A child, a Son
For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given……
(Isaiah 9:6)
The month of December holds many people’s hopes and expectations of a time of joy and fun. Some go through the year with a longing for the holiday season, with December month in particular. It is the time when a lot of love between family members is expressed, plans for meet-ups with friends and fun-related activities. The month is symbolic of what many will call happiness and there is almost a quiet desire that the days would not move so fast. The world over, regardless of the faith that individuals subscribe to or not, the reason for this happy season is the birth of a child many years ago. Many will look at it as a huge birthday party for baby Jesus, as recorded in the bible. Children learn the nativity story, sing carols and just like it happens with birthdays, presents are exchanged. While presents are given to the child whose birthday we celebrate, with the birth of Jesus and Christmas celebrations, we share the presents among ourselves. This is instructive, Jesus Himself came as gift of God to us, His coming was God’s gift to mankind.
Our reference verse by Isaiah, speaks of what we now know as the birth of Jesus Christ the Son of God. The verse tells us that a child is born, and yes, Jesus came as a child and many saw a baby born in the natural; it continues to state that a Son is given. This child who was born as a baby in the natural was indeed the Son of God, one who was given to us as a gift to redeem us from our sins. Beloved, as we celebrate Christmas this year, may we receive the revelation that Jesus is not just a baby as we read but has come to us as the Son of God. It is only when we see Jesus as the Son of God that we realize the gift that we have received from God. As the Son of God, He came to fulfill the will of His Father, He represented His Father, His birth speaks of God living among men. When the angel visited Joseph in a dream, Matthew records that the Son born of Mary would be called Immanuel, God with us (Matthew 1;23). God the Father sending His Son to us, represents a deep message of love for mankind (John 3:16). Our Father’s desire has always been to draw us back to Him and Jesus provided an avenue for us to find God again, to be reconciled. It is comforting that through our faith in Jesus, we now are God’s children (John 1:12-13). Jesus by coming and giving us salvation also made us the righteousness of God (2 Corinthians 5:21), a position or condition we could never reach by our own efforts, but by the mercies of God. You, my brother my sister, are the righteousness of God.
Brethren, as we celebrate this Christmas, may we not lose sight of the reason for our Saviour’s birth, the great gift of eternal life that we have received. Boney M in his popular song “Mary’s boy child”, reminds us that man will live for ever more, because of the birth of Jesus. May this be the ultimate reason for the season that we celebrate, that we have eternal life through believing in Jesus, the Son of God who was born as child. This is worth celebration. Merry Christmas.
Thoughts:
What is your reflection for this season?
Have you known Jesus as a child or as a Son of God?
How will you live daily in this awareness?