The Road to Bethlehem: A Son Is Given

Yesterday, we read about how it was prophesied that the Messiah would be given as a baby. Today, I want to look at the next phrase in the prophecy: "a son is given."

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6

To us a son is given. In Bible times, having a son was important. The son would be the heir, the one who would take over when the father died. The son would inherit the father's possessions and take over as the leader of the family. The son of a king would become the next king. Sons were important to carry on the family line. Though daughters were important too, when married they would become part of their husbands families. Today in America, sons aren't quite as distinctive as they were in Bible times. But in other places around the world, like China where families are encouraged to only have one child, parents prize sons and if a daughter is born they might give the daughter up for adoption hoping that they will subsequently have a son to carry on their family.

• Why do you think that it was important that the Messiah would be a son?
• He would be a prophet. Most of the prophets who brought God's word to His people were men. Yes, there were some prophets who were women, but most of them were men. Jesus brought God's word to His people.
• He would be a priest. All of the priests in the old testament who would make sacrifices on behalf of God's people were men. Jesus is our great priest who intercedes on our behalf before God. He also was the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.
• He would be the King of Kings. Yes, women can be queens, but as the great ruler over all of Heaven and earth, Jesus would be King of Kings.
• Why is it important that the Messiah is a son given to us?
• It shows that we are family and not separated from God. Jesus isn't just some stranger doing something good for us, we are family.
• It shows God's love specifically for us. Jesus isn't like a great toy given to a friend that we get the benefit of playing with whenever we're at that friends how. Jesus was given to us and we get the benefit of knowing him all the time.
• It shows we have a continuing relationship with Jesus. I will always be your father and you will always be my sons no matter what happens. No matter what happens, we will always have a relationship with Jesus.