At Christmas time for several years we have written about the different characters that have a part to play in the Advent story throughout the gospels on this blog. It is one of my favorite times of year because it causes me to really dig deeper into a story that I’ve been told my whole life, and to understand it more fully in all of its depth and complexity. It doesn’t matter how many times I study it, the Lord never fails to reveal new truth year by year.
This year, however, rather than finding new depth or meaning in an old story, I have been struck by the simplicity of how and why Jesus came and the magnitude of the love that brought Him here.
Isaiah 9:6 is often quoted at this time of year:
“For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Jesus most certainly came to a humble couple in even more humble accommodations to live and die here on this imperfect earth for our sins, but do we really grasp that it did not start one starry night in Bethlehem?
If you read the entirety of Isaiah chapter 9 you will see that Isaiah’s prophecy came to the people of Israel when they were living in exile and captivity in a foreign land. They languished in a country far from home where political turmoil and cruelty marked their lives daily, and hindered their worship of the one true God. This prophecy was God’s encouragement that this conflict would not last forever and that He had a plan for their deliverance. But God’s plan did not begin the night Jesus was born. It did not even begin when Isaiah spoke those prophetic words 700 years before that Bethlehem night.
In the gospel of John chapter 1 verses 1-5, John tells us that, “In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” Later in that same chapter (verse 14) he clears it up even further, (in case we missed what he was trying to tell us): “So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.”
God’s plan for us began “in the beginning” before time and space, there was Jesus and He already loved us. Before we even were He loved us! And even then, He already knew…
He knew that the garden would not be our home for long on this earth as He originally intended (Genesis 3:22-24). He knew that He would promise us all that we need, and yet we would doubt Him and try to make things happen ourselves (Genesis 16). He knew that He would provide for us and we would still grumble against Him again (Exodus 16) and again (Numbers 11), and again (Number 14). He knew that time and again, throughout history He would deliver and save and heal only for some to still turn away and break His heart. He knew.
He knew that the only answer, the only perfect sacrifice would be for Him to come to this cruel and painful world. To walk with us in our fears and heartache. He knew that He would have to die. He knew all of this and He loved us so much that He came anyway.
Jesus’ story did not begin in Bethlehem. The story of Jesus is written on every page of the Bible. He was there for it all.
He knew that His sacrifice would not be the perfect sacrifice if it ended in death. After walking with us in the fire and the cloud, He then came to walk with us in the flesh, only to then go before us and fight the battle to defeat death, hell and the grave for our ultimate victory.
In the light of all of that, the words of Isaiah’s prophecy are so much more than an early baby announcement:
“The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,
a light will shine.
You will enlarge the nation of Israel,
and its people will rejoice.
They will rejoice before you
as people rejoice at the harvest
and like warriors dividing the plunder.
For you will break the yoke of their slavery
and lift the heavy burden from their shoulders.
You will break the oppressor’s rod,
just as you did when you destroyed the army of Midian.
The boots of the warrior
and the uniforms bloodstained by war
will all be burned.
They will be fuel for the fire.
For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,[d] Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.”
Jesus came as a baby. He lived as a man. He died our Savior and He rose to the right hand of the Father to be the Bringer of Peace, the End of Conflict, Freer of the Captives, Breaker of Chains, and a Light to those in darkness. Praise the Lord!
It’s amazing to think that He knew all of that in the time before time even began, but do you know what is even more amazing? He knew you. He knew your name and He saw your face through it all.
For those who would argue that this prophecy is not for us today because it was spoken to a specific people at a time in history, I want to tell you one more person that Jesus is: He is the Beginning and the End, He is the same yesterday, today and forever. He is the author and greatest player of this story that we call life, and He is the great Connector of the Bible from beginning to end because He is the Word! Why would God have had all of it written down and preserved and debated for centuries if it wasn’t for you today? He did it all for you because He loves you.
I pray that you go forward into 2026 with audacious faith, knowing that you are so loved, believing that the Word of God is for you in its entirety, and knowing that God has greater things in store for you if you will just linger in His presence this year. Blessings, sisters! We love you!
by Stephanie S.
STXWM Blog 
Leave a comment