The Government Shall Be Upon His Shoulder

Isaiah 9 says “the government” will be upon Jesus’ shoulders. What does this “Christmas verse” have to do with missions?

The holidays are a time of quaint familiarity, but let’s be honest. We wax philosophical about the royal gifts the magi later bring the Christ-child, but we treat “King” mainly as an honorific title. We think, after all, this Boy grows up to be a controversial Jewish Rabbi, an inspiring religious figure, not a Caesar. It doesn’t appear from a human perspective that Jesus is in charge of anything.

But Isaiah 9:6 says “the government shall be upon his shoulder.” What government is this, anyway—and what does it have to do with missions?

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