For you

For a child will be born for us,
a son will be given to us,
and the government will be on his shoulders.

He will be named
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

“A child will be born for us.”

As I reflected on those words, I thought about what the angels said to the shepherds on the night of Jesus’ birth.

Today in the city of David a Savior was born for you, who is the Messiah, the Lord. (Luke 2:11)

I can’t help but wonder. Did the angel say what he did with Isaiah’s words in mind? I think he did.

He could have simply said, “A Savior was born.”

Or, “A Savior was born for Israel.”

But he says, “A Savior has been born for you all. Not just for the influential and powerful. But for the ordinary person as well. He is born for you.”

And then he invites these shepherds to be the first visitors to the newborn King.

This King was not in a palace surrounded by soldiers. He was accessible to even the shepherds, lying in a manger in Bethlehem, surrounded only by his father, his mother, and perhaps some animals.

A Savior has been born for you.

You may feel like the shepherds. You may feel insignificant. Unimportant.

But Jesus was born for you.

For you.