36. Rise of the Great Light (3)

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Hymn: 203 He Lives 209 Because He Lives 273 Jesus, I Come 

Isaiah 9:1-7

1 Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 2 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 3 Thou hast multiplied the nation, and not increased the joy: they joy before thee according to the joy in harvest, and as men rejoice when they divide the spoil. 4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian. 5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire. 6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. 7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this. 

Rise of the Great Light (3)

OUTLINE

(1) Light in Midst of Darkness (v1-2)

(2) Deliverance and Peace (v3-5)

(3) Coming of God’s Son (v6-7)

Continue…

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful …

CH Spurgeon observed well, “The person spoken of in our text is undoubtedly the Lord Jesus Christ. He is a Child born, with reference to His human nature; He is born of the virgin, a Child. But He is a Son given, with reference to His divine nature, being given as well as born. Of course, the Godhead could not be born of a woman. That was from everlasting and is to everlasting. As a Child, He was born, as a Son He was given. “The government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful.” Christ is first by Name, called Wonderful, because He is so.”

The Name “Wonderful” means “something extraordinary, marvel”, He is called Marvellous, Miraculous, for He is more than a man, He is God’s highest miracle. He is “the Chief among ten thousand and altogether lovely.”   

1 Timothy 3:16 (KJV) And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

He is Wonderful because of His past. He is the eternal Son of God.

Proverbs 8:22-23 (KJV) The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old. I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.

Proverbs 8:30 (KJV) Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;

He was the Word in the beginning of no beginnings. He is the King of ages, the Everlasting Father, begotten, not made, co-equal, co-eternal, in every attribute, “very God of every God.”[1]

The divine nature is indeed wonderful. This is that nature that imparts life to us.

2 Peter 1:4 (KJV) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 

This is the One that says to us Matthew 11:28 (KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

He addresses “all that labour and are heavy laden.” It is a wide description: it comprises multitudes in this weary world. All who feel a load on their heart, of which they would fain get free, a load of sin or a load of sorrow, a load of anxiety or a load of remorse, all, whosoever they may be, and whatsoever their past lives, all such are invited to come to Christ.

We should mark what a gracious offer Jesus makes: “I will give you rest. Ye shall find rest to your souls.” How cheering and comfortable are these words! Unrest is one great characteristic of the world: hurry, vexation, failure, and disappointment, stare us in the face on every side. But here is hope: there is an ark of refuge for the weary, as truly as there was for Noah’s dove. There is rest in Christ, rest of conscience, and rest of heart, rest built on pardon of all sin, rest flowing from peace with God. [JC Ryle]

Burdens are lifted when we come to Christ. What a Wonderful Saviour!

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor …

This word expresses a distinct attribute or quality. The name “counsellor” here, yuets, denotes one of honourable rank; one who is suited to stand near princes and kings as their adviser. It is expressive of great wisdom, and of qualifications to guide and direct the human race. [Matthew Henry]

Christ is God’s Counsellor. He imparts God’s counsel to us and He is a Counsellor to us. 

As we study the life of Christ, we receive great counsel from His teachings. He showed us the way to God. He taught men personally as He walked on earth. He spoke as One with authority. His counsel brings God’s blessing to men. He showed men the way of everlasting life. 

Matthew 7:28-29 (KJV) And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine: For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

By listening and obeying Him, we find rest and peace in our souls.

John 14:27 (KJV) Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Christ imparts wisdom to His people through His Word – Colossians 2:2-3 (KJV) That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

Christ’s counsel is faithful counsel. Spurgeon observed well, “When Ahithophel left David, it proved that he was not faithful and when Hushai went to Absalom and counselled him, he counselled him craftily so that the good counsel of Ahithophel was brought to nought.” Christ’s counsel on the other hand is without any self-interest, good and profitable for us.[2]

We can come to Him through prayer and He intercedes for our good always.

Psalm 55:22 (KJV) Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 27:14 (KJV) Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

Philippians 4:6-7 (KJV) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Peter 5:7 (KJV) Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God…

The phrase “the mighty God” comes from two words “ אֵל ’ēl ” and “גִּבּוֹר gibbôr” expresses the omnipotence of Christ. The word in Hebrew is expressive of mightiness. His real deity and His omnipotence as standing first and foremost among the attributes which the prophet beheld.

He shall be called Wonderful, called Counsellor, called The Mighty God. This is a foretelling that Jesus is God, the mighty God, the very God of very God, co-equal, co-eternal with the Father, who counted it not robbery to be equal with God. Jesus is the eternal Son. He is from everlasting to everlasting.

Hebrews 13:8 (KJV) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Christ is immutable, He changes not! none but God is immutable. Therefore, He is thus, the very God.

