...Amid the predicted strife and anguish that poured from Isaiah’s pen, were these words of great hope – not only for Israel’s future but for the future of the world.

"What child is this?" the hymn writer asks. There is so much that could be said in answer to that question that were we to attempt to respond adequately we would all die of old age before it could be accomplished. The apostle John commented on this when he said in verse 25 of the 21^st chapter of his gospel: "And there are also many other things which Jesus did, which if they were written in detail, I suppose that even the world itself would not contain the books which were written."

What child is this? Obviously we cannot exhaust that question this morning. But I would like to take a single, very familiar passage of scripture - just two verses long - and analyze what it says about the babe of Bethlehem. You’ll likely recognize the verses. They’re well known to many due to their inclusion in George Frideric Handel's Messiah, one of the most renowned pieces of English sacred music ever written. The verses are in Isaiah 9:6-7:

In this message I’d like to present these verses to you, not in music as Handel did, but rather as their writer, Isaiah did some 2700 years ago to the tiny besieged nation of Judah, the miniscule remnant of what was once the God-blessed and prosperous nation of Israel. This was written just prior to one of the darkest periods in that nation’s history. Not long after Isaiah wrote the enemies of Israel would overrun their land. Those residents who were not killed would be rounded up and led away into captivity. Yet amid the predicted strife and anguish that poured from Isaiah’s pen, were these words of great hope – not only for Israel’s future but for the future of the world.

I wish I had time to familiarize you with all of the things written in the book of Isaiah. There isn’t time, of course, but here are a few things to get us oriented to the situation in which these familiar words were penned.

Written some 725 years before Christ, the book of Isaiah not only contains the predictions of God’s approaching judgment on His rebellious people along with comfort and counsel for their subsequent captivity, but it also contains some 121 prophecies of the then coming Messiah.(1) In fact there is so much about Christ in the book of Isaiah that many refer to it as the fifth gospel and to Isaiah as the Messianic Prophet. One writer found 83 separate quotes of Isaiah in the New Testament showing the many ways in which Jesus fulfilled its Messianic prophecy.(2) Another found more than 250 allusions to Isaiah’s work in the New Testament.(3)

The apostle John said of Isaiah’s writings: "These things Isaiah said, because he saw His [Christ’s] glory, and he spoke of Him."(4)

Indeed, Isaiah did speak of Christ, long before He came to us as the child lying in the manger.

Let’s look more closely at Isaiah 9:6-7 as we consider the songwriter’s question, "What child is this?" Isaiah mentions first:

We know today that the child, the son the prophet spoke of was Jesus, the Son of God, Savior of the world. Isaiah’s words suggest to us two aspects of His nature when came to earth: His humanity and His deity.

Jesus’ humanity is suggested in Isaiah’s word "born." There is no more basic human act than childbirth. Every human being who has ever lived (except the first couple) is born and Isaiah’s prediction was that this child would share in that very human experience.

I was not present in the delivery room when my wife gave birth to our first three children, so it took me awhile to understand and appreciate what childbirth really was. No, I wasn’t absent because I wanted to be. It’s just that the custom of having fathers in hospital delivery rooms is a rather recent thing. In Nebraska where our third child was born, it was actually against the law for a father to be present with his wife in the delivery room of a hospital. Ironically, the law changed the day after our daughter, Jessica, was born.

I was present with my wife at the birth of our last daughter, Richelle. When the delivery was over I apologized for the many times I had made light of childbirth. Now having been there, I was sobered by the pain, the blood, the… well, I’ll spare you the details.

My own mother has said several times on my birthday, "I still remember what you and I were doing on this day ___ years ago. My point here is that what she and I were doing on the day of my birth was no different than what happened in the stable on the night of the birth of this special child. A human woman and a child with the limitations of humanity on him were engaged in this most universal human act of all – the labor and travail of childbirth. In Isaiah’s mention of that starkly human event we see this child’s humanity.

