“Promise Made-Promise Kept, Prophecy Made-Prophecy Fulfilled”
“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” Isaiah 9:16.
A promise made, promise kept. A Prophecy was made, a Prophecy fulfilled. The baby, born to a peasant but devout woman and God, grew up to be the Savior of the world. Jesus is his name, but He is called by other titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. His birth was humble, his ministry powerful, his death brutal, and his resurrection redemptive.
Before I get to the end of the story, let me focus on the beginning of the story. God could have had Jesus born into a rich family, a cultured family, a religious family who served in the synagogue, or a merchant family, but God sent him to a barely making-it-, can’t rub two cents-together family. Look who God invited to witness the birth of Jesus. Not the Washington Post, New York Times, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube, but the lowly shepherds (these are the people you don’t want to be near), his heavenly being, the Archangel Gabriel. Look how God provided for the holy family by sending three wise men and their entourage bearing gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, precious gems, and oils. Look how God protected his child, He sent Jesus and his parents to Egypt for two years (because King Herod put a bounty on his head) until it was safe to return to Nazareth.
By his birth, we can tell what type of Savior Jesus would be: humble, loving, caring, inclusive, anointed, protected, and blessed, to name a few traits. Aren’t you glad that the promise was kept and the prophecy fulfilled? And he took all those traits to the cross and fulfilled his purpose. When it was all said and done, He went back to his heavenly home to sit on the right side of his Father, interceding on our behalf. We thank God for Christmas!
Hazel R. Robinson, Chaplain