Today, we continue our focus on the ancient Christian tradition of Advent. In Isaiah 9:6, we read a prophecy about the coming Messiah Christ, “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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” We’ll meditate on each of these names as we count up to Christmas.

Today, we light the Candle of Love and focus on Christ being Everlasting Father.

(Light the 3rd purple candle)

What a comforting thought of having an Everlasting Father! However, out of these four names that Christ would be called, this one is perhaps a little confusing. Why would Jesus, the Son of God, be called our everlasting Father? Is Isaiah telling us that God the Son is the same person as God the Father? No, that’s not what he’s saying. Isaiah doesn’t have the persons of the Trinity in mind, but rather the divine nature of the Messiah. The Messiah would have the divine nature of the Father. He would be God in the flesh.

This is why Jesus, the Son of God, would later explain in John 10, “I and the Father are one… know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father,” and then in John 14, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father.”

Beloved, if you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus. Even in that manger, Jesus is the perfect image of God, the exact representation of His being. Jesus alone fully makes the Father known. Indeed, no one can come to the Father except through him.

And when you come through Christ, you are not just given an Everlasting Father. You are also given everlasting love. What a gift this Christmas and forever!

Merry Christmas!

Change begins in you!