Sunday December 6, 2020
Unto Us
In Isaiah 9:6, we have one of the most beautiful poetic promises of the Messiah’s coming. Every year at Christmas time we recite this verse and hear it sung as we celebrate Christmas. Yet this verse also contains a powerful reference to one of the most incomprehensible truths in the Bible…the incarnation of Christ…God becoming man through a young virgin girl named Mary. Why would God choose to do such an unimaginable move of love? For us. Unto us.
When I tried to look up the definition of unto, I found very little to help me understand the magnitude of that word. Most simply said that it was an archaic use of “to.” But God chose that term specifically. Then, I got a glimpse of the heart of God. Merriam Webster defined it as a word that “indicates reference or concern,” and Definitions.com defined it as a term “indicating a motion towards a thing.” There it was…God’s concern for me compelled Him to move towards me. He did that through Immanuel…God with us! (See WORD WISDOM for a deeper study of understand)
Jesus is known by so many wonderful names. His name is the name above every other name (Phil.2:7-9). We call Him as we need Him: Savior, Lord, Deliverer, Healer, Redeemer, Friend, Brother, King. But when God announces the coming of this Christ child, He Himself ascribes very specific names to His Son. In them we see God’s heart, His will, and His promise.
He shall be called Wonderful. This name means, “miraculous, wondrous.” His very manifestation is wondrous: the manner of His birth, His unending love, His marvelous works, His dying agonies, and His resurrection are miraculous and wonderful!
Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord (God Himself) “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?” And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?” (Judg.13:17-18)
He is Counselor. He is our advisor and guide. He is the living Word, the infallible source of all wisdom. He is the Way and the Truth.
You are great in counsel and mighty in work, for your eyes are open to all the ways of the sons of men, to give everyone according to his ways and according to the fruit of his doings. (Jer.32:19)
He will be called Mighty God. The word mighty has the additional meaning of “hero.” The Lord is the inexhaustible Hero of His people…the divine warrior who had triumphed over sin, death, Hell, and the grave. Our Mighty God is a warrior God fighting for His people.
The Lord is warrior; The Lord is His name. (Ex.15:3)
He is our Everlasting Father. This name expresses Jesus’ fatherly care. And not just a temporary Father, but an eternal Father…a Father forever. He was, He is, and He will be forever.
Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM.” (Jn.8:58)
And He is the Prince of Peace. His reign will be characterized by shalom…health, well-being, prosperity, gladness, and, of course, peace. The greatest aspect of that peace is the peace He wrought between God and man. Amen!
And He shall stand and feed His flock in the strength of the Lord, in the majesty of the name of the Lord His God; And they shall abide, for now He shall be great to the ends of the earth; And this One shall be peace. (Mic.5:4-5a)
Unto us…driven by His loving concern and compelled by His love to draw unto us and move toward us. This is why we celebrate the coming of this baby, born in Bethlehem, the city of David 2, 000 years ago…Immanuel, God with us.
