We have before us the greatest of all subjects, yet the most difficult and mysterious—the incarnation of God! God became a man. God took on Himself "the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of men" (Phil. 2:5-8; I Tim. 3:16). The gift of Christ is called "unspeakable" and the riches of Christ are called "unsearchable" (II Cor. 9:15; Eph. 3:8).
The Ancient of Days became an infant of days; He who made woman was made of a woman; God who is Spirit actually became flesh and dwelt among us (John l:14).
In the same breath that the prophet calls Him a CHILD, he calls Him COUNSELLOR. In the same breath that the prophet calls Him a SON, he calls Him the everlasting FATHER. The WARRIOR'S garments are rolled in blood, yet He is the PRINCE OF PEACE. He is a "MAN of sorrows" (Isa. 53:3), yet He is the mighty GOD. He is "REJECTED of men" (Isa. 53:3), yet the GOVERNMENT is on His shoulders. There are no contradictions here. Every word is true, but it is not learned by research and reason—ONLY BY REVELATION (I Cor. 2:9-10, 14). As scripture is only interpreted in the light of scripture so,
1. There is no seeing Christ except in His own light (John 1:18).
2. He is the lesson learned, yet He, Himself, is the teacher.
3. He is the one to whom we look and the light by which we see.
4. He is not only the tabernacle, the priest, and the mercy-seat, but He is the sacrifice and the one to whom it is offered.
I. "Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given." There is no repetition here. The careful student knows that the Spirit does not waste words.
1. "A child is born," a man-child made of a woman, who lay nine months in the womb and came forth as all children are born, bone of our bone and flesh of our flesh. Jesus Christ, the man, was born of a woman just as all men come into the world.
2. "A son is given." This Son was not born but given, sent from heaven. He was MADE of the seed of David according to the flesh and DECLARED to be the Son of God with power (Rom. 1:3-4).
When the angel announced to Joseph the coming of Christ in the flesh, he quoted Isaiah 7:14, "A virgin shall be with child and she shall bring forth a son, and they shall call His name EMMANUEL, God with us." The virgin birth is not simply a matter for argument or amazement but of necessity. Jesus Christ is not only man and called the son of man, but He is God and the Son of God. The Son of God can have no human father but is conceived by the Holy Ghost. If he were the seed of man and not the seed of woman, he would be born in sin.; but He is "holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners" (Heb. 7:26).
Is it true that God became a man? If it is true, then we have a righteousness, a redeemer, a mediator, and a hope of eternal glory. If it is not true, if there is no man in glory called Jesus Christ, then no other man will ever be in glory, then we stand alone before God's awful throne with no mediator (I Tim. 2:5).
II. "The government shall be on His shoulder." The government, not only of the universe and the world in general, butof the kingdom of God in particular.
1. All things in heaven and earth were made by Him, for Him, and are held together by Him (Col. 1:16-17).
2. He has all authority in heaven and earth (Matt. 28:18) and all authority over all flesh (John 17:2).
3. He reigns as King and surety over the kingdom of God. This government is delegated to Him from the Father (I Cor. 15:24-28).
4. He is head of the church, has all pre-eminence (Col. 1:18-19), and a name that is above every name (Phil. 2:9-11).
III. "His name shall be called wonderful." We carelessly call many things wonderful that are unworthy of such distinction. He alone is wonderful. He is wonderful in His ETERNALITY (Prov. 8:24-31); wonderful in His PERSON—the Godman; wonderful in His everlasting, infinite, and unchanging LOVE; wonderful in His perfect, holy LIFE; wonderful in His substitutionary DEATH; wonderful in His RESURRECTION, ASCENSION, and EXALTATION at the right hand of God (Heb. 1:1-4).
IV. "Counsellor." The world is full of people who want to be counsellors and advisers, but there is but ONE COUNSELLOR—Jesus Christ. Would you know God? Christ reveals Him! Would you know the will, way, and purpose of God? They are all found in Christ! He is both the wisdom and the power of God (I Cor. 1:30). Someone asked Mr. Spurgeon, "What is the best body of divinity?" He replied, "There is but one body of divinity—Christ Jesus." (Col. 2:9-10). Religious people say, "Are you in trouble? Do you need the Lord? Then call us." Don't do it! Call on Christ; He is the counsellor!
V. "The mighty God." The disciples said, "Show us the Father." Christ replied, "He that hath seen me hath seen the Father" (John 14:8-9). "I and my Father are one" (John 10:30). Jesus Christ is God (Acts 20:28; II Cor. 5:19; Heb. 1:8.). Every attribute of deity is found in Him—omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence. The disciples asked, "What manner of man is this that even the waves obey His voice?" He is the mighty God!
VI. "The everlasting Father." No man can explain the trinity; we can only believe. Our God is ONE GOD, yet three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (I John 5:7). . He that hath the Son hath the Father (II John 9; I John 2:23). When Moses asked God, "What is Thy name?" the Lord replied, "I AM THAT I AM." On how many occasions did our Lord Jesus use these words, "I AM"? (John 8:58).
VII. "The Prince of Peace." He is the author of peace between God and sinners (Rom. 5:1; Col. 1:20). He is our peace of heart and conscience (John 14:
27). He brings to us EVERLASTING PEACE; for His government, His peace, His kingdom are established on principles of JUDGMENT and JUSTICE (Isa. 9:6). This is no temporary peace; for Jesus Christ, the God-man, effectually, sufficiently, and once for all honored God's law and satisfied justice for all who believe (II Cor. 5:21: I Peter 3:18; Acts 13:38-39).