A picture of peace
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
— Isaiah 9:7, ESV
The Old Testament pictures of the Lord Jesus Christ are like still photographs, while the New Testament records a motion picture of the Messiah. I love the movie, but I still like looking at the old photos, too, especially those taken by Isaiah.
The old prophets had to do more revealing with less revelation. Their pictures of the Messiah are often one-dimensional rather than two. They reveal Jesus Christ in one fell swoop, rather than the two advents, the first coming as a baby who grew to be the Savior, and the second coming in which He returns as the conquering king and visible Lord of all creation.
Isaiah, in this famous text often seen at Christmas, gives us the bigger picture in one shot.
In the photo, we see a child, a son to be specific. Like a holographic photo, however, the baby morphs into a man, but not just any man. He is a larger-than-Atlas-like figure, holding the whole world on His shoulders. The English translation “government” seems insufficient. The actual word recorded by the original Author/author, the Holy Spirit and the prophet Isaiah, speaks of absolute power, dominion, control, Lordship over all.
Remember this is a prophetic picture. Not all has been fulfilled. We see the infant Messiah through the lens of Scripture. We even see the length of His earthly life, culminating with crucifixion, resurrection, ascension. We still await His return, burning the old and unregenerate like chaff, ushering in the new and regenerate heaven and earth, a place for Him and His people to dwell for eternity.
Don’t you want to be there, don’t you want to fly? With your arms out, let a shout take you across the sky, Don’t you want to be there when the time’s gone by. Don’t you want to be there, don’t you want to know? Where the grace and simple truth of childhood go, Don’t you want to be there when the trumpets blow!
— Jackson Browne
Isaiah, in his picture, shows us the way.
Give attention and accept in full the authority of the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the most wonderful counsel ever offered to the entire world. Submit to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. He cannot be Savior if He is not Lord. He is not a mini God, He is the mighty God. Enjoy a relationship, then, with God as your Everlasting Father. Fatherlessness is the plague of society, but not in the kingdom of God. God, though Christ and the Holy Spirit, will never leave nor forsake you.
Enjoy a relationship, also, with the Prince of Peace. Peace with God comes by grace through faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, God’s word, Christ’s church, and a sincere wait for the kingdom of God to come in full.
In the first light of a new day no one knew he had arrived Things continued as they had been while a newborn softly cried
But the heavens wrapped in wonder knew the meaning of his birth
In the weakness of a baby they knew God had come to earth As his mother held him closely it was hard to understand That her baby, not yet speaking, was the word of God to man He would tell them of his kingdom but their hearts would not believe
They would hate him and in anger they would nail him to a tree
But the sadness would be broken as the song of life arose And the firstborn of creation would ascend and take his throne
He had left it to redeem us but before his life began
He knew he’d come back, not as a baby, but as the Lord of every man
Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth But how much greater will our song be when he comes again to earth
Hear the angels as they’re singing on the morning of his birth But how much greater will our song be when he comes to rule the earth!
— Bob Kauflin
Chuck DeVane is the pastor of Lake Hamilton Baptist Church. Call him at 501-525-8339 or email pastorchuck@lakehamiltonbaptist.com.