Being the mighty God, He is omnipresent for none but God can be present everywhere. He, therefore, knows our pains and sorrows. He could see every groan of the heart. Wherever we are, He hears our prayers and sees our tears.

Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Christ is not only born but is given. As man He is a child born, as God He is the Son given. He comes down from on high; He is given by God to become our Redeemer. It is here that we behold the wonder! His name, this child’s name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God.”

If this child, then without controversy, the mighty God, great is the mystery of godliness!

As we contemplate the life of Christ, for thirty years and more, as a man, He had to struggle and wrestle against temptations more numerous and more terrible than man had ever known. 

Adam fell when but a woman tempted him; Eve fell when but a serpent offered fruit to her, but Christ, the second Adam, stood invulnerable against all the shafts or darts of Satan though tempted He was in all points, like as we are, yet without sin.

Every arrow was aimed against Him with all the might of Satan’s archers, and that is no little! And yet, without sin or taint of sin, more than conqueror He stood. Foot to foot with Satan, in the solitude of the wilderness; hand to hand with him on top of the pinnacle of the temple; side by side with him in the midst of a busy crowd – yet ever more than a conqueror. 

He gave him battle wherever the adversary willed to meet Him, and at last, when Satan gathered up all his might, and seized the Saviour in the Garden of Gethsemane, and crushed Him till He sweats as it were great drops of blood, then when the Saviour said, “Nevertheless, not as I will but as Thou wilt,” the tempter was repulsed. 

Christ seemed to say and the tempter fled and dare not return again. 

No creature could endure such temptation as this. Even the archangel sinned in heaven and became the tempter. Yet the angel, a third part of the stars of heaven fell!

But Christ stood firm. He is the mighty God![3]

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father…

How complex is the person of our Lord Jesus Christ! Almost in the same breath, the prophet calls Him a “Child,” and a “Counsellor,” a “Son,” and “the Everlasting Father”.

He who is the Man of Sorrows should also be God overall, blessed forever. He who is in the Divine Trinity always called the Son, should nevertheless be correctly called “the Everlasting Father.” 

How forcibly this should remind us of the necessity of carefully studying and rightly understanding the person of our Lord Jesus Christ! We must not suppose that we shall understand Him a glance. A look will save the soul, but patient meditation alone can fill the mind with the knowledge of the Saviour. 

Glorious mysteries are hidden in His person. He speaks to us in the plainest language, and He manifests Himself openly in our midst, but yet in His person itself, there is a height and depth that human intellect fails to measure. He must reveal Himself to us or we will never know Him. He is not discovered by research nor discerned by reason. 

“Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona,” said Christ to Peter, “for flesh and blood hath not revealed this unto thee. “When it pleased God,” says the apostle, “to reveal His Son in me.”

Jesus is “Everlasting” and He is “Father”. 

He is firstly, “Everlasting”. The Babe was born in Bethlehem as united to the Word, which was in the beginning, by whom all things were made. He was revealed to John at the island of Patmos.

Revelation 1:8 (KJV) I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.

Revelation 1:14-15 (KJV) His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters.

He is indeed God from everlasting. Jesus is not dead but ever liveth to make intercession for us. He has not ceased to be; He hath not gone out of sight; but He sits at the right hand of the Father. 

Hebrews 1:10-12 (KJV) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail.

Jesus is truly the I AM, as the LORD who spoke out of the burning bush to Moses at Horeb. He lives! He lives! This is the foundation of our comfort! Because He lives you shall live also.”

Our Lord here in the connection of the word “Father” with the word “everlasting” allows us to remark that our Lord is as everlasting as the Father since He Himself is called “the Everlasting Father,” for whatever antiquity paternity may imply is here ascribed to Christ. 

According to our common notions, of course, the Father must be before the Son, but we must understand that the terms used in Scripture to represent Deity to us are not intended to be literally understood, and rendered in their exact terrestrial sense; they are only so far descriptive as they may compass the whole truth, for human language utterly fails to convey the very essence and fullness of celestial things. 

The relationship between the Father and the Son is a case in point; it is not precisely the same as the relationship between a father and a son on earth, but that happens to be the nearest approach to it among men.[4]

To be continued…

[1] CH Spurgeon, The Treasury of the Bible – III Psalm 112 to Isaiah, Baker Book House, 1988, His Name – Wonderful!, 442-447.

[2] CH Spurgeon, The Treasury of the Bible – III Psalm 112 to Isaiah, Baker Book House, 1988, His Name – The Counsellor, 447-453.

[3] CH Spurgeon, The Treasury of the Bible – III Psalm 112 to Isaiah, Baker Book House, 1988, His Name – The Mighty God, 453-457.

[4] CH Spurgeon, The Treasury of the Bible – III Psalm 112 to Isaiah, Baker Book House, 1988, His Name – The Everlasting Father, 436-442.