For a child will be born for us, a son will be given to us, and the government will be on His shoulders.  He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.  The dominion will be vast, and its prosperity will never end.  He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from now on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord of Hosts will accomplish this.  Isaiah 9:6-7  HCSB

This scripture passage was in our Sunday School lesson for last week.  As I read this, I just couldn’t wrap my head around the fact that this one baby boy was born with the government on His shoulders.  He was born to rule a vast dominion.  He was born to reign over the universe.  He was born to set an example for us poor, undeserving sinners to show us how to live.  He was born to die a horrible, humiliating death so that He could saved a wretched sinner like you and me from the death brought on by our sin.

As we enter into the Christmas season, we are swamped with thoughts of getting just the right present for this person or that person.  We are busied by cooking and entertaining and trying to squeeze in time for each and every get together with family, friends, and co-workers.  While we may remember that precious baby lying in a manger wrapped in swaddling clothes, we often forget His purpose.  I mean the whole weight of his true purpose.  We often forget that he was fully God and fully man.  This means that while he had access to the power and might of God, he felt pain, heartache and rejection just like you and I do.  He felt the rejection from those who refused to believe that He was the Messiah.  He felt the heartache for those who were bound and determined to die and go to hell.  He felt the pain of the flogging, which is a beating inflicted with a whip with balls with spikes on the end.  He felt the pain of that crown of thorns being pressed onto his head.  He felt the pain of the nails being driven in his hands and feet and he suffered the agony of trying to breathe while his weight was pulling his body down on that cross.

I have never had children, but I recall the joy from seeing my nieces and nephews at their birth.  I recall the overwhelming feeling of wanting good things for them and wanting them to be safe and protected.  I am especially protective over my great nieces and nephews.  I want good things for them.  And although I took no part in his birth, I feel the same for my stepson and the wonderful young woman that he has made a part of our family.  But this one baby boy was born to die for you and for me.  He was born to take the weight of the world on His shoulders.

Most importantly, He was born to die so that we might live.  He was born to die and rise three days later so that we may have eternal life as well. But, we must choose this.  We must choose to accept Him as our Savior.  We must choose to honor Him for all that He has done for us.  We honor Him by living in a way that shows others that He is King of King and Lord of Lord in our lives.

My prayer for you today is that you don’t get so wrapped up in whatever it is that you do in the “Christmas Season” that you forget the real reason we celebrate December 25th.  I pray that you spend each and every day of the year putting God first and honoring Him.  I pray that He is your Wonderful Counselor, your Mighty God, your Eternal Father, and your Prince of Peace.  I pray that this one baby boy means all these things to you.

Have a great day!