Bible Readings:
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this. (Isaiah 9:6,7)
The angel said to her, "Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, (Luke 1:30-32)
A Reflection
On the TV show ‘Would I lie to you’ there is a section called ‘This is my…’ where one team of three introduces a guest, as if they know them, by saying ‘This is ‘Fred’, he is my…’ One of the introductions is true, the other two are lies. The other team has to work out which of the three is true.
In our reading from Isaiah it seems as if God is playing ‘This is my…’. I can imagine him saying, ‘This is Jesus, he is the Wonderful counsellor’, ‘This is Jesus, he is the Everlasting Father’, ‘This is Jesus, he is the Prince of Peace’, This is Jesus, he is the Mighty God’. The difference from the TV show is that in Isaiah’s definitions of Jesus, all of them are true. Whilst all of them are true, though, maybe we relate to Jesus better as one of them than as the other three.
Which of the prophetic declarations about the nature of this child, born to us in a stable, do you relate to the best? Is he more your ‘Wonderful Counsellor, your Mighty God, your Everlasting Father or your Prince of Peace?
What is it about those characteristics that you find attractive?
How would you want to pray to him today?
Which of these definitions do you relate least well to?
What is it about this definition that you struggle with?
Can you reflect on this image and discover the positive ways in which it might speak to you?
A Blessing
May the Wonderful Counsellor guide you
The Everlasting Father hold you
The Prince of Peace sustain you
And the Mighty God protect you,
Amen
Unto us a child is born