Focus: The Names Of Christ

Text: Isa.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, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace."

Isaiah by prophecy gives us five names of Jesus Christ. The names signify divine graciousness, infinite goodness, indescribable greatness, and immaculate glory.

The names of our Christ are: 

*Wonderful

This name speaks of MARVELS, and He does marvelous things. He does things beggar our mind and stagger our imagination. Christ is beautiful in character and wonderful in His words, works and ways. His disciples one day exclaimed, "What manner of man is this! for he commandeth even the winds and water, and they obey him" (Lk.8:25).

*Counselor

His name speaks of the ministry of divine intelligence and transcendent wisdom. Isaiah declares, "O LORD, thou art my God; I will exalt thee, I will praise thy name; for thou hast done wonderful things; thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth" (Isa.25:1). Again he says, "This also cometh forth from the LORD of hosts, which is wonderful in counsel, and excellent in working" (Isa.28:29). Through His wise counsel He simplifies the complex to us and unknots the mystified. In Jeremiah 33:3, God says to us, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not." God is revealer of mysteries. He guides and directs us in the right way.

*The mighty God

His name speaks of divine mightiness. He is the powerful God. He does good with His power. With His might He does great service to humanity. With His power He saves us, supplies our needs, sustains us, secures us, helps us, heals us, and delivers us from danger and destruction. Mary had said, "For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name" (Lk.1:49). For the mighty He has done for us, we are called upon "to make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom" (Ps.145:12).

*The everlasting Father

This name points to a divine mystery. Christ's fatherhood and eternity are a mystery. Our little minds cannot fathom it. Eternity is a mystery. That God is our 'biological' Father is a mystery. Peter tells us that we are partakers of His divine nature. He breathes His spirit into us. Through supernatural regeneration we become His children and members of His family. We are the sons of God, born of the Spirit, and heirs of God. In Christ creatures of time become candidates or possessors of eternity.

*The Prince of peace

This name speaks of majesty. Our Lord Jesus Christ is the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is royalty and He claims the loyalty of all His subjects. He is the King of peace. His rule is characterized by peace - harmony, melody and serenity. His throne or rule is known for tranquility. His reign is peaceful and graceful. In the midst of global perplexity we find serenity in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

O the marvels of Christ, His ministry, His might, His mystery and His majesty! We bow at His feet and worship Him as our God and eternal Father. Paul declares in no uncertain terms that "God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth" (Phil.2:9,10). Amen!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter