HIS NAME WILL BE CALLED WONDERFUL
Isaiah 9:6
INTRODUCTION:
TODAY BRINGS TO THE BEGINNING OF A VERY EXCITING TIME ON OUR CHRISTIAN CALENDAR. IN FACT MOST LECTIONARIES START THEIR YEAR WITH THE ADVENT SEASON.
ADVENT IS A TIME OF PREPARATION. IT’S A TIME THAT WE FOCUS ON THE LORD’S COMING TO THE EARTH, AND WHAT IT MEANS TO US. IT ALLOWS US THE TIME TO QUIET OUR HEARTS IN THE MIDST OF THE BUSINESS, AND THE EXCITEMENT OF ALL THAT THE HOLIDAY SEASON BRINGS US, AND TO CONCENTRATE ON THIS EXTARAGANT EXTENT THAT GOD SHOWED HIS LOVE FOR US.
DID YOU EVER THINK OF WHAT JESUS GAVE UP TO COME TO THIS EARTH. WE KNOW THAT FROM THE VERY BEGINNING JESUS WAS WITH GOD.
JOHN 1:1: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
THIS MEANS THAT JESUS WAS WITH GOD BEFORE THE CREATION OF THE WORLD. IT MEANS THAT THE PLAN OF SALVATION WAS FORMULATED BEFORE THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH.
JESUS DWELT WITH GOD IN HEAVEN IN ALL ITS GLORY AND YET BECAUSE OF HIS LOVE FOR A CREATION YET TO BE CREATED, KNEW THAT IN THE COURSE OF TIME HE WOULD LEAVE ALL THAT GLORY, TAKE ON THE BODILY FORM OF A HUMAN, WITH ALL ITS LIMITATIONS, AND EVENTUALLY BECOME THE PERFECT SACRIFICE ON THE CROSS OF CALVARY.
PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11:
Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, 7 but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. 8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death— even death on a cross! 9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
TODAY WE BEGIN A VERY SPECIAL TIME OF THE YEAR WHERE WE CONCENTRATE ON WHAT JESUS DID AND HOW IT EFFECTS EACH OF US.
ADVENT SEASON IS NEW EACH YEAR. EACH YEAR WE DRAW MORE IN LOVE WITH THE LORD, MORE THANKFUL FOR THE GIFT OF SALVATION, AND AS A RESULT WE ENTER THIS SEASON IN THE WONDERFUL AWE OF HIS PRESENCE.
THIS ADVENT SERIES IS GOING TO LOOK AT THE NAMES THAT THE PROPHET ISAIAH USED TO DESCRIBE JESUS. IN THE BIBLE THERE ARE MORE THAT 256 NAMES GIVEN FOR THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, BUT THE GREATEST OF ALL NAMES THOUGHOUT ALL AGES CAN ONLY BE ONE, “MY LORD AND MY SAVIOUR.”
BIBLICAL BACKGROUND:
LET ME GIVE YOU SOME OF THE BIBLICAL BACKGROUND TO THIS PASSAGE. THE PROPHET ISAIAH WROTE THESE WORDS DURING SOME OF THE DARKEST DAYS FOR THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL.
THE PEOPLE WERE NOT WALKING WITH GOD. THEY HAD AN ENEMY PERCHED ON THEIR BORDER AND THEY WERE AFRAID. ASSYRIA’S POWER WAS GREAT AND THEY WERE A FIERCE ENEMY.
THE DAYS OF GODS NEARNESS,
GREAT WORKS
GLORY
WHERE A WORD FROM THE BOOK BROUGHT COMFORT
WERE ALL GONE AND REPLACED BY FEAR AND DARKNESS OF SPIRIT.
IN THEIR DESPERATION THEY TURNES TO MEDIUMS AND WIZARDS NOT GOD:
ISAIAH 8:19-22:
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists, who whisper and mutter, should not a people inquire of their God? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living? 20 To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, they have no light of dawn. 21 Distressed and hungry, they will roam through the land; when they are famished, they will become enraged and, looking upward, will curse their king and their God. 22 Then they will look toward the earth and see only distress and darkness and fearful gloom, and they will be thrust into utter darkness.
