December 3, 2023

The Names of Jesus – Wonderful

Preacher:
Passage: Isaiah 8:19-9:7

Introduction

Looking at Isaiah 9:6
(The names of Jesus)

The Context

Setting it in context

The days are dark, cold and wet – maybe miserable
Christmas time is a time to focus

Though Jesus was not born on Dec 25th and we do not need a tree
We must guard against materialism
People enjoy a holiday and being with family

It is an opportunity to proclaim the good news of Jesus

A reminder of the passage from Corinthians

Looking at a passage that speaks of the joy of Christmas

Jesus will be called Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (9:6)
There shall be an end to war (9:5)

The dark background to the passage (8:19)

Many people were tempted to consult spiritist’s and mediums

There is a challenge – why do they go to these things?

A people in spiritual darkness
Only concerned in materialism (Isa 5:8)
Drunkenness (Isa 5:11)
Prostitution (Isa 3:16)

You may say this sounds like today

The gospel can shine brighter in the darkness around

Go back to the Scriptures (8:20)

The Church needs to stand upon the word of God
The Church needs to preach the whole counsel of God

Isaiah knew that God’s people were vulnerable and fearful
Isaiah begins to speak of better days (9:1)

There is hope
The Messiah will come to Galilee
We have seen the fulfilment of this

There will be great joy (9:3)

It is easy to become low and depressed by the world around

We are to be joyful
Jesus has come to forgive our sins
Jesus has come with good news

Isaiah 9:6

A Child is born

One promise already given – a Son (Isa 7:14)
The Son is given to us
He will be human (a Child) and divine (a Son)
Christianity is not like other religions

It is not about doing good or the balance of your deeds
Salvation is a free gift
Example of Jenny
Have you received the gift of Jesus Christ into your heart?

The government will be upon His shoulder

The responsibility will be on Him
He is the King of Kings

Wonderful

Something so staggering

Counsellor

There is no better counsellor than Jesus Christ

Might God, Everlasting Father
Prince of Peace

The only one that brings peace to man

Looking at these titles over the next few weeks

Wonderful

The words can be separate (Wonderful, Counsellor)
We can overuse the word wonderful
Biblical definition

Evoking a sense of awe, reverence, surprise, wonder, marvelling, trembling

Names are important – especially in the Bible

Examples
His name cannot be compared with any other

His names are all superlative
He stands alone
His name should evoke awe and wonder – it must not lose its impact on us
Example of Spurgeon

May we lift up the name of Jesus

Speaking of His relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit

In the Trinity – perfect love

Love needs an object
There was selfless love within the Trinity
God is love

In the Trinity – a glory we can never understand

Jesus left this glory to come to our world
His glory was hidden from us

Man was made in the image of the Trinity
He had a unique relationship with the Father and the Spirit

The Incarnation

Wonderful as the God-man

The Christmas story has many angels – examples

A divine and a human nature
Great is the mystery of godliness
The angels sang ‘glory to God in the highest’

The life of Jesus Christ

Never a step wrong, never anything wasted, never a wrong response

A perfect life
Our life is imperfect

But our hope is in Jesus Christ

To hear the Prince of all preachers

His heart burned for righteousness

He was humble
He understands us completely – being tempted in every way (but never sinned)

He sympathises with us

His deeds

Great miracles – examples
Go back and tell of the wonderful deeds God has done for you

The priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that Jesus did

His death (Isa 53)

Bruised for our inquities
Punished for our peace
Healed by His stripes
He died for us

Love Divine, all loves excelling
Do we say His name is wonderful?

He rose again and ascended into heaven

He has become the chief cornerstone
He has been given all dominion
He is the head of the Church

His name shall be called wonderful

Jesus sticks closer than a brother
We have a wonderful Saviour