I was reading the prophet Isaiah yesterday, where he proclaims,
For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)
“A child will be born for us.”
As I reflected on those words, I thought about what the angels said to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth.
Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)
I can’t help but wonder. Did the angel say what he did with Isaiah’s words in mind? I think he did.
He could have simply said, “A Savior was born.”
Or, “A Savior was born for Israel.”
But he says, “A Savior has been born for you all. Not just for the influential and powerful. But for the ordinary person as well. He is born for you.”
And then he invites these shepherds to be the first visitors to the newborn King.
This King was not in a palace surrounded by soldiers. He was accessible to even the shepherds, lying in a manger in Bethlehem, surrounded only by his father, his mother, and perhaps some animals.
A Savior has been born for you.
You may be rich, you may be poor, you may be somewhere in the middle.
You may be American, you may be Japanese, you may be some other nationality.
You may be young, you may be old, you may be middle-aged.
You may be happy and successful. You may be broken down and hurting.
Jesus was born for you.
For you.
