With this post I am
transitioning into names of God that are used specifically of Jesus that
identify Him as one and the same with the Jehovah. One of the most well known Old Testament
verses that establish this connection is found in Isaiah.
Isaiah 9:6-7 “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. 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.”
This is a prophecy of
the Son that was to be born a child, a human, that would eventually establish
an eternal kingdom from the throne of David in Israel. I am going to use the commentary from my
journal on Isaiah.
As
I was reading a book by Ravi Zacharias, The Lamb and the Fuhrer, I came
across a statement that applied here that took me to another level of
understanding regarding this passage.
“The
child is born…the Son is given. Do you see the difference? The Son
was not born. I am the Son and I eternally existed in relationship with
My Father.”
Jesus
came to earth in the form of a child, a human. Why? What did that
involve?
Hebrews 2:6-10 “… What is man, that thou art
mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou madest him a
little lower than the angels; thou crownedst him with glory and honour, and
didst set him over the works of thy hands: Thou hast put all things in
subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he
left nothing that is not put under
him. But now we see not yet all things put under him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower
than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that
he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many
sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through
sufferings.”
Verses
6 and 7 in the Hebrews passage establish men as a creation “a little lower than
the angels” in the hierarchy of creation. Then verse 9 tells us that
Jesus “was made a little lower than the angels.” This states that Jesus,
the Son of God, willingly became a man to “taste death for every man” and bring
“many sons to glory.”
Hebrews 2:16-18 “For
verily he took not on him the nature
of angels; but he took on him
the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all
things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high
priest in things pertaining to
God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself
hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.”
These
verses tell me that Jesus “in all things” was made “like unto His
brethren.” He chose to lay aside His Divine power and authority and live
according to the leading and empowering of the Spirit. I believe this is
the same status with which Adam was created and that we now enjoy as believers
today. Only by living a sinless life as a man could He qualify as the
acceptable sacrifice for man’s redemption that was necessitated by the fall
into sin of the first Adam. That is why Jesus is identified as the “last
Adam” in Paul’s letter to the Corinthians.
1Corinthians 15:45 “And so it is written, The first
man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.”
“The government shall
be upon His shoulder” – This is speaking of the time that Jesus will rule on
earth as King on the throne of David.
“Wonderful” – marvelous, a miracle, perform.
This seems to have reference to His birth first of all. His birth was a
miracle; He was born of a virgin. It could also have reference to His
ministry on earth—a doer of miraculous, marvelous things.
“Counsellor” –to advise, to guide. He is
already serving in that capacity through the scripture and the Holy
Spirit. When He rules in the millennium, scripture indicates that His
advice will be eagerly sought by the masses compared to the small percentage
comprising the church that seek Him now.
“the mighty God” – These words are descriptive of
His power, and the fact that it is the power of God, the greatest power, El
Shaddai. Although the article “the” is not in the original, I think it is
clearly understood. There is only one God, and Jesus is that God.
“the everlasting Father” – The Father who will
never die, Who encompasses eternity.
“The Prince of Peace” – The Lord Jesus is the one who can ensure our
safety, health, wealth, and contentment. During His reign on earth, the
world will experience a time of peace such as it has never come close to
knowing.
Once Jesus assumes His
throne on planet earth in His kingdom, His time of government will never
end. There will be no elections, no alternatives. Although many will rebel and join Satan at
the end of the first 1,000 years of His reign (the millennium), those in
rebellion will be immediately defeated and never again will an enemy of Jesus
be a part of His kingdom.
What are the
characteristics of His kingdom? It will be ordered (stable, prosperous,
perfect). It will be established according to God’s law and will reflect
morality, virtue and prosperity according to His law; never will sin be allowed
to prosper within its confines. It will continue for eternity, time
without end. How will this be accomplished? By God’s zeal, His
jealousy, His envy. God will not share His authority with another.
He was very clear about this early in the history of the nation of Israel.
Exodus 34:14 “For thou shalt worship no other god:
for the LORD, whose name is
Jealous, is a jealous God….”
Deuteronomy 4:24 “For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.”
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