What Child Is This?

As a result of the divine power and sacrifice of the Good Shepherd those who acknowledge His right to rule over their lives will live not only in security but peace as well! “Christ will not only bring peace, and be the Author of peace, but be Himself Peace; as Isaiah (9:5) calls Him “Prince of Peace,” and St. Paul (Ephesians 2:14) “our Peace.” Peace personified (comp. Zech. 9:9).” For there to be peace on earth there must be peace between us and a holy God. “Christ is made great in the conversion of every sinner. When the suppliant penitent cries, “God be merciful to me a sinner,” and the peace-speaking blood comes dropping upon the troubled conscience, and the soul bows meekly to accept the finished righteousness, then is Christ (seen as) great.” To this end the peace under King Solomon (1 Kings 4:24) was nothing in comparison to the peace of the One who through belief in His atoning sacrifice has freed us from the power of sin and its consequences, spiritual death! No longer are the fiery darts of the “spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms” (Ephesians 6:12) to be feared for greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)! Not only will the hostility between His own and Himself be eliminated but so will hostility between one another! When the new heaven and new earth comes the Good Shepherd will wipe every tear and forever remove the sting of sorrow, pain, and death for they will be no more (Revelation 21:1-4)! Because His greatness, mercy and power are over all things seen and unseen (Colossians 1:16) the groaning of Creation will end (Romans 8:19-23), the lion will lay with the lamb (Isiah 11:6-9) and all will live in peace and forever shout “Hosanna in the highest.”

Conclusion

At a time when the king of Babylon was laying siege to Jerusalem the prophet Micah told Israel to not lose hope for the King predicted in the royal psalms and Isaiah was about to arrive! He would come from the same town that King David was born. Ironically it would be out of Bethlehem a place so insignificant in human eyes that it was not even listed amongst the cities of Judah that this pre-eminent King would come! This incarnate Good Shepherd would demonstrate His undying love, strength, power, wisdom, and mercy by giving His life as a ransom for many. In doing so He provided the path, faith in His atoning sacrifice, that would end the hostility between sinful humanity and a holy God! He was no ordinary King for His origins are from of old, ancient times, the Lamb that would be slain before the creation of the world. He came to also end the hostility between the Jews and Gentiles for He became the cornerstone of a new church whose membership was not based on genealogy, national identity but on faith in a risen Savior! As Judge, Lawgiver, and King, and one who is not subject to human sin, He will one day assert His authority over all things and unseen and in doing so every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Him to be the Lord over all! While we like to see this Jesus as a babe lying in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes, completely dependent on us; may we rejoice this Christmas season to know by His stripes we have been healed and given the glorious opportunity to not only be part of His family but to spend an eternity with Him in peace!