Think back on the Christmases of your past. The holidays can be great reference points that remind us of who we used to be. This type of reflection can help us realize how our dreams, needs, desires, life stages, and priorities have changed. The gifts we desire, how we celebrate, who we celebrate with, and our deepest Christmas wishes have probably changed quite a bit over the years. Yet, one thing remains constant: our deep need for Jesus Christ. Here is a quote that I think brings this point home:
I have a great need for Christ; I have a great Christ for my need.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon
This truth captures the heart of Christmas. The prophet Isaiah points us to this in Isaiah 9, written during a dark time for Judah. In the midst of despair, Isaiah proclaimed the coming of a Deliverer.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Let’s break down what God has promised through the advent of this “great Christ for my need.”
The Light of Advent
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
Isaiah 9:2 (ESV)
This darkness represents the sin that blinds us. Into this darkness, God sent his Son, who told us, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Jesus lights up our lives, exposing sin and showing us the path of righteousness. His light brings hope where there was once in desperation and confusion.
The Joy of Advent
They rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
Isaiah 9:3 (ESV)
Isaiah compared the joy brought by the advent of Christ to a harvest or a great victory. This joy is not dependent on the circumstances of our lives but is rooted in Christ’s victory over sin and death.
Christmas should remind us of this eternal joy. Because of Christ’s advent, we can rejoice in the fullness of knowing him and the promise of eternal life.
The Freedom of Advent
For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken…
Isaiah 9:4 (ESV)
Isaiah said that the Savior would break the oppressive yoke and set the people free. Jesus delivers us from the bondage of sin and the weight of shame.
Through his death and resurrection, Christ has freed us to walk in the newness of life, no longer enslaved to sin but empowered by the Holy Spirit.
The Peace of Advent
For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult
Isaiah 9:5 (ESV)
and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
The peace Isaiah described is an eternal ceasefire, where even the weapons of war are dismantled and destroyed. This peace is not merely the absence of conflict, but the promise of tranquility in the physical future and in the spiritual present.
Jesus, the Prince of Peace, reconciles our rebellious, fighting hearts back to the Father, bringing a peaceful resolve and promising an eternal Kingdom where war and strife will cease forever.
The Son of Advent
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV)
At the heart of this prophecy is the breathtaking truth that the “great Christ for my need” is a humble child. He does not come as a mighty man fit for battle and domination. He enters into history’s timeline as a Son. And this child is given in a way that is deeply personal—“to us” for our redemption.
Jesus entered our broken world as an infant, bringing light, joy, freedom, and peace. He is the fulfillment of every promise and the great, true solution to our greatest need.
As you look back on the past this Christmas and remember how things used to be, consider the one thing that has remained constant: our great need for Christ and the great Christ who meets our need. This holiday season, let the promises of Isaiah 9 settle firmly in your heart. Whatever your need—light in the deepest darkness, joy in the sorrow of defeat, freedom from the chains of sin, or peace in chaos and strife—know that God has fulfilled these great Christmas promises in Jesus Christ.
Bee-Attitude
Blessed are those who remember their need for Christ this Christmas, for we shall find light, joy, freedom, and peace in the advent of the Son of God.
Grant Turner is the editor of the Barnesville Buzz and an educator, coach, and writer based in Barnesville, Georgia. He shares stories that bridge community, faith, and personal growth. In addition to teaching and coaching, Grant is Director of Musical Worship and a Sunday School teacher at New Hope Baptist Church in Zebulon, Georgia. He lives in Barnesville with his wife, Haley.
