“The names of the Lord Jesus”
For unto us a child is born. —Isaiah 9:6
Read Isaiah 9:1-6
Isaiah refers to the dark days Galilee was experiencing as “the shadow of death” (v.2). But in verse 3 he speaks about joy, for a great light will shine. The Messiah, the Light of the world, would be born in Galilee. For a while the people would be afflicted, yet the nation would multiply (v.3). They would once again experience communion with God. This would bring great joy; the Lord would deliver them from oppression. This prophecy refers to the Lord Jesus who would deliver the captives. Read Luke 4:18. Christ Jesus breaks the yoke of sin and Satan and takes away the burden of the guilt of sin and of a depraved heart.
Zacharias, the father of John the Baptist sang, “That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear” (Luke 1:74). Isaiah also sang about this. Isaiah writes as if Christ has already been born, so sure is the promise. He says: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given” (Is. 9:6). The almighty God came to be born as a child. John wrote about this later in his gospel: And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14). The Lord Jesus humbled Himself to raise up sinners. God sent His Son into the world in the glory of His divinity and the lowliness of His humanity. And so Isaiah sings about the glory of the coming Messiah using different names. He is Wonderful, Counselor, the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace (v.6). We hope to highlight these various names in subsequent meditations.
What can we learn from Jesus’ names?