What Shall We Call Him? Series

Traci and I have three adult children. We named them at birth, but we have them nicknames through the years. I will share one. When our children were little, we watched our fair share of the cartoon, SpongeBob Squarepants. There are a number of characters on the show, but one stuck out. The owner of the Crusty Crab is Mr. Krabs, who is a red crab, and lives in an anchor-shaped house. I love this description of him: “He tends to worry much more about his riches than about the needs of his employees. Having served in the navy, he speaks like a stereotypical pirate.”

Now, one of our boys loves to save money. On occasion, his mother and I borrowed money from him as a teenager because he just saved money like no one else. So, he got the nickname, Mr. Krabs.

When the angel, Gabriel, told Mary she was going to have a baby, the angel even went so far as to name her child. Gabriel said, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus” (Luke 1:30-31). And countless people find hope to this day in the name of Jesus. But, He was also given titles. Now, hundreds of years before Jesus appeared, the prophet Isaiah predicted the Messiah would come. Find Isaiah 9 in your Bibles as I want you to lay eyes on this prediction.

Background to Isaiah 9

As you’re turning, the year was approximately 725 B.C. Isaiah makes a prediction of hope to the people of Judah.

It’s here, some 700 years before the Wisemen gave, the Angels sang, or the Shepherds came, Isaiah explains what Christmas is all about.1 The prophet gives us 8 Hebrew words that are really four titles for the child we celebrate at Christmas.

Let’s look at the first two together this morning.

Today’s Scripture

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

One pastor called this predicted child to come the infinite Infant.

Naming a Child

Have you ever had the privilege of naming a child? Some people are better at naming children than others. I remember Traci, and I differed on one of our children’s names, and somehow I was outvoted even though it was one-to-one ?.

Here are actual names parents gave their children:

Robin Banks

Dee Zaster

Hazel Nut

Lowden Clear

Artie Chock

Rusty Nails

Justin Case

Stan Stil2

But I have saved one of the best for last. A woman named Helen married a man with the last name Back.

And her married name was Helen Back (like Hell ‘n Back) ?. I really hope that didn’t describe her marriage! I love the titles Isaiah gives so much more.

Sermon Preview

1. For the Confused, He is The Wonderful Counselor

2. For the Overwhelmed, He is the Mighty God

1. For the Confused, He is The Wonderful Counselor

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).

Seven hundred years before Jesus Christ was even born, this prophet explained Christmas before anyone had even experienced Christmas.

1.1 Titles Not Names

When the Bible says the child’s name, it doesn’t mean that you’re going to call the child “Wonderful Counselor.” As if his mother Mary might have said: “Go tell ‘Wonderful Counselor’ that dinner is ready!” No, these names or titles describe His character and personality.3 When the New Testament calls Jesus “Immanuel,” it means that it is a title for Jesus. Now, why did Jesus deserve all these titles?

In other words, the wonder of Christmas is not just how this baby was conceived or even where this baby was born. The wonder of Christmas is who this baby was.

1.2 A Wonder of a Counselor

Isaiah tells us that this child shall be called a Wonderful Counselor. He literally is a wonder of a counselor. You can say that this child will grow up to be a wonderful planner.4 Isaiah says this child will know what to plan, and He will carry out that plan. His counsel will go beyond the human norm.

1.3 Come See a Man

When I think of Jesus’ wise counsel, I think of the time He spoke to the Woman at the Well (John 4). Jesus and this woman had a lengthy conversation where Jesus accused her of being an adulteress in not-so-many words.

“The woman answered [Jesus], “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” (John 4:17-18).