A CHILD BORN, A SON GIVEN 

            "For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace" (Isaiah 9:6). A previous devotional dealt with the promise to the serpent in Genesis 3:15 that a woman would bring forth a seed that would ultimately destroy him. The Seed has been born, but we are still longing for Satan to be destroyed. However, in the mind of God it is as if it has already occurred. Therefore, Isaiah wrote in the present tense as if the child had already been born and the son had already been given. He also wrote that it was 'for us' the child would be born, and it was 'for us' the son would be given. I believe the Child who was born in Bethlehem also was the Son who was given on Calvary. The message of Christmas is much more than a simple nativity scene.

            The secular world looks at Christmas as only a time for shopping, placing gifts under a Christmas tree, and displaying colorful lights. To the Christian world, it is a celebration in remembrance of a baby that was born in Bethlehem over 2,000 years ago. Mary had surely heard the words of Isaiah 7:14 read: "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel", But, she never dreamed that she would be the virgin. The angel Gabriel was sent to Mary announcing that God had chosen her to be the virgin who would give birth to His Son. "And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end. Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be, seeing I know not a man? And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God" (Luke 1:30-35).

            Joseph had fallen in love with Mary believing she was a very special young lady and had plans to one day have her as his wife. One can only imagine the hurt and disappoint he felt when her condition was known! But, then an angel came to him saying, "Behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:20, 21).  

            The birth of the child is given in the precious words found in Luke 2:7, "And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger." The baby's birth was not announced by an angel to a King or a Priest, but to lowly shepherds keeping watch over their sheep. "And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord" (Luke 2:10, 11). Note the angel said 'unto you' whereas Isaiah prophesied 'unto us'. However, the birth of a baby could not save although He was the Son of God!

            This Baby would live as a member of Adam's race having a human mother and a divine Father so He would not be under the curse placed on the rest of the human race. After He had lived a life of perfection for about 30 years, He was qualified to be presented as "the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). As such, He was qualified to be the Son who would be given for the sins of the world and that precious verse could be spoken by Jesus Himself! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16). The God Who gave His Son to earth as a little baby in Bethlehem also gave Him on Calvary so He could be the Savior of all who would repent and believe on Him!

            What about the promise of the serpent's head being destroyed by the seed of a woman? The Baby born at Bethlehem Who died at Calvary will take care of that! "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil" (Hebrews 2:14).

            This Christmas, as you celebrate the manger,  please don't forget the cross!