イザヤ書9:1-6 Isaiah 9:1-6,

It’s December now, and in December we celebrate Christmas, the birthday of Jesus, the Saviour. Jesus was born in the town of Bethlehem in the Jewish country about 2000 years ago. The fact that the Saviour was born in the Jewish country had been prophesied by the prophets from the time of the Old Testament. The words from the Bible we read today are one such prophecy of the birth of the Saviour.

This prophecy was given more than 700 years before Jesus was born into the world. At that time, the Jewish country was called the Kingdom of Judah. To the north of the Kingdom of Judah, there were smaller nations such as the Kingdom of Northern Israel and the Kingdom of Aram. And even further north, there was the powerful and large Assyrian Empire. The Kingdom of Northern Israel and the Kingdom of Aram tried to form an alliance with the Kingdom of Judah and tried to oppose the Assyrian Empire. However, because the Kingdom of Judah did not join the alliance, the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Aram, who were angry, attacked the Kingdom of Judah and started a war. However, this war ended soon, because the Assyrian Empire attacked from the north and the Kingdom of Israel and the Kingdom of Aram were defeated. And these two countries were eventually destroyed by the Assyrian Empire.

The words from the Old Testament that we read today are words of prophecy spoken by Isaiah during a time when wars like this were happening one after another. In verse 5 (English, verse 6), it says, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given.” So, who is this child? At that time, a prince was born in the Kingdom of Judah. As he grew up, he became the king of the Kingdom of Judah. This new king was called Hezekiah, and he was a good king who believed in God and obeyed him. For this reason, God protected King Hezekiah and the Kingdom of Judah. The Assyrian Empire also attacked in an attempt to destroy the Kingdom of Judah, but because God protected them, the Kingdom of Judah was not destroyed.

King Hezekiah was a great king, but he also had weak and bad points. Therefore, these words of prophecy were not only about the birth of King Hezekiah, but also foretold the birth of a more wonderful King and Saviour in the future. And this King and Saviour is Jesus. Jesus is the “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” as mentioned in verse 5 (English, verse 6). The “Prince of Peace” means a king who makes peace.

So, how did Jesus make peace? Did he make peace by destroying his enemies with a strong army? No, he didn’t. Jesus made peace by dying on the cross and then being resurrected and ascending into heaven. People who believe in Jesus and follow him can have peaceful hearts. And not only do they have a peaceful heart, but they can also make peace with the people around them. Even now, wars are still breaking out around the world. Let us pray that more and more people will truly follow the teachings of Jesus and make peace, and that peace will spread.