For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)

Yesterday we saw that Isaiah’s prophesied child would be called “Wonderful Counselor.” Today we consider the second title given to this child, this son who was given for the redemption of God’s people. His name shall be called “Mighty God.”

Clearly this is not a normal son or a normal child. This is God in the flesh. This is the astounding miracle of Christmas. In fact, I would argue that this is the most astounding miracle in all of the Bible, even greater than the resurrection from the dead, greater than calming wind and waves, or turning loaves of bread and fish into enough food for thousands of people.

Of course Jesus can calm the wind and the waves; of course He can conquer death. He’s God. The most astounding miracle is that God took on human flesh and came to dwell among us. This child born to Joseph and Mary was both fully man and fully God. Talk about a mystery!

But even in the midst of the mystery, we see the beauty of the gospel, for this is the only way we can be saved from our sins. We need One who can fully identify with us, One who knows what it’s like to be tempted yet without giving in to sin (Hebrews 4:15). At the same time, we need One who can fully identify with God, who is God, who can bear the divine judgment due our sin.

The only person who fits that description is Jesus, for He is fully man and fully God. Other religions deny this truth, but for followers of Christ, this is our hope and peace. Christ is the Son given to us, the child born for our salvation. He is rightly called “Mighty God.”

PRAYING IN LIGHT OF TODAY’S PASSAGE

Pray that God would open the eyes of people from other religions, such as Islam, who deny that Jesus is the fully divine Son of God.