“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great Light; they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them has the Light shined. . .for unto us a Child is born; unto us a Son is given. And, the government shall be upon His shoulder—and His Name shall be called ‘Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace’.”
Isaiah 9:2, 6
He’s the Epitome and Supreme Expression of versatility and multi-tasking.
Jesus.
Like a multifaceted diamond held up to the light, there’s much more there than meets the eye at first glance. Just when you think you’ve grasped it and know Him, He appears in ways you’ve never seen before. . .revealing a side of Himself you’d never known. . .acting in ways you’d never experienced before.
When Isaiah recorded today’s Manna some 700+ years before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, there was no way for him to know how the Coming Promised/Anointed One would fulfill his prophecy. But, in hindsight and diligent Bible study, we begin to realize this “Sent One” from God would be everything (and more) that the aged prophet foresaw.
Who are these “people that walked in darkness”?
It’s everyone who’s ever walked the face of this earth. Because of our “union with Adam” (I Cor. 15:21-22) we’re sinners by nature and by choice. Like Adam, we choose the forbidden fruit instead of “the Tree of Life” and are, therefore, “blinded by the evil one” (II Cor. 4:4) and “taken captive by him at his will” (II Tim. 2:26).
Yet, into this great spiritual darkness “a great Light” has come (Jn. 1:4-5, 9-11). And, anyone knows it’s easier to walk toward the light instead of away from it; in fact, only those “whose deeds are evil” prefer walking in darkness rather than light (Jn. 3:19-21).
Only a spiritually-enlightened mind through the new birth can begin to grasp the wondrous truths in today’s Manna (I Cor. 2:14). And, even then, their depth of truth is still beyond us; we can only sit quietly, meditate upon them and whisper “Thank You, Lord” as we ponder their beautiful implications and reality in our lives.
“For unto you a Child is born”—the blessed Holy Child born of a virgin in Bethlehem; “unto us a Son is given”—God’s once-of-a-kind, sinless Son Who’d give His Life for us on the Cross; “and the government shall be upon His shoulders”—God’s Kingdom, not the world’s; a visible and invisible Kingdom where our hearts are His throne; “and His Name shall be called Wonderful. . .Counselor. . .The Mighty God. . .the everlasting Father. . .the Prince of Peace”—what a wonderful description of Who He is and what He does in the heart of those who believe.
Why not spend a few minutes today in the afterglow of Christmas to thank the Lord for Jesus, His Perfect Christmas Gift, and how He’s changed your life? Then ask Him to help you share that with someone else today—for He’s truly the One they’ve been looking for all their life if they’ve yet to meet Him.
By Tom Smith Morning Manna Dated December 27, 2009
Trackbacks/Pingbacks