December 25: For Unto Us a Child is Born
♫ Music:
Day 27 - Friday, December 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
Title: FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The Everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
Poetry:
“Mary bore a mute Babe”
by Ephrem
(Translated by Kathleen McVey)
Mary bore a mute Babe
though in him were hidden all our tongues.
Joseph carried Him, yet hidden in Him was
a silent nature older than everything.
The Lofty One became like a little child, yet hidden
in Him was
a treasure of Wisdom that suffices for all.
He was lofty but he sucked Mary's milk,
and from His blessings all creation sucks,
He is the Living Breast of living breath;
by His life the dead were suckled, and they revived.
Without the breath of air no one can live;
without the power of the Son no one can rise.
Upon the living breath of the One Who vivifies all
depend the living beings above and below.
As indeed He sucked Mary's milk,
He has given suck—life to the universe.
As again He dwelt in His mother's womb,
in His womb dwells all creation.
Mute He was as a babe, yet He gave
to all creation all His commands.
FOR UNTO US A CHILD IS BORN
What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? Most of us think of Mary and Joseph, the baby in the manager, shepherds watching their sheep, angels praising God and announcing to the shepherds the birth of the Messiah. Rightly so, because these are all elements in the Christmas story.
Others may think in terms of parties, family gatherings, Christmas shopping, seasonal programs, presents, good food, or all the hustle and bustle of a busy holiday season. Again, rightly so, because these are all part of the traditions of Christmas as celebrated in many countries in the world.
Regardless, when we examine the prophecy concerning the birth of the Messiah in Isaiah 9:6, very important truths emerge. These truths bring the whole Christmas story into focus, a focus largely ignored by much of the USA and the world. We should not ignore these truths because they enhance our worship and wonder concerning the Christmas story. More importantly, they help move us beyond the pageantry of the season to a passion for a God who pursues us! Listen to these truths:
® The backdrop to the Christmas story is that our God and King is a jealous/zealous God, who pursues his people and ensures that his purposes will be fulfilled. The promise of Genesis 3:15 that the serpent will be defeated will be fulfilled. WOW!
® The truth of the Christmas story is that, even though the state of our world can be incredibly bleak at times, we need not panic because we have a sovereign God, who is at work. WOW!
® The hope of the Christmas story is that, despite the mess humans have made, God who reigns over us can and will lovingly correct and guide His people back to Himself through His Son. WOW!
® The comfort of the Christmas story is best summarized in this quote: “As the Wonderful counselor, he has the best ideas and strategies. Let’s follow Him. As the Mighty God, he defeats His enemies easily. Let’s hide behind Him. As the Everlasting Father, He loves us endlessly. Let’s enjoy Him. As the Prince of Peace, He reconciles us while we are still His enemies. Let’s welcome His dominion.”[1] WOW!
So, on this Christmas morning, let’s rejoice over the truth of the Christmas story. God is on the move to accomplish his purposes. Let’s rejoice in the hope of the Christmas story. God is at work in deepening our relationship with him, allowing us to rest in him. And, finally, let’s rejoice in the comfort of Christmas. God is sovereign over the affairs of this world. He has made a way for us to be reconciled to him through the birth, death, burial, and resurrection of the Son who has been given to us. What a day we have to celebrate the Child who is born to us! We can only say, “WOW!”
[1] Ray Ortland, Isaiah: God Saves Sinners, p. 99
Prayer:
Lord, help us to rejoice in this Child who is born to us. May the truth, hope, and comfort of this message cause our hearts to rejoice fully on this day. We give you our despair, our struggles, our difficulties, our anxieties and acknowledge afresh that you reign over all. Blessed be your name.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen.
Dr. David L Talley
Chair, Old Testament Department
Talbot School of Theology
Faculty Athletics Representative
Biola University
Pastor of Theology and Teaching at Cornerstone Church
Long Beach, CA
For more information about the artwork, music, and poetry selected for this day, we have provided resources under the “About” tab located next to the “Devotional” tab.
