“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. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end….” Isaiah 9:6-7a (NIV2011)
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….”
Over 700 years before Christ, Isaiah foretells the first Advent of Jesus! This passage of prophetic Scripture describes both the humanity and Deity of Christ. “For to us a child is born,” speaks to His humanity! Though born of a virgin, the Son of God would take the form of human flesh as a helpless infant! Yet, while 100% human, He was different! “… to us a son is given,” This speaks to the Deity of Jesus! He was both man and God at the same time! Theologians call this the Incarnation. As fully man, Jesus feels our pain; as God, He offers healing! As man, Jesus understands the trials and temptations of life; as God, He can give us victory over them.
“… and the government will be on His shoulders.”
Although this Advent prophecy from Isaiah is most commonly used at Christmas and you may remember it best from Handel’s Messiah, it also foretells a Second Advent. As with most prophecies in the Old Testament, Isaiah 9:6-7 foretells both a short-term and long-term prediction. If the first part came true, then readers would have greater confidence in anticipating the second. That means that Isaiah’s prophecy offers us hope for today and promise for tomorrow! An undetermined number of centuries would separate the first part of Isaiah’s prophecies from the second part. Yet, one day, just as Jesus came the first time, He will come again! The first time, He came as a suffering servant to provide redemption for us. The second coming of Christ will be in triumphant glory, and every eye will behold Him; Isaiah says the government of mankind will rest on His shoulders! Unlike Presidential candidates today who run for office and identify with some political party, Jesus will not come to take sides. He comes to take over! The New Testament tells us what will happen in that day:
“At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is LORD, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2:10, 11 (NLT)
Every President who has ever lived, every Prime Minister, every Prince, every King or Queen who has ever ruled will bow down and proclaim Jesus is LORD! He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords! Isaiah adds, “Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end….” (Isaiah 9:7a) How awesome is that?
What will it be like when Jesus is President? Imagine it for a moment with me as we look closer at what the Bible reveals. This week, we will search the Scriptures to see what happens when we make Christ the Commander in Chief of every decision in our lives!
