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.
This child in the manger is distinct. That is why this baby was worshipped by the wise men. It was known to the Magi of the east that this child was God to be worshipped.
After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” (Matthew 2:1-2)
This helpless little baby is described as God and as Mighty God. This is an unusual title for a newborn babe. There is nothing mighty about a newborn babe. He is supreme over his enemies. He is a battle champion.
Those who mock Jesus make a big mistake. Jesus is Mighty God and he will gain victory over every arena of history.
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
A child who is eternal. Very closely related to Mighty God is that this child who will come as Isaiah saw it, what has come the first Christmas day, he is eternal. His kingdom is eternal. All the rulers of history accept one have come and gone.
Only Jesus is eternal and ruler of an eternal kingdom. Jesus is everlasting and eternal. He existed in glory before he appeared as a man in Bethlehem. The angel Gabriel reinforced Isaiah’s message.
He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:32-33)
Isaiah says he will reign on David’s throne and there will be no end to his reign. When you become a Christian, you are part of the most significant movement in all of time and eternity. Jesus shocked the Pharisees when he said, Very truly I tell you, whoever obeys my word will never see death.” (John 8:51)
Then after Jesus made this statement they asked him, are you greater than our Father Abraham? Jesus’ reply was so shocking to them that they were about to kill him then and there.
“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!” 59 At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself, slipping away from the temple grounds. (John 8:58-59)
Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus claimed to be eternal. It was a three for three testimony. The prophet Isaiah foretold of him in our passage. Gabriel announced this on many occasions before his birth. Jesus himself made this claim which was the driving force behind the move to put Jesus to death.
Isaiah announced a child who saves. Jesus is the Prince of Peace. The word for peace is shalom. It is not just the absence of war, but the filling of all good things. Knowing this kind of peace is only possible by having a right relationship to God.
Jesus came to bring peace. He came because the relationship between God and man is broken. It has been broken since the days of Adam and Eve when they disobeyed God in the Garden of Eden.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Isaiah 9:2)
Jesus is the light for those living in darkness. No more darkness, no more night. Jesus is the light.
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
And He shall reign forever and ever,
King of kings! and Lord of lords!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! (Handel’s Messiah)
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. (Luke 1:79)
Jesus came for you personally because he knows you need a savior. Have you done anything short of God’s standards? Maybe you made a promise to your mother, and you broke that promise. That is sin. The Bible says all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.
God is holy and you are a sinner. The relationship with God is broken by sin and you need a savior. Jesus came. His name means savior.
Hallelujah a son is born!
Hallelujah a son is given!
The text of Isaiah 9 inspired Handel to write the Messiah, the Hallelujah chorus. Let this prophecy from Isaiah become your inspiration also. The time is now for the light of Christ to dawn in your heart.
