“His Name Shall Be Called
The Everlasting Father”
Part 3
Isaiah 9:6
Scripture Reading
Isaiah 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.
I. The Prophet Speaks of Eternity
Everything that needs to be said about the existence of this “…child…” can be summed up in one verse. Hebrews 13:8 declares that Jesus Christ is “…the same yesterday, and to day, and forever.
a. His pre-incarnation
John 8:56 Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.
57 Then said the Jews unto him, Thou art not yet fifty years old, and hast thou seen Abraham?
58 Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 8:58 is the NT equivalent to Exodus 3:14.
Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM (I am He who exists, I am the eternal one, who passes not away): and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
15 And God said moreover unto Moses, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, The LORD God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations.
Delon Bradley from Liberty University writes; John also begins his Gospel stating Christ pre-existence; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God;” John attributing the “Word” to Jesus of Nazareth. The scriptures also affirm the creation of the universe was by the Son as stated by the Hebrews author, “He made the world,” (1:2) and in John 1:3, “All things came into being through Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being.” and Paul wrote about the pre-existence in this letter to the Colossian church in verse 1:16 “For by Him all things were created, both in
the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
b. His incarnation
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Leo the Great wrote: Invisible in His own nature [God] became visible in ours. Beyond our grasp, He chose to come within our grasp.”
On September 11, 2001 Todd Beamer and the 39 other passengers on Flight 93 had a choice to make. They could sit by and watch it happen, or take action. You all know what choice they made. After Todd had recited the 23rd Psalm and asked if the other guys were ready, they headed into action with the words, “Let’s roll!”ยจ
Jesus had the same choice to make. He saw that the world that He had created had been hijacked by sin and evil. He knew that the world was hurtling toward utter destruction. He could have sat by and watched it happen. But instead, He chose to act. He left heaven behind and was born as a little child. Paul writes that He:
Philippians 2:7 …made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:
c. His post-incarnation
Matthew 28:5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.
6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.
Mark 16:6 And he saith unto them, Be not affrighted: Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth, which was crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold the place where they laid him.
Luke 24:34 Saying, The Lord is risen indeed, and hath appeared to Simon.
Luke 24:50 And he led them out as far as to Bethany, and he lifted up his hands, and blessed them.
51 And it came to pass, while he blessed them, he was parted from them, and carried up into heaven.
Mark 16:19 So then after the Lord had spoken unto them, he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Matthew 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven.
II. The Prophet Speaks of Paternity
a. In His relationship to us
There is a fundamental question that must be answered here. Is this “child” also the Father? The answer is yes for when Isaiah speaks of this child being “the everlasting Father,” he is right in line with the teachings of both the old and New Testament for there is equanimity and equality between the Father and the Son. We know this because Jesus called God His father in:
Mark 14:36 And he said, Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt.
But He also claimed equality with the Father and in;
John 10:30 Jesus declares that “I and my Father are one.”
And again in;
John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me; that they may be one, as we are.
The Apostle John writes of this equanimity in;
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
1 John 5:7 for there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
God is also a Father to all those who have received Jesus Christ, God’s one and only Son as their personal Savior.
Romans 8:15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Galatians 4:6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
b. In His reconciliation with us
2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
Hebrews 2:17 Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
For reconciliation to occur between two parties thee must be a mediator. Job asked the question:
Job 9:2 I know it is so of a truth: but how should man be just with God?
Job 9:33 Neither is there any daysman betwixt us, that might lay his hand upon us both.
The “daysman” was an arbitrator, an umpire or mediator.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
F. W. Boreham writes this:
“One God—but no Mediator! Sighs Job
One God—and one Mediator! Cries Paul
None! One! The difference between none and one is a difference of millions. None means nothing, one means everything. None means failure: one means felicity. None means despair; one means delight. None means perdition; one means paradise. The difference between no Mediator and one Mediator is a difference that can never be worked out by arithmetic.
One God—and only one!
And one mediator—only one!
But one is enough. When I am starving, I do not hanker after choice. I do not want to choose. Put food before me, and I am content…I want but one road if that road leads home and one is enough. In Daniel Defoe’s book Robinson Crusoe climbs the hills of his island solitude, shades his eyes and sweeps the horizon looking not for an entire fleet of ships but for one sail. One is enough! There is but one way of salvation for my storm tossed soul but one is enough. There is but one Name given under heaven among men whereby we may be saved but one is enough! There is but one Mediator between God and men—but one is enough. The difference between no Mediator and one Mediator is a difference that has all eternity within it!” One is enough!
c. In His response to our prayers
Jesus teaches us to pray and begins the model prayer with:
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
John 16:25 These things have I spoken unto you in proverbs: but the time cometh, when I shall no more speak unto you in proverbs, but I shall shew you plainly of the Father.
26 At that day ye shall ask in my name: and I say not unto you, that I will pray the Father for you:
27 For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.
GOD MADE HIMSELF UNDERSTANDABLE
I read of a story from the famous Danish philosopher from the mid 1800s, a Christian theologian named Soren Kierkegaard. It is a familiar story, a story rewritten by many over the ages in many different forms, yet it is still relevant today. Here’s what he wrote:
A prince wanted to find a maiden suitable to be his queen. One day while running an errand in the local village for his father, he passed through a poor section. As he glanced out the windows of the carriage, his eyes fell upon a beautiful peasant maiden. During the ensuing days he often passed by the young lady and soon fell in love.
But he had a problem. How would he seek her hand? He could order her to marry him. But even a prince wants his bride to marry him freely and voluntarily and not through coercion. He could put on his most splendid uniform and drive up to her front door in a carriage drawn by six horses. But if he did this he would never be certain that the maiden loved him or was simply overwhelmed with all of the splendor.
The prince came up with another solution. He would give up his kingly robe. He moved, into the village, entering not with a crown but in the garb of a peasant. He lived among the people, shared their interests and concerns, and talked their language. In time the maiden grew to love him, because of who he was and because he loved her first.
This very simple, almost childlike story is what John is describing here--God came and lived among us. He had to reveal Himself to us in an understandable way, and this is precisely what Jesus did--became flesh just like you and me. He made Himself understandable.
(From a sermon by Rich Anderson, Love Came Down At Christmas, 12/16/2010)
