Echoes of CHRISTmas: The Father

 Isaiah 9:6 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulders: and his name shall be called wonderful, counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 

This verse gets quoted many times around this season, as it is a very clear, and encouraging, prophecy about our savior. But I want to focus on one phrase in this verse that I think gets almost overlooked every time we quote this verse. "Unto us a son is given." Think about this phrase, unto us a son is given, have you ever thought about that. Jesus Christ was the savior of this world, but before even the creation of the world he was God's son, and he was given to us as an atonement for our sins. The lamb of God, his precious son was sent down to earth to die for us. He was given to us by The Father, his precious son given freely to us. Not because we deserved it because we deserved the exact opposite but because of his unfailing love and his faithful promises. I think all too quickly this time of year do we look at the birth of Christ from those few who were present at, and after, his birth. Mary, Joseph, the wise men, the shepherds. But we forget that loving Father who was looking down from heaven to behold his beloved son wrapped is swaddling clothes lying in a manger. We forget the God who had waited thousands of years to put into action his plan to save us all. We forget The Holy One, who's glory shown throughout the countryside as his blessed son was born of a virgin. We forget the One who's patience with us is astounding, and who's grace is so unending that even after thousands of years of mistakes he still sent his son to die. 

Isaiah 42:1 

BEHOLD my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring judgement to the Gentiles. 

"Mine elect in whom my should delighteth," this is God speaking about his son saying he delights in his son. He's saying, "Look, this is my beloved son, my soul takes joy in him." He loves his son, he takes joy in the works of his son. Think about how much joy was in heaven that night. That night when all of heaven rejoiced that God The Father's Holy Son would be born. How much joy was radiating off the Father Of Lights face as he sent his son as a gift to us to perform the greatest work of all, the salvation of all people? How much praising was there in heaven, how much rejoicing was there, when all the inhabitants of the heavenly realm saw a sight never before seen and that never will be seen again, as God, The Son veiled his glory for a time and came to dwell among us in a robe of flesh? How much joy? Think about that. God The Father gifted us with his son that first CHRISTmas, and he had indescribable joy as he watched his son willingly take on this garment of flesh to become the atonement for sin. 

Hear the echoes of The Father calling us to rejoice with him at our remembrance of Christ. 

Matthew 3:17

And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased