A very good morning to you my precious family and friends.
Isaiah 9:6 says “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder and His name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace”.
For many in the world, it might come as a surprise that the Old Testament has anything to say about Jesus, but we believers know that Jesus is proclaimed and described from Genesis to Malachi, and that some of the most beautiful descriptions of our Lord in the entire Bible come from the Old Testament.
From the beginning to the end of the book, Isaiah proclaims a day when all the promises of God would be revealed in the person of His Son. Isaiah has 66 chapters (the same number of books in the Bible). Chapters 40-66 of Isaiah (the final 27 chapters -- the same number of books in the New Testament) have been called the New Testament in the Old Testament. As with Matthew, Isaiah 40 begins with a voice crying in the wilderness. A voice proclaiming Jesus.
And in those final chapters of Isaiah, surely the most beautiful and poignant descriptions of Christ are found in Isaiah 53, where we read about the Suffering Servant who was wounded for our transgressions.
Isaiah 9:6 contains the most beautiful description of Christ.
In this one verse we see a description of Him, from eternity, to the incarnation, and on to the crucifixion and the coronation. A single verse that perhaps tells us more about Jesus than any other single verse in the Old Testament:
The gospels all tell us about a child who was born, but they also tell us about a Son who was given. John 3:16 tells us that the gift was motivated by love. 2 Corinthians 9:15 says, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift.”
Psalm 2 reminds us that He would have all authority and all power in Heaven and in Earth. The kings of the earth may set themselves against Him and the rulers may take counsel together against Him, but the Lord shall have them in ridicule.
And His name shall be called Wonderful. In Genesis 18, Sarah was told that she would have a son when she was 90 and Abraham was 100, and she laughed. In verse 14, God asks Abraham, “Is anything too hard for the LORD?” The word translated “hard” in that verse is the same word translated “wonderful” in Isaiah 9:6. What happened to Sarah was wonderful, but with Christ such wonderful things are so common place that His name shall be called Wonderful! He brings wonder and astonishment and power. His name is wonderful!
And His name shall be called Counsellor. Each President has many counsellors to advise and tell them what they need to know. Not so with Jesus. Jesus has no need to surround Himself with counsellors. He is the Counsellor! Proverbs 8:14 says, “Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength.” No one ever regrets having followed Christ’s counsel.
And His name shall be called “The mighty God.” Is there anywhere is Scripture a clearer statement of the divinity of Christ? Psalm 45:6, where the same word is used of Christ: “Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: the scepter of Thy kingdom is a right scepter.” That word, translated here as “The Mighty God” denotes divinity in an absolute sense. Jesus Christ is God. John 1:1 says ”He is the Word made flesh - the Word that was with God, the Word that was God.” Paul in Colossians 1:19 writes, “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell.” His name is The Mighty God!
And His name shall be called “The everlasting Father.” How can the Son be called the Father? There is so much to say about this beautiful description of Jesus! Isaiah 53:8 tells us that the Messiah would not have any physical children, but verse 10 tells us that He would have spiritual children, and we are His spiritual offspring. In the parable of the prodigal son, who is being represented by the loving father who despises the shame and runs down the road to meet his wayward son? Is it not Jesus in Hebrews 12:2, “who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame”? His name is Everlasting Father!
And His name shall be called “The Prince of Peace.” Colossians 1:19 and 20 says, “For in Him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of His cross.” Jesus is the Prince of Peace, and the peace He brings is the only peace we cannot live without - peace with God. As the angels proclaimed in Luke 2:14, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” That peace comes only through Jesus Christ, and the only way to have that peace is by obedience to Christ’s gospel. The only path to peace is the path of obedience to the Prince of Peace.
The Lord Jesus Christ is that Child that was Born and He is that Son that was Given. No surprise that His name shall be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father - Prince of Peace.
Let us worship Him as we prepare our hearts this Christmas time and ask Him for opportunities to share His love with others.
Let us pray.
Our loving Lord and heavenly Father– no matter how many times I read of the wonder of Your incarnation as the Word became flesh I am filled with wonder and praise. Thank You Lord Jesus for giving up the glories of heaven and that you came to die and pay the penalty of our sin. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for giving us a peace that the world cannot take away, a peace that passes all human understanding. Thank You, Father God, for Your indescribable gift of love, Jesus, our Prince of Peace. What a Mighty God we serve. AMEN.
Much love in Christ from Maurice and Margaret.