Yet there is more to Isaiah’s prediction than His humanity. His words were, "a son will be given to us."

The birth of this child was no random thing. This boy child was given to us by God. He was a precious gift to humanity to solve our biggest need. According to John 3:16, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life…." This child, the Messiah or Christ, later to be named "Jesus" by order of the angel Gabriel, was the only begotten Son of God – given to mankind as a gift. But don’t get the wrong idea. This Son was not created to be given. He existed before His conception and birth.

John, who referred to Jesus as "the Word" said in John 1:1-2, "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God…He was in the beginning with God." Jesus was with God in the beginning. But His existence goes back even before the beginning. Another Old Testament Prophet who predicted the birth of the Messiah was Micah. He wrote in the second verse of the fifth chapter of his book:

Eternality, which is a characteristic only of deity, was also present in this child who was to be born. He pre-existed from the days of eternity. Humanity and deity, both in the same child. We refer to it as The Incarnation – when God became flesh and dealt among us.

What child is this? He is both human and deity – both shown at His birth. Also predicted by Isaiah was the fact that He would be a ruler. The prophet speaks in this passage of:

Verse 6: "And the government will rest on His shoulders…."

Verse 7: "There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace. On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness

Another Old Testament prophet, Daniel, predicted some 550 years before the birth of Jesus that God would set up an everlasting kingdom that would never be destroyed. That prophet’s words were these in Daniel 2:44: "And in the days of those kings [that is, the days of the Roman empire] the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which will never be destroyed, and that kingdom will not be left for another people; it will crush and put an end to all these kingdoms, but it will itself endure forever."

Later, near the time of the birth of Jesus, the Magi or "wise men" who were probably familiar with Daniel’s words, came from the east guided by a star, arrived in Jerusalem in the season of the birth of this child and asked, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?"(5) After this they found their way to where Joseph and Mary were and worshipped the child, offering him expensive gifts appropriate for a king – gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Thirty years later, when John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, was preaching in the wilderness of Judea, his crystal clear message in preparing the way for the king was, "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(6) Some months later Jesus Himself appeared on the public scene with the same message: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(7) Jesus sent out the seventy with a similar message: "The kingdom of God has come near to you."(8) He sent out the twelve with the very same message: "Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."(9)

Jesus clearly told those of His generation in Mark 9:1: "There are some of those who are standing here who shall not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power."

Early in Jesus’ ministry He promised that He would give the keys to this kingdom to Peter in Matthew 16:18-19: "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall not overpower it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…." (Peter would later use these keys to usher the very first Jewish converts into the kingdom on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 and the very first Gentile converts in the household of Cornelius in Acts 10.)

Before the crucifixion, Pontius Pilate asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus’ response was, "It is as you say."(10) In that same interrogation before the unbelieving Pilate, Jesus informed him, "My kingdom is not of this world."(11) Men still today do not understand that Jesus came to establish a spiritual kingdom, not an earthly one. Again to Pilate Jesus said, "If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting, that I might not be delivered up to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm."

When Jesus was crucified, the charge indicating his "crime" was placed on a board above his head in three languages, Hebrew, Latin, and Greek(12) – over the protests of the Jewish leaders who simply wanted Him killed with no attention drawn to them. Do you know what was written on that board above Jesus’ head? It is recorded by all four of the gospel writers. It said, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS."(13) Not even those who crucified Him could prevent the announcement of that truth to the world!

Less than 30 years later, the apostle Paul wrote of the kingdom as being already in existence in Colossian 1:13 where he said: "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred [past tense] us to the kingdom of His beloved Son…." You cannot transfer people into something that does not yet exist. According to Acts 20:25, Paul went about the Roman Empire in his missionary journeys "preaching the kingdom."

