Names of the Christ Child: His Name is Wonderful
Names of the Christ Child • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 16 viewsExalting Christ for his essence and exploits as Wonderful.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
This December we will look at names of the Christ child from Isaiah 9:6. The goal of this series is to help us better worship the Jesus Christ our Lord. My prayer is that Jesus will not be forgotten as we move into the Christmas season, but that he would be central in all we do. We often are stressed with all the preparations for the festivities like Martha bustling about instead of taking some times to reflect on what Jesus did for us at Christmas time. Let us read our text.
Isaiah 9:6–7 “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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
It is true we often value our way as the best way. We have a natural tendency to believe we have wonderful ideas or that we are right most of the time. However, sometimes in our self-confidence in our values we downplay what God values. For instance Paul stated he didn’t mind the fellowship of Christ’s sufferings, so he could experience the power of Christ helping him. Phil. 3:10
Isaiah 9:1–7 “Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, When at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, And afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, Beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: They joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, And as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, The rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, And garments rolled in blood; But this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
1. The Son Jesus Christ is wonderful in His Essence.
1. The Son Jesus Christ is wonderful in His Essence.
Isaiah 9:6 “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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Explain
Background:
The Northern Kingdom of Israel has been in wickedness in its leadership since day one of Jeroboams confiscation of 10 of the 12 tribes of Israel from Solomon’s Son King Rehoboam in 930 BC. The time of God’s forbearance is ending as over two centuries have passed since the 10 tribes have worshipped him as He commands at Jerusalem.
The warfare of that day was not as it is today where you can launch a missile into another country. It was besiege cities and break down the cities walls to conquer a city or starve it to submission.
The fierce Assyrian although unaware of God’s plan is the rod of God’s anger upon his rebellious people. The rebellious Northern kingdom went into captivity. Chastisement fell upon the Southern Kingdom of Judah for trusting the Assyrians to attack Syria and Israel instead of God’s protection.
When Isaiah authors chapter 9 of Isaiah it appears areas have already been deported. They have brought darkness into Israel conquering cities in the tribal allotments of Zebulun and Naphtali. These areas are cities on the major trade route leading to the Mediterranean Coast. Having control of these cities enriched the coffers of the Assyrian Empire.
For the Northern Kingdom of Israel this is their darkest hour. They are now in darkness, a nation that no longer exists. They are conquered and many are deported to Assyria.
Yet in the darkest oracles against the Northern Kingdom, Zebulun and Naphtali tribes within this wicked nation are given hope of prophetic restoration in the person of a new King. Isaiah 9:2 “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: They that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” Compared with John 8:12 “Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.” This points to a Messianic light.
Later in verse six, further description of this blessing in the Galilee region is identified as a son with five names: Wonderful, Counseler, the mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace. This would be the center of most of Jesus earthly ministry.
These titles we want to explore as we begin our series Names of the Christ Child. This morning we will specifically look at the name Wonderful.
The Child born unto us is wonderful in essence and exploits. Let us look at his essence of this child and Son.
The government is on his shoulder. This was symbolized in ancient cultures by a King holding a sceptre or shepherd staff against their shoulder. This is a wonderful depiction of this Son who is wonderful in his role as our shepherd.
Wonderful in His Person
Peleh: He is wonderful in his character.
Christ’s character was more wonderful than the greatest miracle.
Lord Alfred Tennyson (English Poet)
The Word and its cognates are used twice of a name:
Wonderful: Isaiah 9:6 “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, Counseller, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
Secret: Judges 13:18 “And the angel of the Lord said unto him, Why askest thou thus after my name, seeing it is secret?”
The Son born unto us is incomprehensible. He is greater than our finite minds can grasp.
He is infinite in understanding Psalm 147:5“Great is our Lord, and of great power: His understanding is infinite.”
His greatness is unsearchable Psalm 145:3“Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; And his greatness is unsearchable.”
His ways are past finding out. Romans 11:33 “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!”
Other occurences throughout Scripture are used to describe miracles and marvelous works of our God. For this reason the second point in the outline is the Exploits of Wonderful.
Pre-existence: He is eternal
John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
Accordingly, in John 1:1 we are dealing with a thesis that means that just as in Gen 1:1, where there was allowed no hint of the creation of God, there is here no time envisaged when the Word was not in existence or in relationship to God.
Gerald L. Borchert
Hebrews 1:2–3“Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;” We see here both the essence of the character of Christ intertwined with his wonderful exploits.
The pre-incarnate Lord is of the same essence as God the Father.
The pre-incarnate Lord is appointed heir of all things.
The preincarnate Lord is the brightness of the Father’s glory
The preincarnate Lord is the express image of the Father’s person.
The preincarnate Lord upholds all creation by his own power.
Prophesied Incarnation. His birth prophesied
God with us: Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.” This prophecy cast more light onto the prophecy given to Eve showing that this birth will not only be a virgin birth, but the incarnation of God himself for the redemption of his sinful creatures. How Wonderful a God we have.
Eternal Rule on David’s Throne:
Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
Branch of Jesse Isaiah 11:1 “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots:” The following verses describe the nature of His Righteous rule and execution of justice upon the wicked and right judgment for the poor and meek. Which reveal the ESSENCE of the Wonders of this Son.
The God-Man: 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Possession of full deity. He is wholly God.
Colossians 2:6 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:” Colossians 2:9 “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”
John 20:28 “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”
Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
Hebrews 1:8 “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.”
Romans 9:5 “Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.”
2 Peter 1:1 “Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:”
Argue
Some might argue that the glory that King Hezekiah and his Son Josiah brought to Judah may fulfill the titles of our text, but the claims to deity, the mighty God make this absurd. It must and is a Messianic prophecy.
Some argue the names Wonderful and Counselor are to be taken as a singular name much as mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of peace are, but this is not the position of the Masoretics who copied the Hebrew Scriptures. They understood the text as having five divine names. The 70 Hebrew scholars who put the Hebrew Old Testament understood it as adjectival in nature describing counselor. However, the Hebrew structure seems to argue against it and it is important to note the Septuagint translators tended towards more dynamic translation than trying to go word for word in text. For this reason, I hold to the name Wonderful as one of the five names of Christ given here and we will treat it as such in our series.
Illustrate
God is so vastly wonderful, so utterly and completely delightful that He can, without anything other than Himself, meet and overflow the deepest demands of our total nature, mysterious and deep as that nature is.2
A. W. Tozer
What would you say to someone drinking swamp water behind the church when there clean well water in the church? You’ll get sick. What are you doing drinking that muck? But my friend, are you satisfied in our Wonderful Son born unto us, Jesus Christ. Do you claim to know Jesus and seek satisfaction elsewhere? He satisfies the thirst for righteousness. Your joy may be full in Him. Eternal pleasures are with Him. Why do we go for these swamp waters for our thirst when we have the springs of living water flowing from us in Jesus Christ?
Or you ladies looking for Mr. Wonderful, what are you looking for in a man? Jesus is to be your Mr. Wonderful until God brings the one for you. Find your satisfaction in Him.
Apply: How should this effect me?
I ought to be in wonder at the essence of who this child born unto us really is. He is God in the flesh for me.
Wonderful Jesus is worthy of my worship. As a sheep in God’s pasture, what has your gaze and where do you graze? The answer to these questions is revealing to what you view as wonderful. Is it upon Jesus. Is it upon what he has given you. The grass seems always to be greener on the other side, but in Christ there is no compare to any other.
Jesus is wonderful because he is God and man all at the same time. Because of that he knows and understands what I am going through. He will do what is best for me, His child.
How does the essence of Jesus being wonderful change the way I live?
Phftt! and an array of mad exclamations over a circumstance which did not happen to your liking. This refuses to acknowledge the infinite wisdom of God in allowing the situation. Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
Do the aches and pains get you mad or make you more dependent upon God. 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
Hunting without getting a deer. What is your response. I wasted all this time or God gave me some time to reflect on Him.
A deer runs into your vehicle. Taking it in stride and thanking the Lord for insurance or whining and complaining at every turn. Psalm 104:24 “O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all: The earth is full of thy riches.”
The wonderful plan of God to allow His only begotten Son to come into the world to die for you whether you accept or reject Him. What wondrous love is this that God should love a sinner such as I.
Does God change in character? No. So when things don't work out, when the body aches and has problems, when you lose your job or a deer runs into your car instead of your bullet God is still wonderful. Hebrews 13:8 “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.”
Example: Jesus is wonderful even though....________ might not have happened. Recognize the wonders of God in the light of eternity. I would encourage you this week take some time to meditate on how Jesus is wonderful in who He is.