IN THE MIDST OF THIS DARKNESS ISAIAH BROUGHT THE GREAT WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT OF ISAIAH 9:1-5:
JOY WILL REPLACE DESPAIR: VERSE 2-3: The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as men rejoice when dividing the plunder.
THE ENEMIES POWER WILL BE BROKEN: VERSES4-5: 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. 5 Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire.
WHY THE HOPE? WHY THE ENCOURAGEMENT? BECAUSE OF THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH. IN THE DARKEST OF DAYS FOR HIS PEOPLE THE LIGHT HAS COME.
ISAIAH 9:7: Of the increase 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.
NOW LETS LOOK AT THE NAMES THIS PROPHET USED TO DESCRIBE JESUS SOME 600-800 YEARS BEFORE HIS BIRTH.
HIS NAME SHALL BE CALLED WONDERFUL
IT IS POSSIBLE TO TAKE FROM THE TEXT THAT WONDERFUL COUNSELOR GOES TOGETHER, BUT FOR OUR PURPOSES TODAY, WE ARE JUST GOING TO FOCUS ON THE WORD WONDERFUL
IF I WERE TO ASK YOU TO DESCRIBE WHAT WONDERFUL MEANS, WHAT WORDS WOULD WE USE? BEAUTIFUL
SPECIAL
EXQUISITE
SPECTACULAR
ALL THESE WORDS COULD BE USED TO DESCRIBE SOMETHING WQONDERFUL.
THE BIBLICAL MEANING OF THE WORD MEANS THAT JESUS IS:
1. BEYOND ANYTHING WE HAVE EVER SEEN, SINGULARLY UNIQUE
2. EXTRAORDINARY, SO VAST THAT WE CAN’T UNDERSTAND THE FULL MEANING.
3. THAT JESUS WOULD BE BEYOND THE BOUNDS OF ALL HUMAN EXPECTATIONS.
THE HEBREW WORD FOR WONDERFUL IS CLOSELY RELATED TO THE WORD “AMAZED”, AND IN THE NEW TESTAMENT THE WORD “AMAZED” HAS IN MANY CASES REPLACED THE WORD WONDERFUL.
LET US EXAMINE AND SEE IF THE NAME WONDERFUL OR AMAZING FITS JESUS:
1. HE IS WONDERFUL IN THE PREPARATION OF HIS BIRTH:
THOUGHOUT ALL OF HISTORY, NOWHERE WILL YOU FIND THE PERPARATION FOR A BIRTH MORE UNIQUE, THAN THE PREPARATION FOR THE BIRTH OF CHRIST.
A) HUNDREDS OF PROPHECIES FORETOLD THE BIRTH OF THE MESSIAH AND IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ONLY POINT TO THE BIRTH OF CHRIST. THIS HAPPENED EVEN BEFORE THE EVENTS OF HIS CONCEPTION.
B) HIS CONCEPTION WAQS UNIQUE. HE WOULD HAVE NO EARTHLY FATHER. THE ANGEL GABRIEL WOULD HAVE TO APPEAR BEFORE BOTH JOSEPH AND MARY TO INFORM THEM OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES SURROUNDING THE PROGNANCY.
C) THE BIRTH OF JOHN THE BAPTIST WOULD BE THE FORERUNNER OF THE MESSIAH, YET ELIZABETH RECOGNIZED THE INFANT AS THE MESSIAH WHILE STILL IN MARY’S WOMB.
2. HE WAS WONDERFUL IN HIS BIRTH:
A) THE PLACE OF JESUS BIRTH WAS FORETOLD IN THE SCRIPTURE, BUT THE CHIEF OCCUPATION OF THE PEOPLE OF BETHLEHEM WAS ALSO FORETOLD. THE CHIEF OCCUPTATION OF THE PEOPLE OF BETHLEHEM WAS TO RAISE SHEEP TO BE SACRIFIED.