Therefore, I say that the kingdom over which this child would reign was in existence and well underway in its development during the first century, A.D. That kingdom was and still is Christ’s church. It is the kingdom over which He is king. He is the absolute ruler of the church. The government of the church does indeed "rest upon His shoulders" just as Isaiah predicted it would. It does not rest on the shoulders of any Pope, Council, Cardinal, or denominational leader. The kingdom, the true church, continues to this day to expand across the world just as Isaiah predicted it would when he said, "…there will be no end to the increase of His government…." Justice and righteousness are the concerns of the true church, His kingdom, just as Isaiah predicted when he said that its king would "uphold it with justice and righteousness." The throne on which the king of this kingdom sits is indeed "the throne of David," just as Isaiah predicted. Fourteen times in the New Testament, Jesus is referred to as "the Son of David." When Gabriel, God’s angel, announce the birth of Jesus to Mary in Luke 1:32-33, he said, "He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and His kingdom will have no end."

What child is this? This child is the baby born in a stable in Bethlehem who was born to rule. He now sits on the throne of David as king, ruling and reigning over His expanding kingdom. His throne is in heaven, not on the earth. The territory of His kingdom is the hearts of every person who will submit to His reign. The law of His kingdom is the written New Testament, given to be read and studied by every person who loves it so much they are also willing to write it on their hearts. Since there will be no end to this kingdom, it will endure right through the judgment and destruction of this world and continue right into the era of the new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells. Those who are subjects and citizens of this kingdom will endure right along with it, right into eternity with Him. That is the significance of Isaiah’s prediction of the child who would be born to us. And my friends, if you want the benefits of that child, you must get into His kingdom and you must remain there.

What child is this? This child is a special baby – God’s Christ – born to rule and reign over those who want Him and love Him. We see thirdly in Isaiah’s prophecy:

The Messiah is called many things in both the Old and New Testaments and each name given to Him shows us something important about His nature and the nature of His ministry. This is just another dimension of what I said earlier: An exhaustive study would take longer than we have to live. The four names Isaiah mentioned for the child in our text are what we’ll focus on here.

What child is this? Isaiah says first that He would be recognized as a "Wonderful Counselor." The word translated "Counselor" means "one who gives advice or advisor."

May I say from personal experience that the counsel of the One Whom Isaiah referred here is indeed the most "wonderful" I have ever seen or encountered?

The One Isaiah referred to here is really the One behind this book, the Bible, the word of God – which is also called the word of Christ in Romans 10:17 and Colossians 3:16. There is no better advice or counsel that you can receive today than what is found in the pages of this book – the word of Christ – the counsel of the Wonderful Counselor. I agree with the psalmist who said in Psalm 119:99: "I have more insight than all my teachers, for Thy testimonies are my meditation."

I also agree with Peter who wrote in 2 Peter 1:3, "His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us...."

Family matters, problems with people, finances, marriage, partnerships, love, child rearing and discipline – its all here in the word of God. As David wrote in Psalm 32:8-9:

Don’t be like a mindless mule that constantly has to be yanked around by bit a bridle in order to accomplish anything worthwhile. Listen to the instruction of the Wonderful Counselor!

What child is this? He is the Wonderful Counselor. Isaiah also says His Name is "Mighty God." This designation shows both His deity and His strength. But the words go both ways. As one writer put it: "He would not just have the power of God – He would be the God of power!"(14)

Imagining Jesus as a tiny babe in a manger, totally dependent upon the loving care of His mother Mary and the protection of his step-Father, Joseph. Now try to get into your mind how that child could be the embodiment of God. That is The Incarnation - God in flesh, given to us as a gift.

Earlier in Isaiah, in chapter 7, verse 14, another well-known passage, the prophet predicted, "Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel." Immanuel means "God with us."

In the New Testament, in Colossians 2:9 Paul wrote of Jesus: "In Him all the fulness of Deity dwells in bodily form…."

What Child is this? He is Mighty God. In Him dwells all the fullness of deity in the bodily form of a little child – and later an ordinary looking man – yet this man was God.

