The Beautiful, Unusual Manger Gift Foretold in Isaiah

 

Have you ever gotten an unusual Christmas gift?

The first Christmas that Rick and I were married, we didn’t have much and needed a lot of things for our household. That year, my parents had recently returned from a Hawaiian vacation with our Christmas gifts.

I opened their present with anticipation, hoping for something useful for our newly established home.

Imagine my surprise when I held up the avocado green and bright-flowered shirt from Hawaii. Rick had one, too. We had matching ugly Hawaiian shirts to wear in the Midwest. This wasn’t on my Christmas list!

 

Some gifts you can exchange for the right size or color, but these shirts were not in that category.

We kept them for many years in the top of our closet.

The beautiful, unusual gift of Christmas is the right fit for all of us.

The gift was lovingly prepared and given to us. The birth of the Savior was not a spur of the moment decision by God.

Come closer to the manger to unwrap this marvelous gift.

Isaiah 9:6 is a divine birth announcement spoken 700 years before the birth of Jesus, with some clues about his identity.

For unto us a child is born, for to us a son is given, and the government will be upon his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace.

Wonderful Counselor

In this passage, the word “wonderful” means extraordinary or hard to understand. “Counselor” implies a ruler whose wisdom is beyond human capabilities. 

Jesus is full of wonder, being both God and human. He is all-knowing.

We can look approach him in prayer for guidance.

 If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God. James 1: 5

Praise the Wonderful Counselor!

Mighty God

This was a common name for God in the Old Testament meaning strong, warrior, champion, or mighty hero.

It’s hard to comprehend that the helpless baby in the manger as the God of might, who would deliver us from the sin and death. But that’s what He did. Jesus, the Mighty God, is our defender.

 The Lord you God is with you, He is mighty to save. Zephaniah 3:17

Praise the child in the manger who is the Mighty God!

Everlasting Father

The Everlasting Father has the qualities of compassion, protection, and provision. This description expresses the character of the eternal, life-giving nature quality of Father God who desires relationship with us.

As a Father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him. Psalm 103:13

Jesus, as God’s Son, embodies the qualities of Father God.

Jesus says, “I and the Father are one.” John 10:30

The Everlasting Father became flesh not only for our redemption, but to shape us to become more like him. We gain His  as we grow in our faith.

Praise the Everlasting Father for desiring relationship with us!

Prince of Peace

In the Hebrew language, peace is more than cessation of conflict. Shalom is a state of wellness, wholeness, and completeness.

Jesus spoke these words as a promise for our hearts:

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you: not as the world give do I give to you. Let not your heart by trouble not let it be fearful.

We are reconciled to God when we surrender our hearts to Him.

When we cast our cares upon him in prayer we exchange our anxiety for His peace.

Praise the Prince of peace!

Jesus shows himself everyday in these marvelous qualities of the manger gift.

I’ve sought the Wonderful Counselor when I needed to make major decisions.

The Mighty God has protected and strengthened me when my world was rocked with cancer. He provided strength and courage during the procedures.

The Everlasting Father has comforted me in times of grief.

The Prince of Peace has anchored my heart and given me hope during uncertain times.

Come closer to the manger and unwrap the beautiful, unusual gift.

Do you need the guidance from the wonderful counselor?  Seek the Lord.

Do you feel insignificant? Look to the Mighty God to find your identity.

Do you feel unloved? Find comfort in knowing the Everlasting Father loves you.

Are you worried or anxious? Look to the Prince of Prince as you pray.

Open the marvelous gift of knowing Jesus.

You won’t have to return it.

It’s the right size and color, not like an ugly Hawaiian shirt.

The gift will be yours for the rest of your life, with the promise of heaven in the future.

Come closer to the manger and open the beautiful gift of Christmas.