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The aspect of the holiday season that I enjoy the most is the renewed sense of wonder about the baby born in Bethlehem. It staggers my mind to think that the manger that "holy night" contained the One who was the incarnation of the Eternal God. The only fitting reaction is to fall on my knees in awe and worship the Mighty One of Israel. The world, which does not join in with the worship of Jesus, seems to tolerate the image of the baby in the manger as a quaint fable. They are quite content to leave Him there in the manger, as a symbol of peace and hope. If He stays in the manger as the "baby Jesus," then He is no threat to them, but merely a nice "feel-good" story. To demonstrate otherwise, I'd like to examine one of the more prominent and familiar prophecies about the birth of Jesus. It is found in Isaiah chapter 9. "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV) This was written some 700 years before the birth of Jesus, and contains some startling details regarding the identity and the mission of the Child. The Child would become the ruler of the government of God, according to this prophecy. He would be the reigning successor to David, the "Son of David" who had been frequently spoken about by the prophets. '"The days are coming," declares the LORD, "when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.' (Jeremiah 23:5-6 NIV) This royal appointment was the essence of His commission, as demonstrated by the proclamations given at the beginning of Jesus' ministry, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." The King had appeared, the one whose government would be formed not by human power, but divine. His rule, according to Isaiah and Jeremiah, would be characterized by absolute peace, justice, and righteousness, in stark contrast to all of the governments which had preceded and opposed Him. Judging by the titles given to this Child, it should be evident even to the casual reader that this person would not be merely a great human leader. No -- His eternal power and divine nature are on display here centuries before He appeared. Later in His life some would accuse Jesus of blasphemy because of the same kinds of claims; in fact, it was those claims that caused the ruling Sanhedrin council to denounce and condemn Him as "deserving of death." When the kingdoms of this world are confronted with the Kingdom of the Messiah, the reaction is the same. Though they are not threatened by the baby in the manger, they are very threatened by the "Prince of Peace." The endless peace that Jesus will initiate will not be through a negotiated peace treaty with them, but will be after a bloody fight to the death. The context of the prophecy about the birth of the Child shows us that it's not just a nice heartwarming story. Take a look at the verses immediately preceding the ones quoted above: "You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian's defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior's boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire." (Isaiah 9:3-5) What follows is "For unto us a child is born..." In other words, the child to be born would accomplish what it says in verses 3-5. He would lead the oppressed Jews in victorious battle against the nations that have oppressed them. That child to be born is the Divine Warrior described in Isaiah 63, who at the end of the battle would proclaim: "I have trodden the winepress alone; from the nations no one was with me. I trampled them in my anger and trod them down in my wrath; their blood spattered my garments, and I stained all my clothing. For the day of vengeance was in my heart, and the year of my redemption has come. I looked, but there was no one to help, I was appalled that no one gave support; so my own arm worked salvation for me, and my own wrath sustained me. I trampled the nations in my anger; in my wrath I made them drunk and poured their blood on the ground." (Isaiah 63:3-6)
The "fire" described in Isaiah 9:5 will be the great victory bonfire, to be kindled by the One that the nations wish had remained as the meek and mild baby in the manger. That bonfire will consume the bloody uniforms and boots of the armies that dared oppose the "Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Then will all of His enemies be made the footstool for His feet, as the Father had decreed. Then will the voices in heaven loudly proclaim, "The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
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