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 Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
This week let’s look deeper into the names that Jesus assumed with his arrival. Names that we worship him with today!
Day 1. Wonderful Counselor
Our Lord is a wonderful Counselor. Not a decent one, and certainly not a bad one. As his disciples panicked at the news of his coming accession Jesus promised to send his spirit to continue as a counselor. Can you imagine 3 years of tactical hands-on advice and counsel from the Lord himself? And then to essentially be told, “That’s our time for today.” Yet His counsel is just as available for us now.
Read John 14:15-28 and see the promise of the Lord’s counsel.
Day 2. Mighty God
“Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?”Tell Me, if you have understanding, who set its measurements? Since you know. Or who stretched the line on it? On what were its bases sunk? Or who laid its cornerstone, When the morning stars sang together And all the sons of God shouted for joy? Or who enclosed the sea with doors When, bursting forth, it went out from the womb; When I made a cloud its garment And thick darkness its swaddling band, And I placed boundaries on it And set a bolt and doors,And I said, ‘Thus far you shall come, but no farther; And here shall your proud waves stop?“Have you ever in your life commanded the morning, And caused the dawn to know its place?
Job 38:4-12
Jesus is mighty. Mighty God makes all the sense to me as a name for the Father. I think of his incredible might on display in response to Job, yet it is Jesus who can answer boldly “Yes, I was here when you laid the foundations of the earth!” He is our Mighty God. But on earth, his might was a surprise. It wasn’t militaristic, it wasn’t greedy, it was tremendous power of service and humility.
Read Philippines 2: 5-11. Pray, we can have the same mindset.
Day 3. Everlasting Father
Jesus is our Father forever. But Isaiah isn’t confusing roles in the Trinity. “Everlasting Father” is “a descriptive analogy pointing to Christ’s character . . . he is fatherly, father-like, in his treatment of us.” Like a father, he cares and provides for his children, but as his children, we never leave the nest. His provision is forever. His salvation is eternal. He was born an earthly son and through his death and resurrection assumed fatherhood as he made us his Sons and Daughters.
Read John 14:1-14
Day 4. Prince of Peace
Jesus wields peace and he brings it wherever he rules. It’s even a marker for those marked by him. Galatians shows us that his people are marked by his fruits, and the one of the first listed is Peace. We find peace when we abide in him. We create peace when we live like him.
Read John 15
