The Gift of Christmas is Jesus

[This week is the Family Christmas Program at Boothbay Baptist Church, so there will be skits and music in place of the sermon. The following short devotional will be used to close the service.]

Isaiah 9:6-7 says,

“For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.”

I’d like to focus on two of the titles that were given to the Child who was to be born: Mighty God, and Prince of Peace. The first one tells us who He was, the tells something about what He came to do.

       First, notice the Child is called “Mighty God.”  We celebrate the birth of Jesus, but we need to remember who He is. How could any human baby have such a title? God the Son, the eternal Son who shares all the attributes of the Godhead with the Father and the Spirit, took upon Himself a human nature. Remember how Paul said it in Philippians 2:6-7,  

“…though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,  ⁷ but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

Out of ivory palaces, into this world of woe… He chose that, He did it willingly for us. God became a man. John starts His gospel with the words, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…” Then in v.14 he says, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” He came in such a humble way, taking a human nature, born as a baby. Veiled in flesh the Godhead see! Hail the incarnate deity! Born of man with men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel!

       Secondly, notice that He would be called “Prince of Peace.” In the first verses of Isaiah 9 the prophet spoke about the darkness and death that dominates in this fallen world, but also of the promise of a Light shining in darkness which would bring Joy to the world (Isa 9:1-3). The One who is “Mighty God,” God incarnate, is also “Prince of Peace,” i.e., “The Prince of Shalom.” His reign would be marked by the presence of God and the blessings of Kingdom life for which we were created. Notice verse 7, “Of the increase of His government and of peace there shall be no end…” Remember the words of the angel on the night of His birth: “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men…” The idea isn’t an immediate end to conflict in the world… that surely hasn’t happened! It does mean that humans had been offered a path to reconciliation with God: by grace, through faith. The enmity and separation caused by sin has been undone for all who will believe in Him, recognizing who He is, trusting in what He did for us. Because we can have peace with God we can experience the peace of God.

       The church father Augustine said it eloquently in one of his sermons…

“The Word of the Father, by whom all time was created, was made flesh and was born in time for us. He, without whose divine permission no day completes its course, wished to have one day for his human birth. On the bosom of His Father he existed before all the cycles of ages; born of an earthly mother, He entered upon the course of years on this day.

The Maker of men became man that He, the Ruler of the stars, might be nourished at the breast; that He, the Bread, might be hungry; that He, the Fountain, might thirst; that He the Light, might sleep; that He, the Way, might be wearied by the journey; that He, the Truth, might be accused by false witnesses; the He, the judge of the living and the dead, might be brought to trial by a mortal judge; that He, Justice, might be condemned by the unjust; that He, discipline, might be scourged by whips; that He the foundation, might be suspended on a Cross; that courage might be weakened; that security might be wounded; that Life might die…

To endure these and similar indignities for us, to free us, unworthy creatures, He who existed as the Son of God before all ages, without a beginning, deigned to become the Son of Man in these recent years. He did this although He who submitted to such great evils for our sake had done no evil and although we, who were the recipients of so much good at His hands had done nothing to deserve those benefits…”

That is the Gift of Christmas, “The wages of sin is death [that is what we deserve], but the free gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” He is offering you the gift… will you receive it? It is as simple as ABC, Admit you are sinner, Believe that Jesus is the Son of God and that He died for your sins on the Cross, and Confess Him now as your Savior and Lord.  Receive the Gift of Christmas that He is offering to you!    AMEN.