The Promised Messiah
In his
epistle to the Ephesians, Paul extols the glorious church of our Lord (
The
Ephesian letter also makes it clear (over thirty times) that the church exists,
and that God's purposes are accomplished through Jesus Christ. In Christ are "all spiritual
blessings" enjoyed (1:3). By him we become acceptable to God (1:6). It
is in him that "we have redemption through his blood" (1:7).
God has placed "all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head
over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all" (
The promise was first made after Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit. Before pronouncing punishment upon the couple, God said to the Serpent, “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.” Christ, the seed of woman, would receive a minor injury (bruised heel) from Satan by his death on the cross. But, Christ’s victory over death in his resurrection delivered a fatal blow to Satan’s head: an injury from which he could never recover.
The Messianic promise was made to
Abraham when God called him out of
About 900 years later, king David received the Messianic promise from Nathan: “And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee,...and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and he shall be my son...But my mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul whom I put away before thee. And thine house and thy kingdom shall be established for every before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever."
This
prophecy contained a two-fold application. An initial fulfillment would be seen
in Solomon who would inherit his father’s throne with the promise that the
royal line would never depart from his house. Too, Solomon would have the
privilege of building the house of God at
“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, Counselor, 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. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”
This
Messianic promise was so sure that Isaiah spoke of the future as if already
fulfilled. His birth signaled the advent of his kingdom. The angel told Mary of
the child she would bear: “He shall be great, and shall be called the Son of
the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father
David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom
there shall be no end” (Lk.
Isaiah
announces that the Messiah’s reign would be upheld or sustained by judgment and
justice (justice and righteousness, ASV). These qualities are the rock upon
which God’s throne forever rests, as the Psalmist indicates, “Righteousness
and justice are the foundation of thy throne: Lovingkindness and truth go
before thy face” (Ps. 89:14).
Regarding the names for Messiah listed in Isaiah 9:6, Homer Hailey wrote, “The real glory of the one to be born and His relationship to deity are revealed in the names by which He will be called. In the ancient world one’s name was viewed as a reflection of all that one was, including qualities of character, whether good or bad, strong or weak” (A Commentary on Isaiah, p. 102). The following designations are true descriptions of Christ’s nature and character.
Wonderful
Jesus’ identity as the Son of God, Savior
of the world, victor over sin and death, and the embodiment of all moral and
spiritual truth, makes him the Wonder of all ages. The kings and nations of the
earth would be smitten with awe over his person and work (Isa.
52:13-15).
Counselor Paul wrote of Jesus to the Colossians, “In whom are hid all
the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (2:3). A counselor is one who gives
wisdom and provides guidance in time of need. Morally and spiritually man
desperately needs counsel. The answers will not come from within ourselves (Jer. 10;23), but from heaven
itself in the person of Jesus (cf. John
Mighty God The name “Mighty God” identifies the
Messiah as a person in the Godhead. He possesses all qualities,
characteristics, and attributes of deity.
The author of Hebrews makes direct reference to the Godhood of Jesus, “But
unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever
and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom” (1:8;
cf. Col. 1:15-19).
Everlasting Father The designation “Everlasting Father” shows
the eternity of Messiah’s existence. He is not a created being, he is creator.
The reference to Jesus as “Father” is not to equate him with the Father -- he
is not! Does it sound reasonable that
Jesus would pray to himself (Jn.
Prince of Peace By means of forgiveness sin is purged from
our lives, and peace is made with God. Forgiveness is granted by God on the
basis of one’s obedience to the “gospel of peace” (Rom.
Conclusion We have noticed
that the Messiah was promised, and that God faithfully kept His word. Jesus
came and was everything the prophets said he would be. He did all they said he
would do (Jn.
Scott Finley
14218 Spotted Cedar
ScottFinley@satx.rr.com