JOIN THE JOURNEY JR.
Families Abiding in Jesus together
With shorter reading assignments and kid-specific focus areas, Join The Journey Jr. is designed to help parents disciple their kids and engage with Scripture in the best ways for their age.
This month's memory verse
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
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For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
2*The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.
For those who live in a land of deep darkness,*
a light will shine.
6For a child is born to us,
a son is given to us.
The government will rest on his shoulders.
And he will be called:
Wonderful Counselor,* Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7His government and its peace
will never end.
He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of his ancestor David
for all eternity.
The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
will make this happen!
“Walking in darkness” is dangerous. You don’t know the right way to go, and you can’t see the things that could trip you up or block your path. You eventually end up hurt, feeling bruised or broken by the consequences of a wrong turn or an unseen obstacle. Unfortunately, there is always plenty of “darkness” in this world that we must navigate.
The darker the situation is, the more important light becomes, and the brighter that light seems to shine. In Isaiah 9, God promised to send light. And not just any light: a great light. The Light. As Jesus explained in John 8:12, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” Through Isaiah, God promised the Israelites that Jesus was coming!
Besides saying that the coming Savior would be the Light, Isaiah listed several other names for Jesus: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. These names helped the Israelites understand that the coming Savior would know everything that they were going through and would be able to guide them in the right direction in every situation. This Savior would be God himself, coming to rescue his people and establish a kingdom that would last forever. He would bring peace through his first coming and one day return to make all things new.
This child wasn’t just coming for the Israelites that Isaiah was talking to; he was also coming to be the Light for you and me. We’ve all walked in the darkness of our sin, but Jesus came to bring light and peace through his death on the cross and resurrection three days later.
When we trust in Jesus, the Holy Spirit comes to live in us and empowers us to be the light of the world (Matthew 5:14-16). Just as Jesus came to rescue us from the darkness of sin through his death and resurrection, we now get to share that same good news with others! We don’t have to do this on our own. The Holy Spirit gives us the courage, wisdom, and words to tell others about Jesus and the forgiveness and new life he offers. This Christmas, let’s shine his light by sharing the hope of the gospel with those around us!
1. Do some research. What are some other names of Jesus? What do they mean? What is your favorite name of God? Why?
2. Who do you know that hasn’t heard about the peace and forgiveness that Jesus offers? How can you share the good news of the gospel with them and shine light in the darkness?
Today, draw a picture of the sun to remind your family that God promised to send a Light into the darkness.
Then, grab enough flashlights for everyone in your family and play Flashlight Tag in your house or backyard!
Afterward, pray together and thank God for sending Jesus, the Light of the World, who overcame the darkness.