The Child

By Craig Ashton Jr., December 2, 2023

As Christmas approaches, I’ve been contemplating Isaiah 9:6 and the verses that precede it, especially verse 5, which calls for garments rolled in blood and every warrior’s sandal that has stomped the ground in battle to be used as fuel for the fire. Isaiah goes on to name the child that is to be born as the way to identify the devouring fire and God’s way of bringing about ultimate victory. 

It seems to me that Isaiah is describing the exceptional and radical way the Messiah will wage war and bring about victory and eternal well-being for the world. Isaiah describes the kind of fire that God ignites to conquer His enemies. Fueled by garments rolled in blood, it’s not the usual fire seen amid the clash of arms and tumult of war—no, all hostile methods of arms are destined for divine burning. This is a surprising view of the divine warrior who will bring about the eternal well-being of peace without the use of force—a better way to bring about victory. Isaiah tells us that it’s a child. Let that sink in. There is no reason to live in terror of this child or the heavenly fire that He brings. We can welcome it because we know the character of the God who meets us is in the child to be born.

Isaiah then gives us a long name to help us identify this child. It’s a name that reveals who He is and defines His exceptional character. “He will be named: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6). Don’t misunderstand this as four separate names. I don’t think Isaiah is giving us a list of titles that indicate what tasks the Messiah will do. It’s simply a long and remarkable name that describes the essence of His being. He is not just any child, for His Name means something like “astonishing advisor, champion of the universe, exact identity of the Father forever, absolute authority of peace.”

It’s simply astonishing to know that the Father is eternally revealed in the child who ultimately meets us in the person of Jesus. He is the humble child lying in a manger in Bethlehem who lived as a self-giving person and died on the cross, refusing to wage the tumult of war against His enemies. His garments were stained with His own blood, and His sandals made the earth ring only with the glad tidings of peace. We are freed from fears and anxiety as we embrace the good news about the character of God: “He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire” (Psalm 46:9).

This gentle and humble child is all powerful yet radically loving. God’s love is amazing, but we do not believe in it nearly enough. He empowers us to live as citizens of His exceptional kingdom of peace no matter what is happening in the world around us.

Craig Ashton Jr.