"For to Us a Child is Born"

“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 9:6 ESV)

Usually, we see this verse at Advent and the approach of Christmas. Here we are in May, and maybe we should look at Isaiah’s words again. Not only did Isaiah give us a messianic prophecy, but God gave Him the consummate description of Jesus.

Isaiah foretells the incarnation by telling us that a child is born to us. The birth of God in the flesh, in which he confirms what he had already spoken two chapters earlier in 7:14: “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” Jesus came as a child, not born into royalty, but as a servant, as the Trinity had decided.

Later in His ministry, Jesus told us just this fact: “For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45) In serving God, Jesus rejoined God’s chosen to Him, through bearing our sins and making those who believe in Him as the Savior of the world righteous before God.

In writing that the “government will rest upon the shoulders” of Christ, Isaiah also tells us that Jesus is the ultimate ruler of creation. This is not just a symbolic gesture, but a declaration of His authority over all things. In a time of concern over governments, policies, war, tariffs, and a general distrust in governments, Isaiah tells us that here in this world, Jesus controls all things and that the anxiety, worry, and fears are all for naught. Jesus rules over creation. I cannot help but return to Psalm 21:1, “The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; he turns it wherever he will.” 

Isaiah reminds us that Jesus is our “Wonderful Counselor.” Now, while Isaiah wrote this as a promise of hope and deliverance for Israel from the Assyrians, Jesus also delivers us from the hands of the enemy. “Wonderful Counselor” refers to the eternal guidance of God. It is His omniscience, His divine knowledge. Jesus our intermediary between God along with the Holy Spirit, provide guidance, edification, and conviction when we succumb to temptation thereby leading us in our Christian life. Jesus told the apostles that while He was leaving, “the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26) Those in Christ are in dwelt by the Spirit.

Isaiah also confirms what he wrote in 7:14 that Immanuel (עִמָּנוּאֵל Hebrew.1 Ἐμμανουήλ, Greek,2 ) God with us is Jesus, our “Mighty God” with the “Eternal Father.” This title, 'Mighty God', reveals the divine power and authority of Jesus. It is a testament to His triune nature, a concept Isaiah was privileged to receive some 700 years before Christ. Jesus further revealed this nature to His disciples when He said, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

Lastly, Isaiah told us of our “Prince of Peace.” Jesus is our one and only Savior; He will ultimately usher in a time of eternal peace. Yet until that time, He is the one who brings reconciliation and peace to all who believe in Him. Jesus said he was “the good shepherd.” In Greek, kalos (καλός 3) is translated as “good,” meaning moral, clean, good, and lovely. Jesus is inherently good without flaw. Combining this definition with the notion of the shepherd reveals the nature of Christ, His eternal love, grace, mercy, and protection. He guides His flock, protecting them from all evil with the promise of our resurrection and eternal life. Jesus told us Himself that He was our shepherd in John 10:7, “So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.”

So, what do we do with this? This goes far beyond an Advent passage and into a passage we apply to our lives every day. This passage should give us exactly what Jesus should give us: peace, hope, a feeling of love, an elimination of fears and anxiety, and assurance of our eternal future. I can immediately feel the hope in this passage. This passage reminds us to rely on our shepherd, Christ Jesus, in our trials and tribulations. It reminds us that He is all things and sits in judgment over creation. It reminds us that we should only go to Him who provides all things we need, for He is our “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.”

If you do not know Christ Jesus as all these things, if you are looking for hope and peace in your life, seek Christ now. If you have questions about Christ and Christianity, contact us here at In Messiah Ministries, and we can lead you to the scriptures that reveal all things about our Savior, Christ Jesus.

Grace and Peace!

[1] Strong’s Hebrew Lexicon, H6005

[2] Strong’s Greek Lexicon, 1694

[3] Strong’s Greek Lexicon, 2570