Jewish scholars are mostly in agreement that these words and their context are Messianic.  And of course, most evangelicals unanimously see eye to eye that the reference is to our Lord, Jesus Christ.  It is often pointed out concerning the duality and accuracy of the phraseology.  Jesus is the “Child” as well as the “Son”.  As the “Child” He is “born”; as the “Son” He is “given”.  It speaks of both His humanity and His deity.

“Unto us as Child is born.”  The eternal Son of the living God entered into human existence by a real birth.  God incarnated in a robe of human flesh.  Upon entering this life and world of ours, the Lord took on and understood our entire human nature – spirit, soul and body.  The spiritual, emotional or psychical and the physical.

He did not cease to be God by becoming man.  His divinity was not negated by His humanity.  Neither was He a compound that was derived from the two natures.  He was not a super-man and a demi-god.  His was not a blended form.

Neither was His personality in two parts, i.e. half human and half divine.  There were the two natures, however the persona was one inseparable unity.  It is staggering to the mind and beyond explaining in mere human terms and understanding, but He was very God and very man.

Then, “unto us a Son is given.”  Wow!  Behold the infinite “love” which gave Him!  This prophecy tells us in astounding expressions just Who the Son is:  “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”  In spite of all of the juggling around by present-day heresies, these titles can mean nothing less than genuine deity!  When taken with all of the other Old and New Testament proclamations concerning Him, there can be no doubt to any thinking, intelligent, rational and impartial mind.  The “Son” is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father.

And then, one of the most exciting, joyous, mysterious, stupendous (and the adjectives could go on and on) statements, though brief it may be:  “UNTO US…”  Yes, it is “unto us”, you, me, everyone and anyone who has ever been or ever will be born that the Child is born and the Son is given!  Hallelujah!!!

During the First World War a little boy was walking out with his father one night.  Each home which had given a son to the war displayed a small silver star in the front window.  When the houses were all behind them, the little boy looked up at the dark sky.  There was no moon, and all but one of the stars had forgotten to shine, but there it was, just one bright star.  The little boy was very quiet in thought, then asked, “Daddy, did God give a Son, too?”

May you and yours enjoy a very blessed Christmas in the One who was born and given to us. 

Pastor Mike