00:00Birth announcements are a momentous occasion that captures the joy and excitement that a
00:12child brings into the world. I have been a dog dad for years, and as impressive and life-changing
00:19as that experience is, nothing compares to the grand appearance of a human child entering the
00:24family. As an expecting father of my very first son, my wife and I have already done every
00:31announcement tradition possible. We've done Instagram posts with goofy little captions like,
00:38The Haas family is having the first bunny. Haas means bunny in German, we've sent out postcards
00:44with sonogram pictures and prayer requests, we've eaten blue cupcakes as a gender reveal,
00:50hid little plastic babies all around the house, and set up a registry. All these things are done
00:57in anticipation of the arrival of my son, and I can't wait to see him face to face.
01:03Do you recall the feeling of elation after giving a baby announcement or perhaps receiving one from
01:08a family member or friend? One of the most studied and celebrated birth announcements found in
01:14scripture is the prophet Isaiah's proclamation in Isaiah 9 verse 6 to 7. Here we see impressive
01:22titles of royalty bestowed upon this child that give glory and splendor to the arrival of this baby.
01:29Now this baby announcement is like none other, for this was a prophecy for the future fulfillment of
01:36a messianic king, a savior for the world. We know this because this baby announcement was sent a tad
01:42early, so early that the child hadn't even been born yet, about seven hundred years prior to Jesus'
01:49arrival. This passage was delivered to Israel while they were facing a ruinous condition as the threat
01:55of the Assyrian government's superpower was about to destroy the northern kingdom of Israel, annex it,
02:02and take them captive. Isaiah was promising the coming of a future king that would bring deliverance.
02:08The joys described in Isaiah 9 verse 1 to 5 are grounded in the birth of this child within the
02:15Davidic line, bringing freedom from oppression. It is said that the people will see a great light,
02:21multiply the nation, increase their gladness, break the yoke of their burden, and more because a child
02:28will be born, and a son will be given. It would be tremendously relieving for the Israelite people
02:34to know that this coming king would have the government resting on his shoulders. After being
02:40forced to assimilate into the Assyrian empire, they are now reinstated into a life of freedom under new
02:47rule. Most babies are given one name to address them by, perhaps they are assigned a suffix like
02:53junior or the third, but this baby is given four distinct names as one was not sufficient to explain the
03:00identity of this child. These divine titles, only associated with God, describe who this baby is
03:07and what this infant will accomplish. Not many babies will have a resume of accomplishments before
03:13they are even born, but this child is different. The final title of this list is Prince of Peace.
03:21This weighty title is attributed to the foreknowledge that he will be able to negotiate,
03:26solve, diagnose, and ordain all circumstances to bring about peace. Under the coming reign of this
03:33child, there will be no more war, no more terrorism, no more brutal violence or political turmoil.
03:41This child will usher in an era of rest as his reign is characterized as peace.
03:47Who is this Prince of Peace? It is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus being labeled as the Prince of
03:54Peace means that he alone is capable, consistent, and willing enough to bring about true peace,
04:01restoration, reconciliation, and redemption in this world. Jesus can not only bring you peace
04:07in your relationship between you and God but grant you real peace in your relationship with others.
04:14The peace that Jesus offers is better than world peace, as we might see it, because Jesus' peace
04:20eternally penetrates and sustains the heart and environment that it indwells. Even in this unholy,
04:27unpeaceful world with broken political systems, distorted worldviews, and depraved ideologies,
04:33we can still experience Jesus' real, long-lasting peace.
04:39Jesus' peace can saturate our personal lives, our marriages, our families, our churches,
04:45our schools, our communities, and our world if we trust in him. If it is true that Jesus is the
04:52Prince of Peace, that means that no matter the turmoil and strife we may find ourselves in,
04:58we can still find rest, stability, security, and peace in him. These baby announcement titles found
05:05in Isaiah 9 unveil the identity of Jesus but also describe the wondrous benefits that come from
05:11knowing and trusting in him, for in him there will be no end to his government or to his peace.
05:17Prayer
05:18Dear God, we thank you for your Son Jesus' fulfillment of this prophecy that he,
05:23being a small child, would come to be our Messianic Savior. Daily we encounter graphic
05:30reminders of the pervasive depravity, brokenness, and sin that is found in this world. We recognize
05:37that this world desperately needs peace that only comes through your Son, Jesus. As Isaiah states,
05:44Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace.
05:51We trust in that reality today. May we let go of needless pain in our lives and immerse ourselves in
05:57the peace that only you can offer. Let us tangibly experience your peace in our lives and see it in
06:04our world today. In Jesus' name we pray, Amen.
