A Child for Us (Isa. 9:6, 7)
Here is the third special birth in the book of Isaiah, following mentions
of the births of Immanuel and Maher-shalal-hash-baz.
What is special about the Child found in these verses? (Isaiah 9:6, 7.)
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Notice that this Deliverer has several names/epithets that describe
Him in various ways. In the ancient Near East, kings and deities had
multiple names to show their greatness.
He is “wonderful,” just as the divine Angel of the Lord described His
own name to Samson’s father as “ ‘wonderful’ ” (Judg. 13:18, RSV; the
same Hebrew root) and then ascended toward heaven in the sacrificial
flame on Manoah’s altar (Judg. 13:20), thereby prefiguring His offering
of Himself more than one thousand years later.
He is referred to as divine (“Mighty God”) and the eternal Creator
(“Everlasting Father”; see Luke 3:38: “Adam, son of God,” NRSV).
He is a King of the dynasty of David; His kingdom of peace will be
eternal.
Given these attributes, whom alone could this Child be? (See Luke 2:8–14.)
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Some have attempted to identify Him with King Hezekiah, but the
description far surpasses any ordinary human being. Only one person
fits: Jesus Christ, the divine Son of God and Creator (John 1:1–3, 14;
Col. 1:5–17; Col. 2:9; Heb. 1:2), who was born to us in order to save us
and give us peace. He has received all authority in heaven and on earth,
and He is with us always (Matt. 28:18–20). While retaining His divinity,
He also has become human for all time, ever able to sympathize with
our weaknesses (Heb. 4:15). “Unto us a child is born” . . . forever!
“When Christ came to our world, Satan was on the ground, and disputed every inch of advance in His path from the manger to Calvary. Satan had accused God of requiring self-denial of the angels, when He knew nothing of what it meant Himself, and when He would not Himself make any selfsacrifice for others. This was the accusation that Satan made against God in heaven; and after the evil one was expelled from heaven, he continually charged the Lord with exacting service which He would not render Himself.
Christ came to the world to meet these false accusations, and to reveal the
Father.”—Ellen G. White, Selected Messages, book 1, pp. 406, 407. What does this quote tell us about the character of God?