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Advent

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”Isaiah 9:6 NASB

Today we light the Prophesy candle. Just as we have to wait for Christmas morning, those who first heard Isaiah’s prophesy had to wait for its fulfillment. Their wait, of course, was much longer and more painful than ours. The purpose of this candle in the Advent calendar is more than drawing attention to the wait, it is to remind us that the Incarnation was not a divine afterthought—God intended to become man and redeem the world with His precious blood from before time. Rev. 13:8 refers to Jesus as “the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world.” (NIV)

Isaiah says that the child “will be born to us.” With that phrase, he affirms the humanity of Jesus. But he says more than just that—he also writes, “a son will be given to us.” The addition of the second phrase clarifies the first. Jesus was born of a woman—He was born to us, but His birth was of divine origin—He was given to us.

Long before a baby cried in a manger in Bethlehem, the prophet said that this would be a unique child. A human child, yes, but a divine child also. Isaiah was more explicit about the virgin birth in Isaiah 7:14 when he wrote, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel.”

Today as we behold the Prophecy candle, we remember that Isaiah told us that Jesus birth would be unique. Spend some time reflecting upon the amazing circumstances surrounding Jesus’ birth. It was no ordinary birth—He was born of a virgin. A fact that was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah and later confirmed by Dr. Luke. And as we marvel in these facts, shall we remember why He was born. He was born to die, to bring salvation into the world.


Jim L. Wilson, Fresh Start Devotionals (Fresno, CA: Willow City Press, 2009).

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