The Everlasting Father

Isaiah 9:6-7 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.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, Upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, To order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice From henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

Introduction

The ninth chapter of Isaiah is divided into four parts. The first part, Isaiah 9:1-7 provides an remedy to Israel’s darkness (8:22). In this first segment, Isaiah asserts that the Messiah, the Davidic heir, will come.

As in the previous superlatives, Isaiah mingles the natural with the supernatural in his description of the “son” that is given. The title father is obviously an everyday word but to couple it with the word eternal makes it supernatural a father who's going forth is from eternity past as found in Malachi chapter 5 in verse 2 end who will continue a father forever

Ascribing fatherhood to Jesus is unusual. Jesus, as Emmanuel, was never married, therefore He had no children. Fatherhood, of the Trinity, is reserved for God the Father. However, Jesus does play a fatherly role towards his disciples, very often using “son” or “daughter” when addressing others affectionately found in Matthew 9:2 and mark 5:34

The everlasting father, Hebrew “ad ab,” which is simply defined as “father of eternity.”

· Jesus is the creator of all things

· Jesus is the creator of time

The Apostle John refers to Jesus as

John 1:1-3 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Apostle Paul writes

Colossians 1:16 (KJV) For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether [they be] thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:

The writer of the Book of Hebrews writes

Hebrews 1:1-3 (KJV) God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Father

I want to reverse these two words today and begin with the word “father.” I am one of the fortunate sons that has nothing but fond memories of my dad. I never called him by his given name, even to my friends. In formal settings William Aubrey Crowder was my father. Informally though, he was simply my dad.

Fathers have several roles, within and without scripture. I read this week that fathers have three primary roles.

1. Protector

2. Provider

3. Disciplinarian

I do have a few other responsibilities that I think made my dad a “role model” for me.

1. Balance – My dad had to balance all his roles into one package I called dad. While I was disciplined quite a lot, he balanced that with care, compassion, and laughter.

2. Being that person that I looked up to. He was my “role model” when it came to how I treat my wife, raise my children, putting family first, and giving us the opportunity to grow in the Lord and what that looked like in the day-in and day-out life.

3. He gave his all for the family as a provider. He graduated 6th grade and began to work in the fields to support his ever-growing family. As he married, those same skills were implemented into our family. Even though he was severely handicapped, I never heard him complain. When he went to night school to get his GED, it was for his family.

4. He maintained a healthy marriage.

5. He was always the Gentleman. He introduced kindness and a love towards others. No matter their position in life, dad was empathetic and loving.

6. He was the Lighthouse for our family. It didn’t matter all the negative things in life, he always pointed the way to safety. He was the lighthouse that ensured his family knew Jesus.

Therefore, when the bible speaks about Jesus as Father, my dad’s examples help me to understand what that means in the life of a Christian, and the implied meaning of Isaiah’s words.

Christ is Not the Father of the Godhead

The everlasting Father,

I wish I would have had more time with my dad. During my twenties into my thirties, I was busy with a career, raising a family, and active in our church.

As I think about my dad, I discover that there is far more details that I don’t have than I know about him. I know very little about my father, outside of being my dad. I would give anything to have a week with my dad now. He has been gone for more years than I had with him.

That is why the title “Everlasting Father” means so much to me. God has declared, through Isaiah’s pen, that Jesus is my everlasting Father. We will never be separated by death. The Apostle Paul declares “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5:8)

Jesus perfectly fulfills the many roles of being a Father throughout eternity. He is the Everlasting Father that provides for and protects His people (40:9–11; Matt. 11:27–30).

Jesus’ role as Father has the additional role of being my Savior and King.

Everlasting Father (abı̄˓ad) literally means “Father of Eternity.” As Jesus Christ is eternal, then He alone is the Author and Finisher of my faith, having the power and source of eternal life.

The Son As Father

Everlasting Father. A “father” is the title of a benevolent protector (cf. Isa. 22:21; Job 29:16).

It is important to note that the term “Father” for Jesus is not to suggest that Jesus is the Father of the Trinity.

Instead, the idea of “Father of Eternity” is a much better translation. Let me explain. For the Jew, the term “father” carries the idea of “originator” or “the source.”

Let me give you some examples.

The Apostle John describes Satan as the “father of lies.” (John 8:44). John is saying, “Satan is the originator of lies.” We can see that in Genesis,

Genesis 3:1 (KJV) Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?

If you want anything eternal, you must get it from Jesus Christ; He is the “Father of eternity.”[1]

Robert B. Chisholm describes the role of the Everlasting Father this way.

The third title, “Everlasting Father,” pictures the Messiah as a beneficent Ruler who demonstrates fatherly concern for His people. In the eighth century B.C. “everlasting” probably would have been understood as royal hyperbole (see the attribution of “eternal” life to the king in Ps. 21:4; 61:6–7; 72:5 [2]

Charles Dyer discusses it this way.

Everlasting Father” suggests His never-ending protection and support.[3]

Eternality

We can look to the pages of our Bible and discover the idea of Christ being eternal.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4 ESV)

“I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.” and “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end.” Revelation 1:8, 22:13 ESV)

From Everlasting and to Everlasting

I would like for you to consider the following words from the psalmist.

Psalm 41:13 (KJV) Blessed [be] the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Let us meditate on the following statement as well.

The “child born this day in the city of Bethlehem” was and is eternal. Jesus existed before He came to earth, and He will exist forevermore.

Conclusion

Christ does not change.

Christ’s love does not change.

Christ’s faithfulness does not change.

Everlasting – perpetual, eternal, forever, without end.

[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Be Comforted, “Be” Commentary Series (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 38. [2] Robert B. Chisholm, “The Major Prophets,” in Holman Concise Bible Commentary, ed. David S. Dockery (Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1998), 270. [3] Charles Dyer et al., Nelson’s Old Testament Survey: Discover the Background, Theology and Meaning of Every Book in the Old Testament (Nashville, TN: Word, 2001), 535.