Christmas In Isaiah

CHRISTMAS IN ISAIAH.

1. Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:23.

“Behold the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and call His name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, ‘with us the God’.”

There are those in the church today - in its hierarchy, and teaching in its seminaries - who want us to think that it is not necessary to believe in the virgin birth. The Hebrew word they say, could just as easily mean ‘young woman’. This may be true: but the full understanding of the word would then be ‘young woman of marriageable age’ - like our old English word, ‘maiden’.

Matthew is clear: reading from the Greek translation of the prophecy, this woman is “the virgin” - and her child’s name Emmanuel means “with us the God”. The definite articles are emphatic, leading us away from any other mother than the virgin Mary, and any other so-called ‘god’ than the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The young woman who would bear a son called Immanuel, God with us, was not ultimately Ahaz’s queen bearing Hezekiah; nor yet Zion bearing the remnant: but Mary bearing Jesus the Saviour.

2. Isaiah 9:6-7.

Here Jesus is given more titles.

WONDERFUL: When the angel of the LORD was asked his name (Judges 13:18), he replied ‘it is secret’ - or ‘it is beyond understanding’ - the word used in the Hebrew is equivalent to the word here translated as “Wonderful.”

COUNSELLOR: Isaiah speaks later of “the spirit of counsel” resting upon Jesus (Isaiah 11:2). Jesus comes alongside as our advisor, to give wisdom and understanding through the Word and prayer, through His Holy Spirit and, on occasion, through His servants. He comes alongside as our advocate, justifying us before the bar of God’s law, and vanquishing on our behalf “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10).

THE MIGHTY GOD: That Jesus is God is taught throughout Scripture. For example, in John’s Gospel every time Jesus took upon His lips the words “I am” He was addressing Himself with the name of God. The Apostle Paul accredits Jesus with names and attributes that are understood from the Old Testament to belong to God, for “in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9).

The name ‘El Gibbor’ (the strong, or mighty God) is not to be confused with ‘El Shaddai’ (Almighty God). The adjective is used of Nimrod, the ‘mighty’ hunter (Genesis 10:8-9), and of David’s ‘mighty’ men (2 Samuel 23:8). The ‘El’ connects with Jesus’ earlier designation, ‘Emmanuel’ (Isaiah 7:14).

THE EVERLASTING FATHER: Jesus said, ‘I and the Father are One’ - and those who took up stones to stone Him did so because they clearly understood that He was ‘making Himself equal with God’ (John 10:30-33). Jesus is made ‘the author of everlasting salvation’ to everyone who obeys Him in Hebrews 5:9.

THE PRINCE OF PEACE: We have ‘peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:1). Jesus ‘gives us the peace that the world cannot give’ (John 14:27). The heavenly host takes up the refrain: ‘Glory to God in the highest, and upon earth peace, good will to men’ (Luke 2:14).

# The first thing we learn about this new King is that He comes to us as a man-child (Isaiah 9:6). Jesus’ preferred title for Himself is “Son of man” - but He acknowledges that He is also the Son of God (Matthew 16:16-17). The eternal Son of God became man, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

Secondly, He is born king (Matthew 2:2). There was nothing untimely about the birth and accession of Jesus: it was all in ‘the fulness of time’ (Galatians 4:4)! The government laid upon the shoulder of the young child (Isaiah 9:6) heralded the renovation of the house of David after a very long interregnum (Isaiah 9:7).

There are aspects of this prophecy which remain yet unfulfilled: but “the zeal of the LORD of hosts will accomplish it” (Isaiah 9:7).

3. Isaiah 11:1-2.

With the passage of time the house of David became so decimated as to be left with just a stump. Yet out of this root there would spring a shoot which would grow up into the expected righteous Branch (cf. Jeremiah 23:5).

The reference to the coming of the Spirit of the LORD upon “Him” (Isaiah 11:2) points us to none other than to Jesus, the Messiah.

To His name be all the praise, and all the glory.