The Cradle that Rocked the World

Christmas Eve 2007

Isaiah 9:6-7

This Christmas Eve, I want you to think with me for just a few minutes about the supremacy of Jesus Christ in Christmas. For some reason, I think most people have separated in their mind the “baby in the manger” from the Jesus in the rest of the NT. There are people who feel put-off and angered by the strong teachings of “grown-up Jesus”, but who feel no threat in celebrating the seemingly harmless babe in the manger. But those who make such a distinction have grossly miscalculated.

Even wicked Herod knew better than that! Herod would rather kill all the male babies two years old and younger in his kingdom than to chance that Jesus might grow up. But Herod failed. And all who hate God and His Word will ultimately fail. Christmas unfolds this glorious truth for all of us.

One of the most startling confessions of the Christian faith is that Jesus Christ is God. Other religions will say He was a great moral teacher, or a great prophet, or perhaps a great humanitarian. But Jesus claimed absolute oneness with the Father: “I and the father are one” (Jn 10:30). When His enemies heard this, the text says they picked up stones to stone Him, because they got the point: Jesus said he was equal to God! Jesus was no less one with the Father when they laid Him in the manger. He was no less the Creator when Mary wrapped Him in swaddling clothes. I want you to consider Isaiah 9:6-7 with me.

One of the titles of Jesus is “the Son of God”; but “Son of God” doesn’t mean He emanated from God or that He biologically descended from God. Rather, Jesus is the second Person of the eternal Godhead. As the Son of God, Jesus ever remains God the Son… and all creation is under His dominion! This dominion was foretold by Isaiah. Listen to the familiar words in Isaiah 9:6-7, especially verse 7. In honor of God and His Word, let’s stand for the reading of these two verses.

 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.

7    Of the increase of His government and peace

     There will be no end,

     Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,

     To order it and establish it with judgment and justice

     From that time forward, even forever.

     The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. [NKJV]

[Prayer] The Scripture rewards continuous inquiry. No matter how many times we come to the Bible, it always has more to reveal than we’re able to discern. That’s certainly true of these two verses. They foretell the coming of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords. But something happens at the beginning of verse 6; there’s a shift after the announcement of a “child born” and a “Son given”. The birth of the child and the given-ness of the Son are both consummated in the First Coming of Jesus.

But the rest of the description is going to be fulfilled during the Second Coming. That’s when “…the government will be upon His shoulder” and “the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” The same Jesus who is coming again in power and judgment is the same Jesus who came the first time in sacrifice and humility; and the same Jesus who rose from the dead on Resurrection morning is the same Jesus who became a baby in Mary’s womb at Christmas.

This is the cradle that rocked the world! The more we know about Jesus, the bigger we see Him to be. “Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” His power and supremacy are always increasing. He will rule from the throne of David, according to the next phrase in verse 7: “Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice…” This is the throne of His earthly rule in Jerusalem during the millennial kingdom. Jesus is the King of kings and the Lord of lords!

Wilbur Chapman records that when Queen Victoria had just begun to reign over England she went, as is the custom of Royalty, to hear Handel’s “Messiah” rendered. She had been instructed as to her conduct, and was told that she must never rise when the others stood at the singing of the Hallelujah Chorus. When that magnificent chorus was being sung and the singers were shouting “Hallelujah! Hallelujah! for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth,” he records that she sat with great difficulty.

But finally when they came to that part of the chorus where with a shout they proclaim Him King of Kings and Lord of lords, suddenly the young queen rose to her feet and stood with bowed head, as if she would take her own crown from off her head and cast it at His feet. She was in her 20s! Later in life, her love for Jesus grew more and more.

Dean Farrar was a personal friend of Queen Victoria. He tells the true story about how later in life the Queen, after hearing one of her chaplains preach at Windsor on the second coming of Christ, spoke to the Dean about it and said, “Oh, how I wish that the Lord would return during my lifetime.” The chaplain asked her why. Her face lit up with deep emotion and she said, “Because I should so love to lay my crown at His feet.” She got it. He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

For unto us a child is born… unto us a Son is given. His kingdom spread from shore to shore ‘til moons shall wax and wane no more! Amen.

(c) Charles Kevin Grant 

December 12, 2007