DECEMBER 10 ISAIAH 9:1–7
Jesus is the grace of God come to earth.
O
nce on a speaking trip, I stayed at the home of a wealthy family. One room featured a wall full of portraits of past generations of family members. My host explained to me that, in the days before the camera, itinerant painters would travel from city to city in search of well-to-do clients to sit for a portrait. Since painting a portrait takes time, the painter would typically live with the family, in a guesthouse or room, until the painting was complete. In so doing, the painter would get to know the family, particularly the person he was paint- ing. Good painters were known for their ability to capture the essence of the lifestyle, personality, position, and work of their subjects. If you were to “paint” a verbal picture of Jesus, what words would you use to capture who he is, what he came to do, and what he continues to do in and for those who put their trust in him? It may surprise you, but one of the most beautiful and best-known verbal portraits of Jesus is found not in the New Testament Gospels or Epistles, but rather in the beginning of one of the Old Testament Prophets. For generations, students of the Bible have wondered at, meditated on, and attempted to understand the meaning and impli- cation of the words of this portrait. Perhaps you have already figured out that I am referring to the picture of Jesus painted by Isaiah:
To us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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