“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the increase of his government and of peace
there will be no end,
on the throne of David and over his kingdom,
to establish it and to uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time forth and forevermore.
The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.“
Isaiah 9:6, 7
These two verses, from the Old Testament book of Isaiah, chapter nine, are a wonderful part of Christmas.
They are a part of God’s gracious promise to Israel of a Messiah, a saviour, who would rescue God’s people from the cycle of sin and judgement, and bring about a restored relationship between God and all mankind.
The one who is prophesied is a child, a son, a real human being born in the line of descent from King David. This child is descended from a king, and is himself a king, indeed he is the King, the one upon whom the government, the rule over all heaven and earth, will be set.
He will sit upon the throne of David, his father according to human descent, and upon the throne of God, his true Father according to his essential divine nature.
Jesus Christ, whose birth we celebrate at Christmas, is that King; both man and God, perfectly united in one person. Jesus Christ is that Messiah, the Saviour of the world.
Jesus is that “Wonderful counsellor,” the source of all wisdom, understanding, and knowledge of God. Jesus is made present to us by that other great counsellor, the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus sends to live in, and with, all those who love and trust in him.
Jesus is that “Mighty God,” the only God, there can be no other. Jesus is God-with-us, Emmanuel; he is the perfect image of the Father, the one in whom God was pleased to dwell.
Jesus is the “Everlasting Father,” one with God the father, he is the one who both created and saved us. He is the one through whom, and for whom, and by whom, all things were created.
Jesus is the “Prince of Peace,” the one whose, life, preaching, death and resurrection provided a way for the destruction of man’s sin, and opens the way to new life by faith in him. This new life, free from sin and death, reconciled to God the father, is a life of peace and joy.
At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the man, Jesus Christ. He was real man, made of flesh and blood, come into the world with all the weakness and frailty of any other baby, and yet, this was no ordinary man. Jesus Christ is God’s Son, the Saviour of the world.
It is Jesus Christ who is Wonderful Counsellor.
It is Jesus Christ who is Mighty God.
It is Jesus Christ who is Everlasting Father, and
it is Jesus Christ who is the Prince of Peace.
In a year marked by hardship and suffering, at a time of uncertainty and anxiety, pray that Jesus Christ will be revealed to you as the only true source of peace and hope.
God bless
Karl
HIs Name Shall Be
Oh, can you hear the angels’ song
That rang so sweet and clear
When heaven’s light and music fell
And mercy found us here
Glory in the highest
And on the earth be peace
Glory to god, the angels singHe came to tell the father’s love
His goodness and his grace
To show the brightness of his smile
The glory of his face
So, glory in the highest
And on the earth be peace
Glory to god, your children singHis name shall be called wonderful, counselor
Mighty god, everlasting father
Prince of peace for all eternity, oh oh
His name shall beHe came to lift the weary ones
Give peace and perfect rest
To take away our burdens
And to give a glorious gift
So, glory in the highest
And on the earth be peace
Glory to god, the world will singHis name shall be called wonderful, counselor
Mighty god, everlasting father
Prince of peace for all eternity, oh oh
His name shall be wonderful, counselor
Mighty god, everlasting father
Prince of peace for all eternity, oh oh
His name shall beOne name above all others
One name that came to save us
Oh sing, his name is, his name is Jesus
One name above all others
One name that came to save us
Oh sing, his name is, his name is JesusHis name shall be called wonderful, counselor
Matt Redman
Mighty god, everlasting father
Prince of peace for all eternity, oh oh
His name shall be, oh oh
His name shall be
His name shall be
St John's, Aldford & St Mary's, Bruera 