Prophetic Insights Identifying Jesus

“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.” 
Isaiah 9:6 (NIV)

Some 700 years before Christ was born in Bethlehem, the prophet Isaiah offers prophetic insights identifying the coming Savior of the world! Note how specific his prophecy is in Isaiah 9:6 (NIV). He writes, “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.” While some may have expected a Messiah to suddenly appear in full splendor and majestic glory, Isaiah says he would come as a baby – “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given….” The child is born, but the Son is given!  In the New Testament, John later writes, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son….” John 3:16a (NIV). Jesus would come in the most unthreatening manner as a baby! Yet, never forget that though the child was born, the Son was given!  He was given from the heart of God’s love to a broken world in desperate need of a Savior! C.S. Lewis said, "The Son of God became the Son of man that sons of man may become sons of God."

Isaiah, then, offers five prophetic insights identifying this child as the God-man!

1. He tells us that Jesus would be called Wonderful – that name in Hebrew can also be translated as Secret and Amazing, a name beyond our understanding!  There is a Divine mystery to His name that no man can know fully!  When a man named Manoah asked the Lord what His name was, he was told, “It is too wonderful for you to understand.” Judges 13:18 (NLT). He is Wonderful!  His name is Wonderful! 

2. Isaiah also calls Him Counselor.  He never sought the counsel of man.  He never called His disciples together and asked them what to do.  God has never been caught off guard or in confusion.  He has no counselor!  As Paul considered the wisdom of God, he concluded, “Oh, what a wonderful God we have! How great are His wisdom and knowledge and riches! How impossible it is for us to understand His decisions and His methods! For who among us can know the mind of the Lord? Who knows enough to be His counselor and guide? Romans 11:33-34 (TLB).

3. Isaiah also calls Him Mighty God!  The Hebrew meaning for this name is “all power is given.”  Theologians refer to this as omnipotence.  He is the omnipotent God!  That little baby lying helpless on Mary’s bosom held the universe together!  Before Jesus would ascend to Heaven at the end of His earthly ministry, He told His disciples, “All power is given unto Me in heaven and earth…”  He is the Mighty God! 

4. Not only is Jesus the Mighty God, but He is also called Everlasting Father. He is both powerful and personal!  Through Jesus, we get to call God, “Abba, Father!”  Abba is an Aramaic term of filial intimacy.  It’s how a child would address his dad with loving confidence and affection.  In Galatians 4:5-6 (NLT), the Bible says, “God sent Him to buy freedom for us who were slaves to the law, so that He could adopt us as His very own children. And because we are His children, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’”  The very one who came to save us from our sins is an Everlasting Father who will never abandon us! 

5.  Isaiah’s final name for Jesus is Prince of Peace.  There can be no peace on Earth until He reigns. Jesus doesn’t just give us something called peace, He is our Peace!  The Bible says we have peace with God through faith in Jesus.  Have you experienced that peace?  You can.  Open your heart to Christ today and experience real peace!

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To read this devotional online or catch up on past ones, visit https://kerryshook.org/blog.

Another important part of your daily devotional is spending time with God in prayer. The Woodlands Church Prayer Board lists prayer requests submitted by our members and provides a way to send them some encouragement by using a button on the page to let them know that you prayed for them. Whether you use the Prayer Board, or pray from your heart, the goal is to build the habit of incorporating prayer into your quiet time.

Need prayer yourself? Let us know by submitting a prayer request on the Woodlands Church Prayer Board.