Often I’m told and hear in homilies and songs that Jesus died for me. He endured death on the cross to save me. He would have died for just me. He loves me more than I can fathom. And in turn He died for all of us; loves all of us that fiercely. He is our Redeemer. He is our Savior.
But today I pondered Isaiah who prophesized “For a son has been born for us, a son has been given to us, and dominion has been laid on his shoulders” (Is 9:6) which reminds me that from the moment of birth, we had a claim to Jesus Christ.
Isaiah didn’t write the normal announcement on his Facebook page: “Mary and Joseph just had an adorable (quite literally) baby boy! He weighed 7.77 lbs (naturally) and sleeps all night. (Right?)”
No, he stated “a son has been born to us.”
Only family members would say “a son has been born for us”; friends and neighbors would say “A son has been born to Joseph and Mary.” We claim Jesus’ birth because we are part of his family; we have a vested interest in his birth.
Dominion is a word that has several close meanings, but one definition is “the territory of a sovereign or government” which is not the same as being the absolute ruler. The translators carefully choose to use this word to describe Jesus’ roll and rule because, as Son, He answers to God the Father within the mystery of the Blessed Trinity.
So Jesus is ruler over us in the name of His Father.
Because He was born, he was destined by His death and resurrection to make us co-heirs to His Father’s kingdom. God the Father knew His Son would answer the call and so Isaiah was able to prophesize that Jesus’ birth would be the most perfect moment ever for mankind. He is ours to love and cherish from the moment he opened his eyes and took his first breath. Just as Mary and Joseph did, we can dote on the adorable baby and feel the warmth and wonder of new life.
He is our precious baby just as he is our savior and King.
