The Christmas Story
“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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6
The Christmas story is often familiar to us. We see it in decorations, hear it in songs, and repeat it year after year. Yet the power of Christmas is not found in how often we hear it, but in what it truly means. At its heart, Christmas is the moment hope entered a broken world.
Isaiah 9:6 was written during a time of uncertainty and darkness. God’s people were longing for rescue, stability, and peace. Into that waiting, God spoke a promise. A child would be born. A son would be given. This was not just a future king or a temporary leader. This was the Savior who would carry the weight of the world on His shoulders.
The verse reminds us that Jesus was given to us. Christmas is not about what we bring to God. It is about what God has already given to us. In Jesus, God stepped into humanity, meeting us in our weakness, our fear, and our need for redemption.
Isaiah also reveals the names of this child, each one carrying deep meaning for our lives today.
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. He offers wisdom when we feel lost and direction when we are unsure of our next step. In a world full of noise and confusion, His voice brings clarity and truth.
He is Mighty God. The Christmas story does not begin with weakness, even though it begins in a manger. The child born in Bethlehem holds all power and authority. Nothing in our lives is beyond His ability to redeem and restore.
He is Everlasting Father. Jesus reveals a God who is present, faithful, and unchanging. When earthly relationships fail or disappoint us, we are reminded that God’s care for His children never ends.
And He is the Prince of Peace. This peace is not the absence of problems, but the presence of Christ. It is peace that steadies us in chaos and sustains us through hardship. It is peace that meets us right where we are.
The Christmas story is not just a celebration of something that happened long ago. It is a reminder that Jesus still carries the government on His shoulders today. He still holds our lives, our struggles, and our future in His hands.
As we reflect on Christmas, we are invited to slow down and remember who Jesus is and why He came. He came to bring hope to the weary, light to the dark, and peace to the broken.
This season, may we move beyond the surface of the story and allow its truth to shape our hearts and lives. The child has been born. The Son has been given. And His peace is still available to us today.