During Jesus’ earthly ministry He was teaching in a house. There was a crowd and there was standing room only with people spilling over outside. Four men came carrying a paralyzed friend on a stretcher. They hoped to have Jesus heal him. When they couldn’t get to the Master in the house they climbed up on the roof, hoisted their friend up with them. Then they tore off some of the roof and lowered the paralytic into the midst of those surrounding Jesus. Jesus recognized the faith of these men and the man on the stretcher. He said to the crippled man, "My son, your sins are forgiven."(15) That didn’t set well with some in the crowd. "Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone?" Jesus, knowing their thoughts, answered their unspoken objections this way: "Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven'; or to say, 'Arise, and take up your pallet and walk'?" Obviously anyone could claim to have the power to forgive sins, but could such a one really have the authority to forgive sins? Jesus’ response was: "In order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins" -- He said to the paralytic—"I say to you, rise, take up your pallet and go home." Then Mark says, "And he rose and immediately took up the pallet and went out in the sight of all…."

What these objectors missed the first time around was the obvious truth of the identity of this Jesus. He was, as Isaiah predicted – Mighty God.

What child is this? He was the Wonderful Counselor. He was Mighty God. Isaiah also wrote that He would be called "Eternal Father."

We’ve already touched on His eternality. The word "Father" here is variously interpreted. Some believe that this phrase equates Him entirely with God the Father, making both of them one in the same person. I would back that statement down just a bit and simply say what the Bible says. Jesus said of Himself, "I and the Father are one," and "If you have seen Me you have seen the Father." I think that these are, at their very least, statements that declare that the Father and the Son are in full and total unity and complete agreement and harmony. Paul said in Philippians 2:6 that Jesus had "equality with God." I’ll let the theologians delve into explaining the mysteries of the Godhead. It is enough for me to simply say what the Bible says.

What child is this? He is the Wonderful Counselor. He is the Mighty God. He is the Eternal Father. And He is finally, as Isaiah says in our text, "Prince of Peace."

A common objection to applying this name to Jesus is that there have still been plenty of wars in the world since Jesus walked the earth. How can it be said that He is any kind of Prince of Peace?

Those who think this way don’t understand the meaning of Jesus’ ministry of peace. The peace is for those who accept His rule. Listen to the words of the angels who announced Jesus birth to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem on that night so long ago. This is in Luke 2:10-14:

God is pleased with those who accept the rule of His Christ in their lives. To them He grants His inner peace. He is displeased with those who reject His Christ. Paul wrote in Romans 2:9-10:

Have you accepted the rule of God’s Christ in your life? Are you seriously considering it now? If you are, then please let us help you. There is no better way to live. There is no better answer to the problems and difficulties of this life. For those you need the Wonderful Counselor. And there is no greater hope in the entire world than the hope brought to us by the Christ child, given to us so long ago through God’s prophet, Isaiah.

What child is this?

Footnotes: Please use your back button to return to your place.

1. I have included an attachment with these references and their fulfillments.
2. http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-isaiah-9.htm
3. http://fly.hiwaay.net/~wgann/walk_ot/isaiah.htm
4. John 12:41
5. Matthew 2:2
6. Matthew 3:2
7. Matthew 4:17
8. Luke 10:9
9. Matthew 10:7
10. Matthew 27:11
11. John 18:36
12. John 19:20
13. Matthew 27:37; Mark 15:26; Luke 23:38; John 19:19
14. http://www.bible.ca/ef/expository-isaiah-9-6.htm
15. Mark 2:5

Dave Redick is Minister of the Hwy 20 Church of Christ in Sweet Home, Oregon and Editor of The Preacher's Study. He may be reached at pstudysupport@comcast.net.

Copyright © 1996-2008 by The Preacher's Study. Permission is granted to subscribers to use this document in total or in sermon preparation in the context of the local congregation only. Publishing it in a book, on the Internet, or anyplace beyond the local congregation is prohibited.

All Scripture quotations and references are from the New American Standard Version unless otherwise stated.

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