Looking at the Big Picture

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6

Yesterday we were looking at God’s timing from Mary’s point of view - the immediate picture. But we need to see life from God’s perspective - the Big Picture. As we think of Christmas and God’s timing let’s first look at it in the light of prophecy.

One of the most fascinating lines of study in the Old Testament is the progressive development of prophecy concerning the Messiah - Savior. Away back in Eden we find God promising that the “seed” of the woman should “bruise the head” of the serpent Genesis 3:15. Later, God says to Abraham, “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed” Genesis 22:18. Next we find Jacob foretelling that “the scepter shall not depart from Judah... until Shiloh comes” Genesis 49:10. Again, later, God pledges to David, “I will raise up your descendant after you...and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” II Sam 7:12-13. Still later the prophet Micah declares, “From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel, His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity” Micah 5:2. Then to this the inspired Isaiah adds, “Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel” Isaiah 7:14.

Thus it was revealed to Adam of which race He should come; then to Abraham of which nation; then to Jacob of which tribe; then to David of which family; then to Micah of which place.
Then to Isaiah of which woman.
And at last it happened – “Unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given”!!

That the eternal Son could ever be born into our humanity must remain sheer mystery- yet thus to be “born” was a necessity if He was to become our Kinsman-Redeemer. He was really “born.” He became really human. In the mysterious transition, however, His eternal divinity did not, could not, sustain any depletion. His two natures, divine and human, were not intermixed to form a compound making Him neither fully man, a sort of demi-god and super-man. No! There were two natures, but the personality was one. We may well marvel.

But we must look forward and marvel at His coming world-dominion. Christmas is not only a commemoration - it is a prophecy! “The government shall be upon His shoulder.” It will really happen – and soon!