Christian Reflection and Prayer

And he will be called…Mighty God. – Isaiah 9:6

In the Old Testament, some of the prophecies
about Christ are mysterious statements. They
were so bold and so large that they were
treasured through the generations, until they were
fulfilled and finally understood. Isaiah’s oracle
about a son who would be born—Wonderful
Counselor, Prince of Peace, and all the rest—was
one of those landmark prophecies. In that moment
of inspiration, Isaiah revealed he would be Mighty God.

After Jesus’ life, death, resurrection and ascension,
his followers would piece together what he said and
did, and conclude that Jesus really was one with God
the Father in a way that is appropriate to call him divine.
The doctrine of the Trinity would be defined later, but in
Isaiah’s prophesy about the coming one are the seeds
of this truth.

In the Jewish tradition, nothing was more important
than belief in the “oneness” of God. Not two gods, not a
thousand gods, but one and only one God. So what
could happen when, in Bethlehem itself, Magi from the
east came bearing gifts fit for a king, but who also
worshipped him? Why did Jesus allow fishermen in a
boat worship him after he calmed a storm? Or Mary
falling at Jesus’ feet in worship in the garden after his
resurrection? Or the disciple Thomas falling at his feet,
saying, “My Lord and my God?”

Nobody at the start of Jesus’ life, nor during his adult
ministry, even hinted at anything suggesting there is
more than one God. But because of who God is;
because God is higher than human comprehension;
because God said “us” from the very beginning:
“Let us make man in our image” (Gen. 1:26); because
the coming one would be called Immanuel, “God with
us,” (Matt. 1:22-23) we can believe that Christmas
represents the true entry of God into human affairs.
The same God who created humanity, took humanity
on himself when it suited his purposes—to save that
same humanity. The God who created the world,
entered it through a human birth in the town of
Bethlehem.

Not any kind of god would do that. Only the one, true,
Mighty God.

Prayer:

Lord I believe you are mighty. I believe you can do
whatever you wish. I believe you came in the flesh
in Jesus.

( by Mel Lawrenz)