A child is given

DEVOTION

PROPHESIES AND FULFILLEMENT CONCERNING CHRIST

A CHILD IS GIVEN

This particular prophesy should be confined to one verse of within the ninth chapter of Isaiah, however the entire chapter is prophetic regarding Jesus coming as a child. There are other verses which speak of other prophesies with other fulfillments, still we think it good to include the whole of the chapter.

Isa 9:1-7

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 Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan —  2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy;they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. 4 For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. 5 Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 6 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. 7 Of the increase 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.

NIV

It is this verse six which is the prophecy for us today. Jesus would not come as a conquering king riding upon a white stallion to overthrow the rod of their oppressor. He would come as an infant, a child given. Although all the following words are exactly was Jesus was there is this one word, given, which strikes from the heart of God.

We need to put in the fulfillment verse of this prophecy of verse six.

Luke 2:8-12

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

NIV

A child is born, a son is given. The world has never been the same since. He changed the course of all humankind. It is not an earthy government which is upon his shoulders, but the government of the kingdom of God. Yet at the same time Jesus has all authority both on earth and in heaven.

Matt 28:18-20

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

NIV

So in that sense truly all government, all authority is on his shoulders. He is our wonderful counselor. He counsels our heart. He gives us the right and true counsel we need to live uprightly, which is to live in him. We in and of ourselves cannot live uprightly, but in Christ we are just that. Apart from him we can do nothing, we are lost in a dying world. We must first come to Christ and remain in him, in his counsel if we are to live. Jesus is Mighty God. This affirms once again the Holy Trinity. Jesus the Son of God, but he is God. We have God in three persons, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. All are different persons, but all are God. God comes to earth as a child to redeem his people. Again Jesus is God, the everlasting Father. Jesus has told us that if we see him we see the Father. He and the Father are one. He is the Prince of Peace. This may not mean he relieves us of the havoc of war, for mankind engages in wars all the time, in fact they will be one of the signs of his return, Nation will be against Nation, there will be wars and rumors of wars.

Matt 24:4-8

4 Jesus answered: "Watch out that no one deceives you. 5 For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many. 6 You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. 7 Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. 8 All these are the beginning of birth pains.

NIV

So this Prince of Peace is the one who brings peace to our hearts, peace with God. Once we were objects of wrath, but now through Jesus we are no longer those objects of wrath but we have been given the right to be called children of God, we are at peace with God and that gives us an internal peace no man can take from us. But it is this word given which bears so much in everything. God has given himself. We cannot earn or pay or repay or do anything which qualifies us to be saved, to enter the kingdom of God. God has given his Son for that purpose, so through faith in him we can enter the kingdom of God. Although it is true we must be born again to see the kingdom of God. Jesus tells us that. The whole of the idea is being in Christ. We did in fact die on the cross with him. Our old nature, our old self, is dead. We were buried with him in the tomb. When we go through the waters of baptism it is as if we are being buried with Christ. Hallelujah! Christ rose from the grave and as we rise from the waters of baptism it is an outward evidence of what occurs within us. The old self is dead and buried and a new self, a born again self raises from the grave. We are a new creature in Christ. This child who is given for us.