HE WILL BE CALLED...WONDERFUL
Isaiah 9:6
What’s in a name? Our names mean a great deal to us.
Most of us strongly identify who we are with what we are called. Names make a difference to people. Some people go to court to change their names. Parents agonize over choosing names for their children. And they even have books to help them with that. I suppose most of us have at one point in our lives complained about our names. I know I have. I even thought I could change my name when I got married.
I thought to myself how nice it would be to have a more ordinary name, you know, like "Bill"
Names make a difference.
This is especially so with names of people mentioned in the Old Testament. Adam=earth. Abram>Abraham=father of many nations. Isaac=laughter. Simon>Peter=a rock.
But the most important names are those associated with our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Matthew 1:21 "She will give birth to a son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins."
We already know this, but "Jesus" is the Greek form of what Hebrew name? Yes, "Joshua"
And both names mean "the Lord is salvation."
There are hundreds of names and titles of Jesus Christ in the Bible. In the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton, Illinois the names and titles of Jesus are flashed up on the ceiling. It is quite a sight!
The names for Jesus reveal who He is and what He wants to do for us.
700 years before Jesus was born, the prophet Isaiah saw Him coming. Let’s look closely at some of the names given to the coming Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. Please turn to Isaiah 9:6
Notice that this was a unique child. He was "born" and He was "given." This child was both God and man!
As man, He was born and had a sinless human nature.
As God, He was given. He was God the Father’s perfect gift of love. He was His gift to a sinful world.
This child was God in human flesh! The Perfect God-Man!
This child, whose birthday we will be celebrating this time of year, grew up to do what? (see middle of verse 6 and verse 7)
This child would grow up and one day would take the government of mankind upon His shoulder and bring order and peace to a world filled with confusion and war. This will ultimately be at His 2nd coming, when He comes again.
But before taking the government upon His shoulder, He would first take a cross upon His shoulder, and then die upon that cross, bearing in His body the sins of the world. The One who deserves to wear the crown of glory as King of Kings, one day wore the shameful crown of thorns and gave His life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. The kingly Lion of the tribe of Judah first had to come as the lowly Lamb of God. Why? Because He is a holy God. Because our sin had to be paid for. For until sin had been paid for, God’s righteous government could not be established.
And God’s righteous government will be established at His 2nd coming. But, you know what, we don’t have to wait until then before we can enjoy His reign! We can turn our lives over to Him today! And when we do that, we can experience all that is expressed in His names as recorded in Isaiah 9:6.
We will be looking at His names these next 5 Sundays together. This morning, let’s look at this first name:
"And He will be called...WONDERFUL..."
It seems that there is little wonder in the lives of people today. With all that life has to offer, most people are just plain bored with life. It is odd, isn’t it? It’s odd that in a world filled with all sorts of electronic gadgets, you would think that life would be exciting. But for many people, life is just plain dull.
Could it be that because of all the electronic gadgets we have at our disposal that life becomes boring and dull? People are getting harder and harder to please. The one thing I think most parents hate to hear from their children, "I’m bored!"
Something is wrong!
I got this email from a friend recently:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.
We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read
too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.
We’ve learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We’ve added years to life not life to years. We’ve been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We’ve done larger things, but not better things.
We’ve cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We’ve conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.
We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less.
We’ve learned to rush, but not to wait.
We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.
These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes.
These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.
Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.
Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn’t cost a cent.
Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.
Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.
Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.
AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we
take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
So, when was the last time you experienced a moment that took your breath away? Isn’t that a sense of wonder?
What is wonder, anyway? That’s the first thing we want to look at together...
I. WHAT IS WONDER?
Words used to describe wonder: "amazement, surprise, astonishment, awe, admiration, bewilderment, worship."
Hebrew word used by Isaiah = "to separate, to distinguish."
In the Old Testament it is translated: "marvelous, hidden, too high, too difficult, miracle"
Basic meaning = "being unique and different."
Having seen what the word wonder means, we come now to the question...
II. HOW IS JESUS CHRIST WONDERFUL?
Just to say His name is to answer the question!
Everything about Jesus Christ should make us say, "I will now turn and look at this wonderful, this great person!"
I mean, every aspect of Him is wonderful!
A. His Birth
Just imagine! God coming to earth as a man!
Isn’t that wonderful?!
Hark The Herald Angels Sing:
"Christ, by highest heaven adored;
Christ, the Everlasting Lord!
Late in time behold Him come,
Offspring of the virgin’s womb:
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the Incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Emmanuel."
When the shepherds shared the news of the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:18) "And all who heard it wondered at the things which were told them by the shepherds."
Believe me, it was something to wonder at.
1 Timothy 3:16 "And by common confession great is the mystery of godliness:
God was revealed in the flesh,
Was vindicated in the Spirit,
Beheld by angels,
Proclaimed among the nations,
Believed on in the world,
Taken up in glory."
No question, Christ was wonderful in His birth. But He was also, without question, wonderful in...
B. His Life
Jesus Christ was wonderful in the life He lived on earth.
Whatever Jesus touched, He blessed, He changed, He made wonderful. This is the wonder of His life. Whatever He touched took on new substance and new meaning.
Just think of all the miracles Jesus performed... water to wine, the healings, the raising of the dead, the changed lives of His followers, etc.
Christ spoke with authority, unlike the teachers of His day who quoted authorities.
Christ’s message was firsthand truth, not 2nd hand tradition.
John 8:26
"...He who sent Me is true; and the things which I heard from Him, (God the Father) these I speak to the world."
John 6:63
"...the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life."
