“For to us a child is born…” (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Chapter 9 of Isaiah is a chapter where God tells Isaiah to prophecy about a hope that will come to those who live in spiritual darkness. Verse 2 reads, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” This passage, then, is a passage of hope. Jerusalem and Judah had been extremely rebellious. Isaiah had called them to repent and turn back to God. Likewise he had informed God’s people of one who would atone for their sins (see Isaiah 53). In verses 6 and 7 we read a description of how God would redeem the souls of mankind and offer a great light to those who walk in darkness.
The first phrase in verse 6 is “For to us a child is born…” A couple of things are to be noticed here.
First, Isaiah said “to us” a child is born. Who is the “us” here? Was not this child born for all people? Or was this child born to a specific “us”? In the context of this passage, we know that Isaiah was sent to prophecy to the Jews of Jerusalem and Judah (see Isaiah 1:1). Does this mean that the child to be born was only for Jews? In Matthew 1 when the angel appeared to Joseph and urged him not to divorce Mary quietly because of her unexpected pregnancy, the angel told him that what was going on was a work of God. In verse 21 the angel continued, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (emphasis mine). Who are “his people”? Luke records for us that after baby Jesus was born, the first people to get the news from heaven were shepherds! Shepherds! Consider what one of the angels said to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). This helps us shed light on our question. Jesus was sent by God for all the people. So, we know this baby will save his people from their sins, but He was sent for all the people. So, who is the “us”? For to “who” exactly is the child born? I think our answer is found in verse 32 of Luke 2. Eight days after Jesus’ birth Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to present him to God. A man named Simeon knew it was the Messiah, and said these words of Jesus: “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” So here we see Jesus is a light for the Gentiles and glory for the Jews. What do we make of all this? Did He come for all the people of the world? Yes, hallelujah. He came for all the peoples of the world, not a specific people group. He came for all people groups and nations and tribes and tongues. However, not all will come to a saving knowledge of and faith in him. The “us” in Isaiah 9:6 and the “his” in Matthew 1:21 are those who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. The offer of salvation is not for any particular kind of people group. The offer of salvation is for all peoples. For those who believe on Him and are saved, the child will be for them! Everyone you run into today has the opportunity to hear about this child. Urge them to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation! Today they might experience the glorious reality of this child’s birth being for them!
Second, notice what is to happen: “For to us a child is born…” How fascinating! God could have chosen to come to earth by making a grand entrance out of heaven (which, by the way He will do when He returns to earth). But He didn’t. He chose to be born. He chose to be born to two earthly, human parents. He chose to be an infant child. He chose to be born to poor parents. He chose to be born in a stable, a barn. He chose to be human. Why? Why did God choose to come to earth and be born as a human child? Primarily because a perfect sacrifice had to be given in order for our sins to be atoned for. A perfectly obedient human had to do what could not be done. A perfectly obedient human had to die. A human had to come and do for us what we so miserably failed at! A sinful human on a cross would not have sufficed. The sacrifice had to be perfect and the sacrifice had to be a human substitute. Likewise, he chose to be human so as to identify with us! He knows what it’s like to be completely, 100% human. He knows because for 33 years he was one. He lived a perfectly righteous life as a human. He was tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin.
If Jesus is your Lord and Savior today, rejoice in the fact that the child that was born over 2,000 years ago was for you. Trust in the reality that as a human being, a perfect human being, when you believed on him his righteousness and perfect obedient record before God became yours. Rest in the beauty that when you talk to him in prayer and express your emotions and thoughts and concerns, you are talking to God who knows all your struggles and can relate personally to your situation.
“For to us a child is born…” Thank You Lord God for sending this child!
Chapter 9 of Isaiah is a chapter where God tells Isaiah to prophecy about a hope that will come to those who live in spiritual darkness. Verse 2 reads, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” This passage, then, is a passage of hope. Jerusalem and Judah had been extremely rebellious. Isaiah had called them to repent and turn back to God. Likewise he had informed God’s people of one who would atone for their sins (see Isaiah 53). In verses 6 and 7 we read a description of how God would redeem the souls of mankind and offer a great light to those who walk in darkness.
The first phrase in verse 6 is “For to us a child is born…” A couple of things are to be noticed here.
First, Isaiah said “to us” a child is born. Who is the “us” here? Was not this child born for all people? Or was this child born to a specific “us”? In the context of this passage, we know that Isaiah was sent to prophecy to the Jews of Jerusalem and Judah (see Isaiah 1:1). Does this mean that the child to be born was only for Jews? In Matthew 1 when the angel appeared to Joseph and urged him not to divorce Mary quietly because of her unexpected pregnancy, the angel told him that what was going on was a work of God. In verse 21 the angel continued, “She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins” (emphasis mine). Who are “his people”? Luke records for us that after baby Jesus was born, the first people to get the news from heaven were shepherds! Shepherds! Consider what one of the angels said to the shepherds: “I bring you good news of a great joy that will be for all the people” (Luke 2:10). This helps us shed light on our question. Jesus was sent by God for all the people. So, we know this baby will save his people from their sins, but He was sent for all the people. So, who is the “us”? For to “who” exactly is the child born? I think our answer is found in verse 32 of Luke 2. Eight days after Jesus’ birth Mary and Joseph went to the Temple to present him to God. A man named Simeon knew it was the Messiah, and said these words of Jesus: “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.” So here we see Jesus is a light for the Gentiles and glory for the Jews. What do we make of all this? Did He come for all the people of the world? Yes, hallelujah. He came for all the peoples of the world, not a specific people group. He came for all people groups and nations and tribes and tongues. However, not all will come to a saving knowledge of and faith in him. The “us” in Isaiah 9:6 and the “his” in Matthew 1:21 are those who trust in Jesus Christ for their salvation. The offer of salvation is not for any particular kind of people group. The offer of salvation is for all peoples. For those who believe on Him and are saved, the child will be for them! Everyone you run into today has the opportunity to hear about this child. Urge them to believe on Jesus Christ for salvation! Today they might experience the glorious reality of this child’s birth being for them!
Second, notice what is to happen: “For to us a child is born…” How fascinating! God could have chosen to come to earth by making a grand entrance out of heaven (which, by the way He will do when He returns to earth). But He didn’t. He chose to be born. He chose to be born to two earthly, human parents. He chose to be an infant child. He chose to be born to poor parents. He chose to be born in a stable, a barn. He chose to be human. Why? Why did God choose to come to earth and be born as a human child? Primarily because a perfect sacrifice had to be given in order for our sins to be atoned for. A perfectly obedient human had to do what could not be done. A perfectly obedient human had to die. A human had to come and do for us what we so miserably failed at! A sinful human on a cross would not have sufficed. The sacrifice had to be perfect and the sacrifice had to be a human substitute. Likewise, he chose to be human so as to identify with us! He knows what it’s like to be completely, 100% human. He knows because for 33 years he was one. He lived a perfectly righteous life as a human. He was tempted in every way just as we are, yet was without sin.
If Jesus is your Lord and Savior today, rejoice in the fact that the child that was born over 2,000 years ago was for you. Trust in the reality that as a human being, a perfect human being, when you believed on him his righteousness and perfect obedient record before God became yours. Rest in the beauty that when you talk to him in prayer and express your emotions and thoughts and concerns, you are talking to God who knows all your struggles and can relate personally to your situation.
“For to us a child is born…” Thank You Lord God for sending this child!
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