What He’s Called, Is What He Is
Welcome to Christmas Eve 2015. Today I helped greet at the first two of six Christmas Eve services at Timberline Church. I attended the second. I enjoyed not only the service, but welcoming people as they came for the services. Debbie had to work all day today and is looking forward to a break after a busy week.
BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “….His name will be “Wonderful Counselor, Powerful God, Father Who Lives Forever, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 ERV
One of the significant aspects of Jesus birth is the foretelling and giving of His name. Names held great significance in the Bible. We see it reflected in the culture of the day. The first born son was often called after the father, or the father was the one who bestowed the name on the child.
Names and can reflect destiny and we see that character can lead to a “name.” If someone is known to be funny and a prankster, they might be referred to as a “clown.” If some one is good at reconciling parties, they might be referred to (or known) as a “peace maker.”
The well-known words of Isaiah that speak of the Messiah say that who He is and what He does will earn Him the name, “wonderful counselor” because there is no one who can guide and provide through life’s journey like Him.
He will be called the “Powerful God” because of the miracles that He performs in healing the sick and calming the storm tossed waves of the sea. He will be called the “Everlasting Father” because scripture declares that is was, “by him that all things were created.” (Colossians 1:16 NIV) The angel declared, “…he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.” (Luke 1:33 NIV) He will be called the “Prince of Peace” because it is only through Him that we have “peace with God” and peace with each other. His forgiveness of our sin reconciles us to God and our forgiveness of others reconciles relationships.
When the news was given to Mary that she would have a baby from the Holy Spirit and when Joseph was instructed to not fear taking Mary as his wife, they were both told to name the baby, “Jesus for He shall save His people from their sins.” Jesus was not an exclusive or unique name. But in Jesus was find the fulfillment of that name, “the Lord is salvation.” For others it was a declaration of faith and hope, but in Jesus we find the realization of all that name meant and foretold of through the ages.
The final name we see with the Messiah is the name “Immanuel.” Matthew records, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). (Matt. 1:23 NIV) Again, this was not a name that was used in a practical manner, but it was what Jesus represented and fulfilled as God coming to this world in human flesh. God through His Holy Spirit had been with and is with His people today. But Jesus was the literal, physical manifestation of “God with us.” He was God in human flesh, revealing the Father, doing for us what we could not do for ourselves.
We have the joy today and grand opportunity to not only know Jesus by name, but to know Him in the fulfillment of all that He is. Do you need guidance, direction and counsel? Come to Jesus. Do you need peace in your life and relationships? Come to Jesus. Do you need stability and confidence for the future? Come to Jesus. Do you need forgiveness? Come to Jesus. Do you need the assurance of God who is with you, regardless of what life brings? Come to Jesus. Keep your heart open and your eyes on Him.