“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.” Isaiah 9:6-7
Some have described the birth of Christ as being for all of us, and not just to Joseph and Mary. Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph, but he was also born “unto us,” the spiritually bankrupt; the lost and broken. If Jesus were a regular child, the verse would read “unto Mary and Joseph a child was born.” The King James Bible states several times that a child was born “unto” someone specific such as Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jesus was not born unto Joseph and Mary. He is the world’s Savior and servant King. He was born unto us because he came to save us. Praise the Lord that “unto us” a child is born.
We are told in Matthew that an angel appeared to Joseph, “...an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins’” (Matt. 1:20-21). Even Joseph was told that the birth of Jesus was not just for him and Mary. This child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit, and He was coming to save His people from their sins.
The Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, and we read, “’And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end.’ Then Mary said to the angel, ‘How can this be, since I do not know a man?’ And the angel answered and said to her, ‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God’” (Lk. 1:31-35). It is clear from the Biblical accounts that the birth of Jesus was accomplished by God through the Holy Spirit. It was a miraculous conception, and it was an extraordinary life that Jesus would live. He was the only “begotten” Son of God; however, Jesus made it possible for all of us to be called the sons of God: “For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:26-29).
The ways of God are truly marvelous! The promise made to Abraham that through him and his seed all nations would be blessed (Gen. 12:3; Gal. 3:16) is fulfilled in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This child that was born in Bethlehem centuries ago was born “unto us.” We are all joint heirs with Abraham through faith in Christ Jesus. In the words of the lyricist Willaim Chatterton Dix (1865): “What child is this, who, laid to rest/ On Mary's lap is sleeping? / Whom angels greet with anthems sweet / While shepherds watch are keeping? / This, this is Christ the King / Whom shepherds guard and angels sing / Haste, haste to bring him laud /
The babe, the son of Mary.” This Holy Child is Christ the King, the child who was born “unto us.”
Guest Author: Scott Gage
This article was first published in A Vitamin of Encouragement, December 22, 2021
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