🎄 Part 5 — A Child Is Born, a Son Is Given: The Dual Nature of the Messiah

 

Key Text: Isaiah 9:6
 

“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.”

 

Devotional: The Identity of the Promised Messiah

 

Theme Connection:

 

Part 4 revealed how the Redeemer would enter the world — through a virgin birth.
Part 5 reveals who this Redeemer truly is — a Child in humanity, yet the eternal Son in deity.

 

Christmas is not just the birth of a baby.
Christmas is the arrival of God in flesh.

 

Context & Connection

 

Isaiah wrote these words 700 years before Christ’s birth in Bethlehem. Israel was surrounded by threats, weighed down by sin, and longing for hope. Into that darkness, God spoke a promise of light, life, and a coming King.

 

But this King would be unlike any the world had ever known.

 

Isaiah divides the prophecy into two lines:

 

1. “Unto us a Child is born” — His humanity
2. “Unto us a Son is given” — His deity

 

This is the miracle of the incarnation —
fully man, fully God, one Person forever.

 

Devotional Insight

 

1. “Unto us a Child is born…” — The Humanity of Christ

 

Jesus was born — truly born.

He grew.
He learned.
He walked.
He wept.
He felt sorrow, hunger, fatigue, joy, and pain.

He became one of us so He could save us.

 

The Child born in Bethlehem was:

 

• the Seed promised to Eve
• the Son promised to Abraham
• the King promised to David
• the Immanuel promised in Isaiah 7

 

His humanity makes Him our perfect representative.

 

2. “Unto us a Son is given…” — The Deity of Christ

 

Notice: the Son is not born — the Son is given.

 

The Child had a beginning in Bethlehem.
The Son had no beginning.
He is eternal, uncreated, deity.

 

This matches:

 

• John 1:1 — “In the beginning was the Word…”
• John 1:14 — “The Word became flesh…”
• Micah 5:2 — “Whose goings forth are from everlasting.”

 

The One given is the eternal Son of God —
God in flesh, wrapped in humanity.

 

3. “And the government will be upon His shoulder…” — The Future Reign

 

This looks forward to Christ’s literal, earthly rule on David’s throne during the Millennial Kingdom.

 

The baby in the manger is the King who will rule the nations (Isaiah 9:7; Luke 1:32–33).

 

Jesus is not only Savior.
He is Sovereign.
He is the rightful King of Israel and the world.

 

4. “…Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

 

These titles reveal who the Child truly is:

 

Wonderful

Beyond comprehension — miraculous in all His ways.

 

Counselor

Perfect wisdom — God’s revelation embodied.

 

Mighty God

Not “a god.”
Not “godlike.”
God Himself. This is a declaration of deity.

 

Everlasting Father

The Source of eternity — the One who gives eternal life.

 

Prince of Peace

The One who reconciles man to God — and who will bring peace to the world at His return.

 

Encouragement for Today

 

This Christmas season, let Isaiah 9:6 remind you:

 

The Child born in Bethlehem is the eternal Son given for your redemption.

He understands your humanity.
He possesses all divine authority.
He is your Savior, the Head of the Body, King of kings, your peace, and your everlasting hope.

 

Christmas is not only about His birth —
it is about His identity.

 

And because of who He is, every promise of God is secure.

 

Reading Plan

 

• Isaiah 7:14 — The virgin birth
• Luke 2:1–14 — The Child is born
• John 1:1–14 — The Son is given
• Revelation 19:11–16 — The King returns

 

Explore the Series

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