Christmas 2023

The Name

Isaiah 9:2–7“The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Ahaz trusted in the powerful Assyria to defend Judah against the king of northern Israel and their allies.

Trusted in human might rather than God

We do this too, we may not be a king of a nation or involved in geopolitical affairs, however, we all place our confidence/trust in something. Where that confidence is placed is telling by what fears you may have.

The Spiritual principle that we can learn from this, is that which we ultimately trust in that is not God, will be our downfall, destroy us. (Isaiah 7:17)

Israel would almost entirely be destroyed except for a remnant, and this remnant God will ultimately rescue and show His lovingkindness too.

The solution: Not a concept, not an idea, a person. A child born.

The foolishness of God is wiser than the wisest of humanity. Ahaz looked to the powerful army, but salvation would come from a baby born.

Not just any child, however, but one called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” This person is royalty, The Righteous King, who will not fail like Ahaz and who is worthy of all trust.

The prophecy fulfilled in Luke.

Luke 1:30–33“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.””

What’s in a name?

Juliet was speaking of Romeo when she asked the famous question, “What’s in a name?” Juliet went on to say that a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet. Rename it as you will, a rose will retain its beauty and its fragrance.

Not so with the Biblical Idea of a Name.

In Scriptures the name and person of God are inseparably related. “Name” in biblical usage correctly describes the person, place, or object and indicates the essential character of that to which the name is given.

It is the essence of the God, the presence of God. He put His name in His angel and His presence and authority were there.

For our purposes today, the name of God, His titles, what He is called is instrumental to us to KNOW Him. This is how God, the unknowable reveals Himself to us of who He is. God is incomprehensible, but it isn’t due to our sinfulness but rather to his infinite greatness.

No one name God uses states all that can be said of who He is, all the names taken together that we have in Scripture do not reveal all that God is, He is infinite. Yet, what He has revealed concerning Himself is what He finds necessary for a thriving relationship with Him. Enough for us to be struck with awe at the greatness, holiness, majesty, glory, and indescribable riches and goodness, and justice of God.

Jeremiah 9:23–24“This is what the Lord says: “Let not the wise boast of their wisdom or the strong boast of their strength or the rich boast of their riches, but let the one who boasts boast about this: that they have the understanding to know me, that I am the Lord, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight,” declares the Lord.”

The source of our joy and sense of importance ought to come not from our own abilities or possessions, but from the fact that we know Him.

We have the name: Jesus

The reason for the name of Jesus was that “He will save his people from their sins.”

The name Jesus had past significance with Joshua taking the children of Israel into the promised land.

At the time of birth, Jesus was in no way a unique name. It is the Greek equivalent of Joshua, which means “God saves.”

Josephus detailed twenty men of distinction known by the name of Jesus, ten of them being contemporaries of the child of Mary.

What Kind of saving God is He?

The prophecy in Isaiah provides us with 4 key titles that make up his character and essence.

Wonderful Counselor

He gives wondrous counsel because of his unfailing depth of wisdom.

His counsel is a WONDER.

1 Corinthians 1:20–21“Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe.”

For God has redefined true wisdom and counsel for us: weakness is strength, in surrender to another (God’s will) is victory, and in death is life. So he is a counselor who is a wonder because his counsel goes beyond the merely human.

Mighty God

This king will have God’s true might about him, power so great that it can absorb all the evil which can be hurled at it until none is left to hurl.

The weight of the world is on Christ’s shoulders not ours.

The Government shall be upon His shoulders

So many of us carry what we are not called to carry in life. 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Everlasting Father

Used in this sense in Isaiah, the term establishes the Son’s equality with the Father in stature, function, ability, and responsibility.

And these references stress His authority and responsibility to care for his people.

And in the book of Jeremiah, the fatherhood of God means he is the origin, keeper, and friend of his people.

In the book of Malachi, He is the parent who deserves honor from his children and is the origin and ruler of all people.

Jesus taught His disciples to call God “Abba, Father.” This represents the attitude Christians are to have toward God. They are to approach Him with all the openness and confidence and affection of small children.

Because God’s fatherhood is such that it does not impose itself upon its children but rather sacrifices himself for them.

Accepting the God as Father does not only refer to our salvation but also, it means security in everyday life in view of the fact that God as Father will care for Jesus’ disciples as a father cares for his children.

For He knows what we need and His goodness and care is limitless/boundless. Nothing is too insignificant to escape His attention!

For God even extends His special protection even to the smallest animals. In the heavenly world, angels who encircle the divine throne before the face of Almighty God, standing in the innermost circle immediately before God, guard the little children (18:10).

He is not only our Father, He is our perfect Father in every way.

Prince of Peace

What kind of king will he be? He is a peaceful king, one who comes in peace and one who establishes peace, not by a brutal squashing of all defiance against Him and the Father, but by means of a vulnerability and sacrifice which makes defiance against him pointless.

For this Peace means the end of enmity and warfare with God. It is the most fundamental peace - peace with God.

World peace can only occur when man has peace with God.

The natural heart wants to be king so it is hostile to God’s claims of lordship over us. We think that the only way we will be happy is if we are completely in charge of our lives. There is no peace on earth because there is no peace with God.

So What’s in a name?

Many things, in this case.

Hope is in that name. So are power and authority, courage and comfort. And something so important today, there is unity. For we gather around that name, assembled in that name, we all call upon that name, do all things in that name. And one day we will join hands and bow knees upon that day - everyone one of us - and pay homage to the greatest name in heaven or on earth.

And because His name is great - He is great. Therefore:

I can live without fear

I can live without fear of the future because my God is God of all time and my future is in His hands. I will be with Him forever.

I can live without trying to control everything in my life, because I trust Him who is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace.

So today, we can honor Him by honoring His name:

Psalm 29:2 “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness.”

Psalm 66:2 “Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious.”

Psalm 72:19 “Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.”

Psalm 103:1 “Praise the Lord, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.”

Call on the Name of the Lord Genesis 4:26 “Seth also had a son, and he named him Enosh. At that time people began to call on the name of the Lord.”

Speak in the name of the Lord Deuteronomy 18:19 “I myself will call to account anyone who does not listen to my words that the prophet speaks in my name.”

Do all things whether word or deed in the name of the Lord Colossians 3:17 “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”

Trust in the name of the Lord (Isaiah 50:10 “Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God.”

Revere His awesome name Deuteronomy 28:58 “If you do not carefully follow all the words of this law, which are written in this book, and do not revere this glorious and awesome name—the Lord your God—”

I close with a Psalm of Praise from David:

Psalm 145:1–3 “I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever. Every day I will praise you and extol your name for ever and ever. Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.”