
In our modern age the concept of birthright is easily forgotten; the responsibility of inheriting the family name, property and authority, is something that is now split between children. However, historically, the power and possessions of a family were passed on to the firstborn son - it was their birthright for being the first male heir in the family. The prophecy told in Isaiah utilizes this well-known concept to share that the child from Galilee would hold a governmental birthright. This is vital to the prophecy because it makes it clear that the child to come will be the firstborn son of a King who holds great authority. By using language that would be culturally understood at the time, God is sharing that his son is coming to Earth and because it’s his one and only son, this child will share the same dominion as his father.
Isaiah 9:6
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The child that will be born with the birthright of the King and will have many names. He will be a Wonderful Counselor who tends to the needs of his people. He will be a Mighty God, reigning supreme over every other being. He will be an Everlasting Father, walking next to his children through the ages. He will be a Prince of Peace, a beacon for love in the world rather than a megaphone for war. Each of these names gives a unique insight into the character that this child will have.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and forever.
This king-to-be will rule over a great kingdom with everlasting peace. With his earthly father from the line of David, the child will reign with justice and righteousness established and upheld. Because we know in hindsight that this prophecy is talking about Jesus, we know that his kingdom of reign is more than this earth, it’s heaven itself. Everything there ever was, and everything there ever will be, falls under the reign of our great King. His ruling as king will start the moment he is born and last forever - his position as king is not limited by death.
Isaiah 9:7
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
From the significance of his name, to his birthright as King, everything foretold in the prophecy was brought to completion with Jesus’ birth. God's passion for his children led him to pursue the opportunity to bridge the gap between himself and his kingdom with great enthusiasm.
Nine months of musing over who my little sister would be, and letting the excitement of anticipation flourish, meant nothing in comparison to who she ended up being. The first time I met her, I couldn’t take my eyes off of her. I watched her sleep, the small rise and fall of her chest captivating me through the night as my mother rested nearby. She was uniquely and wonderfully made and she stole a special place in my heart that night. Eleven years later and she holds the same place in my heart. She’s everything I dreamed she would be and so much more.
Four hundred years before Jesus was born on this earth, the story of who he would be, and what he would do, was told. For four hundred years, God’s people mused over how magnificent a child was to be born. For generations, God’s people felt the rise in anticipation but nothing could have prepared them for what was to come.
And that, my friends, is just the beginning of the miracle we celebrate each Christmas.
Reflection
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How does learning about the prophecy of who Jesus would be grow your understanding of who Jesus was?
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Does hearing the prophecy for yourself help you understand why there was mutual confusion and joy over this great King being born in a lowly manger?
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Does this prophecy show you why God’s children had such a hard time believing a “common” baby was the same king that would bring peace and righteousness to the throne of King David?
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Prayer
Heavenly Father,
You once shared a prophecy with your people. You told of a child who would be king over a kingdom so great, that our earthly kings shuttered in fear. You told of a child who would be so loving, that your earthly children anxiously awaited the blessing of his presence. Generations of your children held onto the hope of a Savior.
You saw your people in need, and in your mercy, you shared a part of your magnificent plan to give them hope.
As we enter into this Christmas season, may we begin to see You in a new light. Let this study of your prophecy and how Jesus was sent to this world, remind us of how truly great you are. May the magic of this season reawaken us to your kingdom that lasts through the ages.
Open our hearts to you and your household Lord.
In your Heavenly name we pray,
Amen
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