No question, Jesus Christ is wonderful.
He is wonderful in His birth, He is wonderful in His life,
and He is wonderful in...
C. His Death
Consider with me the wonder of His death.
Jesus Christ came to this earth to die. He came to die. He came knowing He was going to die. He was willing to die.
If anyone had a right to live, it was Jesus Christ. Yet, He willingly died, "...even the death on the cross."
At The Cross:
"Well might the sun in darkness hide, And shut His glories in,
When Christ the mighty Maker died, For man the creature’s sin."
Think of the wonder of the cross---Christ’s death.
He willingly and lovingly surrendered His life.
He willingly took on Himself the sins of the world
(your sin, my sin) in His own body!
What wonderful love! No wonder He is called Wonderful!!! Amen?
And we could go on and talk further about the wonder of His resurrection, His ascension, His intercession for us right now!
Truly, what a wonder He is! Amen?
Well, let’s look finally at how we can share in this wonder...
III. HOW CAN WE SHARE IN THIS WONDER?
Maybe we should look at why we don’t share in this wonder more often... Let me suggest several reasons:
1. We live in a mechanical world
We are living in a mechanical world that is very impersonal. Most people look at life through the laws of science instead of thinking of the gracious Law-giver. And His law is love. His gospel is peace. And He shows grace.
Living in a mechanical world causes us to lose sight of the fact that we are made in the image of God. Therefore we must have a personal world if life is to have any meaning. And when life loses its meaning, it loses its wonder.
So, the result? We become machines! But we are more than machines! We are persons! We are individuals!
I believe that a false view of science and technology has robbed many of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
Another reason we fail to share in the wonder of Christ...
2. We live in a commercial world
How relevant this is to the time right after Thanksgiving, huh?
I’ve heard that one of the busiest shopping days of the year is the day after Thanksgiving.
We live in a controlled society asking two questions:
"Does it work?" and "Does it pay?"
When will we realize that we cannot enjoy the things that money can buy if we lose the things money cannot buy?
Making a living has replaced making a life,
And searching after new schemes and methods has replaced discovering truth and building character.
Wonder demands values, because we don’t wonder at that which is cheap.
When there are no values, there is no wonder.
Another reason we miss out on sharing the wonder of Christ...
3. We live in a busy world
There is little time to pause...contemplate...to wonder.
We don’t take the time to get close to other people.
Our lives are so full they are empty.
We boast about the quantity of our activity (especially this time of year!) without admitting the quality of our experience.
We know how to count, but we do not know how to weigh.
And we are the losers for it in the long run.
Let me suggest a final reason we miss out on sharing the wonder of Christ...
4. We live in an artificial world
We notice it this time of year especially, don’t we?
Most people are living on substitutes and don’t know it!
Sick comedy has replaced humor
Cheap amusement has replaced wholesome recreation
Propaganda has replaced the truth
Millions of bored people depend on manufactured experiences to rescue them from their dull existence. Why do you think we’ve had such an increase of these so called "reality" shows?
Each experience, each show, of course, must be greater, better, bigger, more sensational, more scintillating than the last.
And it gets to the point that it is harder and harder to recognize and enjoy true emotional experience.
One of the real tragic consequences of living on the artificial is the gradual loss of the real.
Let’s stop living on substitutes and begin to enjoy the wonder that God wants to bring into our lives! Amen?
I mean, when you look at it, living on substitutes=idolatry.
So, how can we share in the wonder of Jesus?
A. Begin a relationship with Him
Deal with your sin. How? Trust in Christ alone who died for your sin. He died in your place. Then you can enter into a relationship with God. You can be born again spiritually.
Wonder begins when you receive Jesus Christ into your life,
When you experience the forgiveness of your sins
When you begin a whole new way of life... the life of Christ living in you.
Galatians 2:20
"I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me."
When you are born again into God’s family, you can then go on to the next step of sharing the wonder of Christ in your daily life when you...
B. Walk with Him in obedience
Wonder comes as you walk with Him in obedience. There is no substitute for daily communicating with God in His Word, in prayer, in obedience. It sharpens your spiritual senses.
Your eyes begin to see what He sees.
Your ears begin to hear what He hears.
Your heart begins to love what He loves.
Your values change as your vision sharpens.
And your ever-deepening love for Christ opens up new windows and doors for you. Your life begins to fulfill the promise of
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him"--
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit.
The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
Isn’t that wonderful?!?!
Wonder is a liberating experience! It breaks the shackles that bind us and calls us to a life of faith and love.
But, this life of wonder with the One who is called Wonderful climaxes not in this life, but in the life to come. We can share in this wonder when we...
C. Look forward to being with Him in glory
1 John 3:2
"Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when He appears, we shall be like Him, for we shall see him as He is."
Talk about wonder!!!
We will see with perfect vision
We will love with sinless hearts
The glory of heaven is the wonder of Christ.
On the other hand, the tragedy of hell is the absolute absence of wonder...darkness, dullness, monotony, eternal loneliness, eternal purposelessness...that is what hell is like.
Pain and judgment, yes, but think of the dullness, the utter loss of wonder and awe!
Those who walk with Christ by faith know the joy of wonder in their daily lives. Not that we are special or extraordinary (because we are not), but because of Christ, He is wonderful! Amen?
And when He touches your life, He makes your life wonderful, because HIS NAME IS WONDERFUL!
Don’t we have a wonderful Lord?
This wonderful Jesus is the One whose birthday we will be celebrating this time of year.
Let’s give Him the wonder and worship He so rightfully deserves!
