A Child Is Born Series

My friend wrote about the birth of Jesus and put it in a way to look like a birth announcement for Jesus. It was designed to look like it was clipped from a newspaper.

Birth Announcement

The Nazareth Daily News in the year 1 A.D.

Joseph and Mary from Nazareth are pleased to announce the birth of their first son, Jesus. The delivery was quite risky as the proud parents were out of town on a business trip when the birth occurred in Bethlehem. No doctor or hospital could be found in town because of the lateness of the hour. No hotel was open at the time. Jesus was born in an unsanitary and fragrantly offensive stable. Despite these hazardous conditions the baby seems perfectly healthy and some at the temple are predicting great and unusual things from this little boy. The Nazareth Daily News on behalf of the town wishes to extend congrats to the happy parents.

It is true that when Jesus was born some were expecting great things from him. Even in the ancient days the prophets were expecting great things from this child. They foresaw that he would be born.

As a matter of fact, the prophets were expecting such great things from this child that they could hardly find adequate ways to express it. They used symbols and figures of speech, but the greatness of the child lay beyond their ability to fully communicate it.

Isaiah tells us of the greatness of this child, with the best that can be done given the restraint of human understanding. This passage is the theme for Handel’s Messiah. The passage was written to celebrate the birth of a Royal heir, but it sends a message beyond its time. There is more than an earthly ruler envisioned here.

There is only one who could fill the description here. That is Jesus Christ. He is eternal, King of Kings, Son of God and Savior of man.

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 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. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

Every nation has had rulers and many of them great ones. The United States honors their first president George Washington, but only that one nation out of 200 nations celebrates the birthday of that great leader. The same story is repeated for the great leaders of all the nations of the world. They are only revered in one nation. However, there is one ruler who reigns supreme for all the nations. Isiah speaks of him here.

This child is one who rules. The government will be upon his shoulders. What the people needed was a perfect ruler. Isaiah foresaw one who would come and rule. A child born as a gift from God.

When we find someone who can handle a lot of responsibility, we refer to them as having broad shoulders. Here is a child born with very broad shoulders. The government will be on his shoulders.

For many Jesus coming as ruler was not in the way they were expecting. What they were looking for was for a messiah who would lead armies, subdue nations, and have the whole world marvel and his power to lead.

Jesus was different. Jesus came humbly. He was born amongst the domestic animals. This baby born in a manger, in an offensive stable, the government will be on his shoulders? Only those with the eyes of faith recognized that Jesus ruled a spiritual kingdom.

Yes, he will rule with might over all the nations because he said he will come again. At that time every knee will bow, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The Government rests on the shoulders of Jesus.

The political leaders of every political party will always disappoint the people. Only one leader can answer all the deep problems our world faces. The child born in Bethlehem the first Christmas morning. In a day of crises Isaiah looked ahead to a child born who could lead, who would lead. That leader is Jesus.

The child born in Bethlehem is Mighty God. You might be able to solve complicated puzzles and answer very difficult riddles but try to figure this one out. Here lies a mystery so deep it is beyond our limits. The one who created the universe, mighty God, is lying in a manger a helpless baby.

There are many false copies of Christianity. This is where they all break down. They say Jesus is a good example, a wise teacher, one who shows us the moral path, but they miss this point that Jesus is fully God. That is the doctrine called the incarnation of Jesus. That his is fully human and fully God.