What About This Baby?

Isaiah 9:6

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.

During the Christmas season, many homes may have on display, a Nativity scene. Some may have carved and detailed crafted pieces. Some may have simpler sets. Some may even have, much to my displeasure, an inflatable, lighted Nativity decorating their front yards.

But what about the Nativity? What does it all mean? And what about this Baby?

The above verse is probably mentioned more in sermons, especially in Christmas/Advent services, than any other verse. But it is a dramatic illustration of God's wonderful plan and how He was to bring His Messiah into the world to change the world.

The night Jesus was born, was the beginning of God's manifested revelation of His grace and mercy for His creation and for His people. His immaculate and miraculous infant entrance into the world fulfilled the work of God's promise of a Savior.

This little Baby, innocent as a lamb, would soon turn the world upside down.

This little Baby who was solely dependent upon His mother's care, was God incarnate, wrapped in human flesh.

This little Baby would go through a normal childhood, (though we don't know much about it), and experience life like other children in His neighborhood - with the exception of sin, of course.

This little Baby would grow up strong in the Lord and become a whirlwind going from town to town, hamlet to hamlet and changing people's hearts and communities wholesale with His teachings, healings, and miraculous works.

This little Baby would be sought by men of evil and self-righteous ways to bring this Man to religious justice. They found a way, through the truth of God's words and promises, to deliver this Jesus of Nazareth, and get rid of Him once and for all - or so they thought.

This little Baby, who's no longer a Baby, went willingly to the cross to die for the forgiveness our sins that demanded our own death. But was also raised from death to eternal life in the fullness of Scripture, to provide us a secured hope for our own lives.

As the great prophet Isaiah said under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, this little Baby would carry the world upon His shoulders, for He was, is and shall forever be, Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. He is Immanuel - God with us!