This is a time of year when many people think about Jesus and His birth. He came to earth and was born, but was he just a little baby in a manger? Was He simply the son of Mary? Who is Jesus?
Isaiah chapter nine and verse six tells us who Jesus is, “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.” This verse gives five titles to the child Jesus, who was born in Bethlehem.
1. Wonderful
This refers to Jesus’ nature.
Jesus is wonderful in relation to God’s people. No matter what you are going through, you are not alone. God knows. Jesus is our High Priest passed into the heavens for us. When He came here to earth, He suffered for us. He knows all the pains we go through and understands all our feelings as we experience them. “14) Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:14,15)
2. Counsellor
There is no problem that God cannot solve. He knows all the instructions. All of our care can be cast upon Jesus, “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (I Peter 5:7) When our care is cast upon Jesus, we can have rest, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.” (Matthew 11:28,29) It is comforting to know that you can “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” (Psalm 55:22) There will be times in your life when you will not be able to go on. Those will be the times when God will carry you. “The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms.” (Deuteronomy 33:27a)
3. The Mighty God
There is no power or enemy or might that God cannot overcome. God is the Almighty, all powerful God. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (I John 4:4)
“8) The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel… 11) The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it.” (Psalm 68:8 & 11) God is so great in power that even His voice can shake the earth.
We can have peace and overcoming power because Jesus has overcome the world. He said, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
4. The Everlasting Father
God is not limited by time. Isaiah 46:10 says, “Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure.”
This title assures us that God is always the same and Jesus never changes, “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.” (Hebrews 13:8)
5. The Prince of Peace
There is not a soul that God is not able to save. Hebrews 7:25 says this regarding Jesus, “Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.”
Romans 10;13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
II Peter 3:9 says, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”
You have to have the Prince of Peace before you can benefit from the other attributes of the One who is Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the everlasting Father. When the Prince of Peace dwells in you, then you have all the benefits that God gave to us through His son Jesus Christ when He gave that Son to make a way of salvation for lost mankind. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)
~Note: Much of this is not original with me. It was based on notes taken from a sermon preached by our pastor on December 20th.