Isaiah 9:6

For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders, and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

When a baby is born, there is often much speculation about what the child will be like as he or she grows and develops into maturity. Mary had been told her first born was going to be someone very special for the whole world. As the verse above says, much was going to be resting on this baby’s shoulders.

So now, it is, once again, the Eve of Jesus’ birthday! Each year, we wait in anticipation for this momentous event. However, amidst the excitement, I can’t but think of how Mary was feeling that night. She and her husband had travelled a long distance to get to Bethlehem. She was probably a young teenager, and this was her first child. She must have been extremely tired and scared and then there was no room for them to stay at the inn. We look at our manger scene. It looks so serene and peaceful. The travail of Christmas Eve will be over and the excitement of the birth of our Lord, Jesus, is here. He is this world’s Prince of Peace!

The words at the top of this page from Isaiah 9 are incorporated in Handel’s “Messiah” and are sung joyously by choirs around the world each Christmas. Indeed, Mary’s child has been born for us. Let us rejoice!

Let us pray. We thank you, O God, for sending us your Son. May this Babe become a part of our lives and show us Your way of love for all. Amen.

- Susan Colquhoun