Hundreds of years before the birth of Christ, the prophet Isaiah foretold the coming of Gods Son: For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). When the angel spoke to Joseph and announced the impending birth of Jesus, he alluded to Isaiah’s prophecy: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means ‘God with us’) (Matthew 1:23). This did not mean they were to name the baby Immanuel; it meant that God with us was the baby’s identity. Jesus was God coming in the flesh to dwell with man. Jesus Himself understood the speculation about His identity. He asked His disciples, Who do people say that I am? (Matthew 16:13; Mark 8:27). The answers varied, as they do today. Then Jesus asked a more pressing question: Who do you say that I am? (Matthew 16:15). Peter gave the right answer: You are the Christ, the Son of the living God (Matthew 16:16). Jesus affirmed the truth of Peter’s answer and promised that, upon that truth, He would build His church (Matthew 16:18).
Posted on: Thu, 04 Dec 2014 02:32:39 +0000