About the Artwork:
The Nativity
Lyuba Yatskiv
2014
Acrylic, white gilding on wood panel
60cm diameter
This exquisite work by contemporary Ukrainian artist Lyuba Yatskiv captures the beauty of the Nativity story. The central image features the Madonna and Child in a tender embrace while the vignettes surrounding them illustrate various events of Jesus’ birth: the shepherds who came to worship, faithful Joseph, and the three kings who came from distant lands. Yatshiv brings a quiet peace and solitude to the artwork through its harmoniously balanced composition. She adheres to traditional compositions and does not artificially dramatize the separate scenes. At the same time, however, her iconography remains distinctly individual and she invites the viewer to experience established visual elements and traditions in a new way.
About the Artist:
Lyuba Yatskiv (b. 1977) belongs to a circle of Ukrainian artists from the city of Lviv in Western Ukraine who are revitalizing the ancient art of iconography that was all but lost during a half century of Soviet persecution. These new Ukrainian icon painters use time-honored and traditional techniques, but they reinterpret the established images of canonical iconography into a style that resonates with modern viewers. A graduate of the renowned Department of Sacred Art of Lviv National Academy of Arts, Yatskiv’s style conforms more closely to the traditional Byzantine manner. The artist comments: “I would never start working with a prepared, predefined concept. It is a line of the drawing that is prompting the development of a certain image; one only needs to listen to it, feel its vivid motion, and subtle plastic nuances.” Since 2002 she has been Professor at the National Academy of Arts in Lviv, Department of Sacred Art.
https://artes-almanac.com/onovlennia-ikonopys-liuby-yatskiv/
http://iconart.com.ua/en/artists/artist-4/lyuba-yatskiv
https://www.iconecristiane.it/2017/12/10/lyuba-yatskiv/
Music:
Messiah, HWV 56, Pt. 1: 12. For Unto Us a Child is Born
Lyrics:
For unto us a child is born,
unto us a son is given,
and the government shall be upon his shoulder;
and His name shall be called Wonderful,
Counsellor, the mighty God,
the Everlasting Father,
the Prince of Peace.
Messiah Performers/Musicians/Lyricists/Composer:
Unless otherwise noted, all Messiah performances are by Margaret Marshall, Catherine Robbin, Anthony Rolfe-Johnson, Robert Hale, Charles Brett, Saul Quirke, the English Baroque Soloists, and the Monteverdi Choir conducted by Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Biographical information for the performers and musicians can be found by clicking here.
About the Poet:
Ephrem the Syrian (c. 306–373), also known as Saint Ephraem, Ephrem of Edessa, Ephrem Syrus, Ephrem, or Ephraim, was a Syriac Christian deacon and a prolific hymnographer and theologian of the fourth century who is said to have written over 3 million lines of verse. Ephrem wrote a wide variety of hymns, poems, and sermons in verse, as well as prose exegesis. These works of practical theology for the edification of the Church eloquently defended Christian Orthodoxy during a time of great social and political upheaval. Hymns became one of Ephrem’s most effective weapons against the heretics of the day by penning his own orthodox hymns in the style of traditional folk songs as a counter to heretical songs. He often used the Greek and Roman natural science of the day to explain and illustrate Christian ideas. Ephrem’s poems with his profound and mystical meditations on all aspects of salvation can be found in churches around the world.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephrem_the_Syrian
https://catholicexchange.com/saint-ephrem-poet-theologian
About the Devotion Author:
Dr. David L Talley
Chair, Old Testament Department
Talbot School of Theology
Faculty Athletics Representative
Biola University
Pastor of Theology and Teaching at Cornerstone Church
Long Beach, California
Dr. David Talley loves teaching the next generation of students the incredible and eternal truths of God in order to prepare them to impact the world for Jesus Christ. A Professor of Old Testament and Faculty Athletics Representative, he also serves as Pastor of Theology and Teaching at Cornerstone Church in Long Beach, California, and partners with the international church, providing training to pastors and churches in northern Africa and in persecuted countries.