B) NOWHERE WOULD YOU GET THE COMBINED CIRCUMSTANCES OF THE CENSUS AND HAVING TO RETURN TO BETHLEHEM AT THAT PRECISE TIME. ONE MIGHT SAY THAT ONE ELEMENT COULD BE COINCIDENCE, BUT NOT ALL THE ELEMENTS PUT TOGETHER.
C) THE JOURNEY OF THE MAGI FOLLOWING THE STAR CONFIGURATION THAT LED THEM PRECISELY TO BETHLEHEM, AND YET DID NOT LEAD ANYONE ELSE THERE.
D) MOST PRINCES WOULD BE BORN IN A PALACE WITH GREAT POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE. THE SON OF GOD CAME INTO THIS WORLD IN THE MOST LOWLY OF CONDITIONS. HE CAME TO BE THE KING OF OUR HEARTS, NOT TO RULE IN THIS WORLD, BUT IN THE WORLD TO COME.
3. THE PURPOSE OF HIS BIRTH WAS WONDERFUL
A) HE WAS BORN TO DIE! ISAIAH 53 TELLS OF THE REASON FOR HIS BIRTH. HEAR THE WORDS OF A GREAT CHRISTMAS CAROL:
HAIL THE HEAV’N-BORN PRINCE OF PEACE! HAIL THE SON OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!
LIGHT AND LIFE TO ALL HE BRINGS, RIS’N WITH HEALING IN HIS WINGS.
MILD HE LAYS HIS GLORY BY, BORN THAT MEN NO MORE MAY DIE,
BORN TO RAISE THE SONS OF EARTH; BORN TO GIVE THEM SECOND BIRTH.
HARK! THE HERALD ANGELS SING, “GLORY TO THE NEWBORN KING.”
HE LIVED ONLY 33 YEARS, NEVER WROTE A BOOK,OR HELD A PUBLIC OFFICE, WASN’T A HOMEOWNER OR STOCK BROKER. HE WAS BETRAYED BY ONE OF HIS OWN, ARRESTED AND BETRAYED BY THE PEOPLE HE SERVED, HUNG ON A CROSS, EXECUTED BY ROMAN AUTHORITIES BY CRUCIFIXION. BUT PRAISE GOD THERE WAS A RESURRECTION, AND NOW HE SITS AT THE RIGHT HAND OF THE FATHER, AND ONE DAY, HE IS COMING BACK FOR HIS OWN. HE HAS CHANGED HISTORY AND HE HAS CHANGED ME, AND HE CAN CHANGE YOU.
4. HE IS WIONDERFUL IN HIS LIFE
A) JESUS LIVED A SINLESS LIFE. HE WAS LED NOT BY SATAN BUT BY THE SPIRIT OUT INTO THE WILDERNESS TO BE TEMPTED. HE WAS LED THERE NOT BECAUSE HE WOULD SURCUMB TO THE TEMPTOR, BUT TO DEFEAT THE TEMPTOR, AND SHOW HIMSELF TO BE MORE POWERFUL.
B) HE WAS WNDERFUL IN HIS COMPASSION. TO THE WOMAN AT THE WELL HE OFFERED WATER FROM WHICH SHE WOULD NEVER THIRST AGAIN. TO THE LEPER AND THE BLIND MAN HE OFFERED HEALING, TO THE FIVE THOUSAND WHO WERE HUNGRY HE OFFERED THE BREAD OF LIFE, TO NICODEMUS AND THE THIEF HE OFFERED ETERNAL LIFE. AND THIS HE OFFERS TO US NOW.
5. HE IS WONDERFUL IN HIS DEATH
A) JESUS WAS WONDERFUL IN THE WAY THAT HE DEALT WITH HIS TRIAL AND DEATH. THE THIRTY PIECES OF SILVER THAT JUDAS RECEIVED FOR THE BETRAYAL WAS ONLY THE PRICE OF A SLAVE. IT WAS NOT MUCH. BUT IT WAS TYPICAL FOR THE LIFE OF JESUS. HE SAID “I HAVE NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE.”
