“For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given” – Isaiah 9.6a — a familiar verse – one set to song – seen on many Christmas cards.  I love best the old, ‘tried and true’ Christmas carols.  I love ‘Silent Night’ composed in 1818 by Franz Xaver Gruber to lyrics by Joseph Mohr (in Austria).  ‘Joy to the World’ has been around since 1719 written by English minister and hymnwriter, Isaac Watts.  ‘O Little Town of Bethlehem’ was written in 1868, and of course ‘Messiah’ composed in 1741 (originally an Easter Oratorio) by George Frideric Handel which now dances through our heads throughout the Christmas season.  The Oratorio was based on several Scripture selections and most of us could sing a phrase or two from Handel’s composition – at least, ‘For unto us a Child is born’ from the Scripture mentioned at the beginning of this writing.

However, I am not opposed to venturing off into more recent Christmas melodies – like ‘Mary, Did You Know?’ written by Mark Lowry and Lee Greene ten years ago, or so.  The song asks question after question of Mary (earthly mother of Jesus) did she really know Who it was that she had birthed – Who this tiny Babe was that she was holding and nourishing from her body?  She knew the message that Gabriel delivered to her concerning about having a Son and naming Him ‘Jesus’ – and she was told that He would be great and be called the Son of the Most High God’. but did she really know all that He was and would become?!

Did she know besides all the wonderful manifestations He would display mentioned in the modern ‘carol’ – that ‘the government would rest on His shoulders – that His name would be called Wonderful Counselor, Might God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace? – that there would be no end to the increase of His government or of peace on the throne of David and over His kingdom to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore’?

Did she know — do we know that this Son would be given up for us?  I could write and write and expound on this subject, but I would rather each of us would search out for ourselves what JESUS came into this world for – on a personal basis.  He is the King of kings – the Lord of lords – Savior – Sustainer and so much more.  This Christmas, I want to see the Child Who was born – a Son Who was given in a deeper way than I ever have before – to love, cherish, follow, serve, and know Him a-new.