Jesus described by four titles

Isaiah 9:1-2, 6-7 (NLT)

Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever…..The people who walk in darkness
will see a great light.  
For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine…… For a child is born to us,
 a son is given to us.
  The government will rest on His shoulders.
  And He will be called:
 Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  His government and its peace
 will never end.
  He will rule with fairness and justice from the throne of His ancestor David for all eternity.
  The passionate commitment of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies
 will make this happen!

Isaiah was a prophet during the reigns of Israeli kings Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah (Isaiah 1:1).  Historically, we know that these kings ruled in the 700s BC.  When King Solomon died somewhere around 922 BC, the ten northern tribes of Israel refused to follow his son, Rehoboam, so the northern kingdom of Israel was established.  The southern kingdom was called Judah and composed of the two tribes of Judah and Benjamin.  The two kingdoms existed uneasily for 200 years. In 722 BC the northern kingdom of Israel was conquered by the Assyrians (modern day Syria).  The Assyrians scattered the ten tribes all over the Assyrian empire, thus basically destroying Israel.  It was during these terrible years of deportation and destruction (imagine you and your family being deported to another country) that Isaiah wrote these words.  Thus, in these times, Isaiah writes that the “time of darkness and despair will not go on forever”.   

Think of a time in your life when you were experiencing a “deep darkness”.  A time of deep depression over something tragic that happened. Being very ill, feeling absolutely terrible.  Suffering through long periods of drudgery.  Then can you remember when some kind of light shone in this darkness you were experiencing?  Somebody helped you.  Words of great encouragement.  Waking up and somehow feeling better.  Something you read or heard that gave light to your soul.  Isaiah wrote that in a time of deep darkness and despair that “a light will shine”.  Who is the light?

Isaiah writes a messianic prophecy in these verses.  Such prophecy was fulfilled with the First Advent of Jesus for which we celebrate Christmas.  Yet, there’s also prophecy about Jesus’ Second Coming when He will rule the earth.  Jesus is described by four titles, four roles that He will have on the earth someday:

Wonderful Counselor—Wonderful in the Hebrew means something extraordinary, even miraculous.  Counselor in the Hebrew means to give advice, relief, support, help, and to plan.

Mighty God—Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Supreme Rule

Everlasting Father—Father of eternity who confers eternal life to those who believe in Him

Prince of Peace—He will be the One who will bring final peace to a world filled with violence

Isaiah affirms that the Lord will rule the earth/world (Acts 17:30-31) in fairness and justice from Jerusalem, the Throne of David forever.  Who are the “Armies” of the Lord of Heaven?  All believers in Jesus Christ.  Note how this verse compares with Luke 1:31-33--You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name Him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his ancestor David.  And He will reign over Israel forever; His Kingdom will never end!”

 

When you think through these four roles of Jesus during this Christmas season, do you see a great light?  Do you see a light shining in the darkness of your life?  Does the reality of Jesus coming to earth the first time to forgive sin and establish hope for eternal life and then someday will come again to establish heaven on earth somehow encourage and strengthen you right now?  Merry Christmas!