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
The brilliant prophet and poet Isaiah had a communication task like no one before him. Troubles are present, with more of them looming in the distance. Enemies really do crouch at the nation’s border, so the gripping fear felt by some is understandable. They talk boldly with blustering but baseless courage. To all of these people, Isaiah expresses the word and work and will of God. He stretches out a vision of a rescuer, freedom-fighter hero, a savior of the people. And who is this mighty person? A mere child will come, an infant born as all of us are, in helplessness. This child, however, is our rescue, the Savior who God sent to us. We now know Him, of course, as Jesus.
His names will be:
Wonderful Counselor—for He is Wisdom.
Mighty God—for He has great power.
Everlasting Father—for He is the eternal God.
Prince of Peace—for He makes perfect peace between God and us.
And though born a child, Jesus reigns. He rules. He governs. He has the last word. And the last word is perfect grace, that elegant union of love and justice and righteousness and holiness and mercy. A perfect Savior and a perfect King—that’s our Lord Jesus.
-Pastor June Barrow
