For 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. Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. And the virgin’s name was Mary. . . . And the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. . . . The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy—the Son of God.” Luke 1:26-35 (ESV)
In his gospel, Matthew wrote that the birth of this son took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet (Matthew 1:21-23). In proclaiming the birth of Jesus to Mary, the angel Gabriel was speaking of that fulfillment. Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. (Isaiah 7:14 ESV)
This son was not conceived in the ordinary way by human means. Rather, this child was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. He was holy or sanctified, set apart, to be the Son of God. God testified to Christ’s uniqueness and John the Baptist bore witness. Upon being baptized, Jesus emerged from the water and the Holy Spirit descended upon him and a voice from heaven said, “You are my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:9-11; John 1:32-34). On another occasion Jesus led Peter, James and John to a high mountain where he was transfigured. A bright cloud overshadowed hem and from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased, listen to him” (Matthew 17:1-5). Though coming in human form as a baby, this son was with his father (God) and was loved by his father before the world existed (John 17:5, 24).
The apostle John bore witness that Jesus is the Son of God and wrote his gospel so that by believing we might have life (John 1:34; 20:31). The demons knew that Jesus is the Son of God (Luke 4:41; 8:28). And Jesus himself was assured of his identity, taking his claim all the way to the cross (Luke 22:70; John 10:36; 19:7). This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. (John 5:18 ESV) You see, Jesus not only claimed to be the Son of God, but also God who had come in flesh (Exodus 3:14, John 8:58).
No greater gift has been given to mankind than was given by God. No greater act of love has been displayed than was displayed by God to the world. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16 ESV) Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (John 3:18 ESV) Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. (John 3:36 ESV)
Have you believed in the name of the only Son of God?
Scriptures for meditation:
Isaiah 53:4-6, 10
Romans 5:8