Isaiah 9:2-7 (Guide A)

What is God’s essence? God’s primary motivation, desire, and purpose? What is God’s heart?

God’s heart is a heart of peace.

God could have chosen to stay distant – holy yet detached or absent. Instead, God chose to come, to be made flesh.

God could have come as a king- triumphant, affluent, imperial. God could have come as a warrior- laying waste to all enemies.

Instead, Jesus says,

Peace, I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

—John 14.27

God could have come as a king or a warrior or some other expression of earthly power. Instead, God comes as a baby. Beautiful, frail, fresh, innocent, the…