THE OLD HAS GONE THE NEW HAS COME

“For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

This prophecy, written 700 years before the birth of Jesus, is very likely the most well-known and most repeated Bible verse about the birth of Christ. Somehow the powerful truth of this verse has gotten all tangled up with nativity scenes and the commercialism of the “Holiday Season.” Unfortunately, the message of Isaiah’s prophecy has often been covered up by the secularized selling of Christmas.

Isaiah’s prophecy was looking forward to a climactic moment in history when our world would be changed forever. When a baby is born into a family, the structure and makeup of the family is forever changed to include the new arrival.

“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given.” Everything changed when deity took on a human form and came as a baby. “The old has gone and the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17).

Jesus came to institute a new kingdom that would be called “the Kingdom of God.” One of the first statements Jesus made (that we are aware of) is found in Mark 1:15: “The time has come,” He said. “The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news.” This beginning of ministry statement underscores its importance to Him, to His mission, and to us.

“And the government will be upon his shoulder.” The kingdom that would be birthed with the Messiah would be like none other ever seen on this earth. The rule and dominion of the Kingdom of God would rest on His shoulder, and not an earthly monarch. The old was passing away and the new was coming.

Isaiah then presents five attributes of the Son of God who would rule His everlasting kingdom, five attributes of the Christ of Christmas.

Wonderful—this word is speaking of the miraculous nature of Christ’s life and ministry. Everything about His life, His ministry, would have a manifestation of the miraculous in it. I believe in miracles and I believe that miracles have a place in our life in Him. He is a “wonderful” Savior and I believe that we are to expect and anticipate His miracle-working power in our lives, too.

Counselor—in some translations the words wonderful and counselor are put together as in “wonderful counselor.” The word counselor is expressive of great wisdom and the qualifications to guide and direct all men’s lives.

Mighty God—the term here refers to a king, a conqueror, a hero. We know that Jesus was all of those and more. He is a king, a conqueror, and to all of us who love Him, He is a hero.

Everlasting Father—the term “everlasting Father” has been somewhat controversial. Some have said, “No one is to be called Father except God and therefore it is wrong for Isaiah to have applied this title to the coming Messiah.” Those who said that are right except for one thing: Isaiah was not presenting this as a title for the Messiah, he was describing the fatherly nature that the Messiah would manifest throughout His life and throughout His eternal reign.

Prince of Peace—this is possibly the most recognizable term for the Christ of Christmas. Someday all the wars, all the pain, and all the tears of humanity will cease and there truly will be peace on earth. That won’t happen until Christ’s eternal kingdom is manifest on this earth, the devil is bound, sin is judged, and the earth is swept clean of all demons, and the redeemed of God are the only inhabitants of this world. In the meantime, however, the Prince of Peace comes and establishes His reign in our hearts and lives. We can know His peace because it dwells in us.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you” (John 14:27).

The world around us may be in turmoil but to the redeemed He is The Prince of Peace.