For to us a child is born, 
   to us a son is given, 
   and the government will be on his shoulders. 
And he will be called 
   Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, 
   Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the greatness of his government and peace 
   there will be no end. 
He will reign on David’s throne 
   and over his kingdom, 
establishing and upholding it 
   with justice and righteousness 
   from that time on and forever. 
The zeal of the LORD Almighty 
   will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (NIV)

Tonight we celebrate God becoming one of us, with all of these qualities – wonderful, counsellor, mighty God, everlasting Father, Prince of Peace – packed into a tiny, frail human baby form.

He chose to come into our world into an outpost of the Roman empire that was full of rioting and terrorist activity, into a city full of people where he was not welcomed, the only place for the new born baby a feeding trough for animals and a fragile political situation which meant his parents had to flee their home as refugees to Egypt.

This is our God, human and yet divine, our Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Emmanuel, God with us.