Day 3: A Son is Given

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Isaiah is still catching a glimpse into the future of Israel’s coming Messiah, or rescuer, and is describing what he sees. Isaiah is using the Hebrew literary tool of repetition to emphasize a point that he is trying to make. These two concepts or ways of viewing the Messiah are so important that he rephrases it and repackages it for his audience. 

The Messiah coming as a child, specifically to be born as a child as seen yesterday, in such weakness and feebleness speaks to the humility and ability for Him to identify with our own sufferings. He seems approachable and tangible in a way.  

Now we see that the Messiah isn’t just a child that is born, but a son that is given. This Messiah isn’t like any other anointed redeemer that Israel has seen before. He is better than Moses and David and Saul. They were men who were born and identified with our shortcomings, easily. But to be a son that is given. 

This statement should fill us with some questions, like who is this Messiah a son of? This Messiah would be different from the others as He would be the very Son of God. For this type of redemption that Isaiah was speaking of, as a Prophet of the Lord, the Messiah needed to have a certain type of tab that could hold the weight of the charges against the people. Here, we realize that the coming Messiah would be a representative sent by the Father for a purpose of bringing hope and joy to the darkness of His people. 

We can see that His full deity is represented. The Messiah didn’t have to be God. God could have sent a sinless angel to redeem us if He wanted to… but He didn’t. He got down and dirty, getting involved in the process Himself, He gave His son.

Does that phrase sound familiar?

A son is given. 

Given.

We see in scripture the Messiah is many times referred to as being sent or given or as a gift of God. The Messiah was pre-eminently the gift of God Himself. Man had no ability to stake a claim on Him. God voluntarily gave his Son to be a sacrifice for the sins of the world.

Jesus was the Son that God gave for us. This season brings with it lots of joy, but let us never lose sight of the reason why this “son was given”. 

Reflection: Jesus is unlike anyone else in that He is the perfect Son of God. He alone can do what no other person before Him could… save us. Remember today that there is nothing in your life that He cannot rescue you from. 

Prayer: Son of God, thank you for being enough for me. Thank you that you selflessly came for me and those around me. Help me to remember that your love for me is greater than my view of myself.