B) THE EVENTS OF HIS DEATH WERE WONDERFUL. FOR IT TO HAPPEN AT PASSOVER TIME, TO BE OUR PASSOVER LAMB. TO HAVE BOTH THE RELIGIOUS AND CIVIL AUTHORITIES PRONOUNCE SENTENCE ON HIM SHOWED THAT HE WAS DYING FOR ALL PEOPLE, BY ALL PEOPLE.
THE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE TO WITNESS HIS DEATH WAS AMAZING. NO OTHER FIGURE BROUGHT SO MUCH INTEREST AS JESUS. THEY EXPERIENCED THE DARKNESS, THEY SAW THE GRAVES OPENED, THEY HEARD THE WORLDS FROM THE CROSS, THEY SAW HOW JESUS DIED, THEY HEARD ABOUT THE CURTAIN IN THE TEMPLE BEING TORN FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM.
6. HE WAS WONDERFUL IN HIS RESURRECTION:
AS JESUS TOLD HIS DISCIPLES OF HIS COMING DEATH, HE ALSO TOLD THEM OF HIS COMING RESURRECTION THREE DAYS LATER. THE UNIQUENESS OF THE EVENTS ONLY GO TO SHOW FURTHER THAT JESUS IS THE MESSIAH.
A) THEY COULD FIND NO BODY FOR HE WAS ALIVE. IF JESUS BODY WAS EVER FOUND THEN EVERYTHING WE BELIEVE IN WOULD BE A LIE. THE ROMANSA PLACED A GUARD ON THE TOMB SO THAT NOONE COULD STEAL THE BODY. THE RELIGIOUS LEADERS DID NOT WANT THE BODY GONE EITHER AS IT WOULD SHOW THAT JESUS TEACHING WAS A LIE. IT WAS ALL FOILED IN THE RESURRECTION.
ACTS 1:3: After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God.
B) EVERYTHING ABOUT JESUS RESURRECTION WAS UNDER HIS CONTROL. HE WAS RECOGNIZED ONLY WHEN HE WANTED TO BY THOSE HE WANTED TO. OVER 500 WITNESSES TO HIS RESURRECTION.
7. HE IS WONDERFUL IN HIS SALVATION
A) HIS SALVATION IS QUICK. HE SAVED THE THIEF ON THE CROSS THAT VERY INSTANT. AND HE DOES THE SAME FOR YOU AND I.
B) JESUS CALLS THE SINNER TO HIM. JESUS SAID I CAME TO SEEK THE LOST NOT THOSE WHO ARE SAFE. THOSE WHO WILL COME TO HIM IN NO WISE WILL CAST AWAY, BUT ALLOW THEM TO RECEIVE POWER TO BECOME THE SONS OF GOD.
C) HE IS WONDERFUL IN HIS SALVATION BECAUSE IT IS OFFERED TO YOU AND I TODAY.
CONCLUSION:
LASTLY HE IS WONDERFUL IN THE WAY HE IS COMING BACK.
JESUS IS COMING SOON. THE EASTERN SKY IS GOING TO PART AND JESUS IS GOING TO COME AND REIGN ON THIS EARTH IN GLORY POWER AND MAJESTY.
HE WILL TAKE A DEFEATED SATAN AND ANTICHRIST AND BANISH THEM TO THE PIT FOR 1000 YEARS.
HE WILL REIGN ION MAJESTY AND PWER.
JUST LISTEN TO THIS DESCRIPTION:
REVELATION 19:11-21:
I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:
KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun, who cried in a loud voice to all the birds flying in midair, “Come, gather together for the great supper of God, 18 so that you may eat the flesh of kings, generals, and mighty men, of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all people, free and slave, small and great.”
19 Then I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against the rider on the horse and his army. 20 But the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who had performed the miraculous signs on his behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped his image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur. 21 The rest of them were killed with the sword that came out of the mouth of the rider on the horse, and all the birds gorged themselves on their flesh.
JESUS IS INDEED THE WONDERFUL GOD IN EVERY WAY, AND HE CAN BE WONDERFUL FOR YOU TODAY.
