Advent Reflections 2020: Isaiah's Titles for Jesus - 2: Mighty God

For our Advent reflections this year we're going to look at the titles Jesus is given in Isaiah's prophecy in Isaiah 9:6 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

“Unto us is born a son, unto us a child is given” Isaiah proclaims, and the question is who is this child?  Isaiah has already prophesied the birth of a son in 7:14 - “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: the virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel” and the word translated 'virgin' could simply mean a young woman.  In 8:3 Isaiah marries a prophetess who gives birth to a son who might be the immediate fulfilment of this prophecy.  However, the deeper meaning of the prophecy is brought out in 9:6.

We saw last week how the son is to be a 'Wonderful Counsellor' which could be applied to a great human.  If you think about some of the famous figures in history, there is often something about them or their lives which inspires wonder, and thousands of memes spread wise words that have been spoken through the ages.  However the next description of the son leaves us in no doubt about who he is: he is the 'Mighty God'.

There is no distinction to be made here between Jesus as the 'Mighty God' and YHWH / Jehovah as the 'Almighty God' as if Jesus were some sort of demi-god or a lesser deity.  This is because YHWH (the personal name for God in the Old Testament identified as the one Creator God and the God who made a covenant with Abraham and his family) is also called 'Mighty God' in Isaiah 10:21 and Jeremiah 32:18.  So the 'son' is clearly identified as equal to the one Creator and covenantal God YHWH, and here we have another reference to a plurality within the Godhead, which eventually comes into focus in the doctrine of the Trinity.  Therefore, 'virgin' is an appropriate translation, not only because the word refers to a young, unmarried woman who in those times would have been a virgin, but also because a virgin giving birth points to the unique nature of the 'son' as both human and divine.

The name 'Mighty God' has overtones of powerfulness and strength particularly in battle, and this reminds us that Jesus didn't just come to do miraculous deeds, or give amazing teachings, but that he came to fight the spiritual enemies of sin and death.  The contrast between a weak, helpless baby and a conquering warrior is one that is so great that many people will separate the baby Jesus from the adult 'Jesus Christ' – they are happy to celebrate his birth as being a joyous occasion, but they don't want to 'buy in' to what he did as an adult.  However, in the good news of Jesus the two are inseparable: Paul tells us “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (1 Timothy 1:15) and Jesus himself said that he came to give his life as a ransom (Mark 10:45).  The way he saved sinners is by defeating sin and death through his death on the cross (Colossians 2:13-15).

To acclaim Jesus as the Mighty God is to remind ourselves that there is no greater power in heaven or on earth than him.  So we need not be afraid of our own failings, or death, or even COVID-19.  Turn to Jesus, the Mighty God, this Christmas and feel the power of his protection.

If there were no resurrection...

Here's my magazine article for April:

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important event in the whole history of the universe. And not just because to celebrate it we have a day when you're allowed to eat chocolate at every meal and for every snack in between! Jesus' death is the centre of the Christian faith but it's his resurrection that gives his death its meaning.

Paul wrote that the most important belief is “that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Peter, and then to the Twelve” (1 Corinthians15:3-5). Later in the same chapter he writes “if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins” (verse 17). Our sins can be forgiven because Jesus died in our place but it is his resurrection that guarantees that his sacrifice worked.

Jesus predicted that he would die and be raised to life again (Mark 8:31) so his resurrection proves that his teaching is trustworthy and true. Therefore, when he says that he gives his life “as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45) we know that is true too. Anyone could say that they will give their life as a ransom for many but the resurrection is proof that Jesus actually did it. Without the resurrection, Jesus could be seen as just a wise teacher or guru, or even as a tragic hero who died because he challenged the establishment. With the resurrection we can be sure that Jesus' death was the sacrifice needed to take the punishment we deserve for our sins. We also know that sin has been dealt with because the consequence of sin is death (Romans 6:23); Jesus' resurrection proves that he has conquered death and therefore also conquered sin.

But the resurrection is more than a proof so that we know we can be forgiven. Paul tells us “We were therefore buried with [Jesus] through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life” (Romans 6:4). That new life has the qualities of eternal life (closeness to God, freedom from slavery to sin, freedom from fear of death) but is available here and now. Jesus' resurrection means we can have a fresh start; forgiven for our past sins and a future close relationship with God. Jesus' resurrection means that salvation isn't something that happens after death but is a state of life before death that carries on beyond death. As Jesus said, he came so that those who believe in him “may have life, and have it to the full” (John 10:10).

So this Easter as you munch your way through excessive amounts of chocolate, think about the world-changing event that that chocolate celebrates: Jesus' resurrection. And more importantly, think what Jesus' resurrection means to you. In Romans 10:9, Paul assures us “if you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”