T. I found it difficult to think of Christ’s name wonderful apart from what he does. We readily identify something as wonderful by the outcome versus the nature of its being.
2. The Son Jesus Christ is wonderful in His Exploits.
2. The Son Jesus Christ is wonderful in His Exploits.
Explain
Exploits are the things that Jesus does.
Promised reign: Contextually: He promises his people who have been judged for their sin hope in a coming ruler of David’s family. This ruler will restore unity to the nation that has been divided for over two centuries.
We sing about this in the Christmas carol joy to the world.
Past works.
The deliverance of Israel out of bondage in Egypt. The miracles God did in that period use the same word used to describe how wonderful Jesus is.
The miracle of redemption. This was not an afterthought with God. It was in his mind before the foundation of the world.
The Present Season celebrates God’s entrance into the world as a baby boy.
The Christmas miracle of God becoming a baby is past my comprehension. How does that happen. 1 Timothy 3:16 “And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.”
Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, And shall call his name Immanuel.” The Virgin Mary bore the Savior of the world, who would one day bare her sins on the cross. (Note on proper respect) Luke 1:47 “And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.”
Matthew 1:23 “Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.”
His earthly ministry as the cornerstone rejected of men and accepted of God is marvellous. The word is synonymous with the word wonderful in our text. (Matt. 21:42; Mk 12:11)
When Jesus walked on earth He was a man acting like God; but equally wonderful is it that He was also God acting like Himself in man and in a man.13
A. W. Tozer
The offering of himself for our sins on the cross and his resurrection from the dead three days later.
The wrong that man had done to the Divine Majesty should be expiated by none but man, and could be by none but God. Behold then the wonderful conjunction of both in the one Immanuel!
John Howe (Puritan Divine)
The Son Jesus born to us is going to reign wonderfully.
Psalm 2 and Isaiah 11 give insights into the reign of Christ.
While the world at large rejects Him He will be confessed as their Lord one day. Philippians 2:11 “And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
In the meanwhile we get to help spread the His wonders.
1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:”
What he has done for his people is glorious. We should then be heralds of his salvation as the angels who heralded his birth.
Argue
Nothing is more wonderful than to know that God loves you; and no man can truly know that God loves him except in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
Assurance, 19
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)
Illustrate
God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say. Yes, to be sure, but He does what is still more wonderful: he makes saints out of sinners.
Søren Aabye Kierkegaard (Danish Philosopher)
Apply
It is a poor type of Christianity that has this wonderful faith with respect to salvation and then whimpers and cries when confronted by the daily trials of life. We must apply our faith. ‘Little faith’ does not do this.
Studies in the Sermon on the Mount (2), 134
David Martyn Lloyd-Jones (Welsh Preacher and Writer)
If Jesus is wonderful.
1. I will spend time with him in daily prayer and Bible study
2. ...when my world is turned upside down I am not upset with Him.
3. ...I can't wait to fellowship with His people and be at as many church services as I can feasibly make.
4. ...I don't whine in my infirmities, but joy that He is strong when I am weak.
5. …Accept Jesus sacrifice for your salvation.
6. .... I can trust and obey him in every area he commands and directs.
7. ....I cannot help but speak of Him to those with whom I interact.
Wonderful to see God's plan in salvation, but are you also willing to see the wonder of his plan in your life as coming from a wonderful Lord or are you overcome with bitterness and unforgiveness. Think of our wonderful Lord's works towards sinful enemies who shunned and rejected his grace: Christ died for them. He died for me. He died for you.
What is more wonderful to you than Jesus? Is it getting that new vehicle, being healthy, having a good job, your video games. What keeps you from enjoying Jesus your wonderful Savior has you ought? Are you shunning his love towards you for some temporal pleasure? My friend give your life to the Lord Jesus. He will wonderfully save your soul. The Father's love is manifest in this Wonderful Child and Son of David. Jesus gave his life for your redemption.
Do you realize when you value Jesus for who He is the world will think you have misplaced values. Have you given yourself to the LORD to do with as He chooses?
Conclusion:
Jesus is wonderful in his essence and his exploits
While sometimes we think we have the most wonderful ideas. What are wonderful Savior went through to obtain our salvation was costly. As we worship Jesus this Christmas seasons may we do so with understanding of what it cost and of our responsibility to make it known.
