“His Name . . . Mighty God”

When Pope Julius I authorized December 25 to be celebrated as the birthday of Jesus in A.D. 353, who would have ever thought that it would become what it is today.

When Professor Charles Follen lit candles on the first Christmas tree in America in 1832, who would have ever thought that the decorations would become as elaborate as they are today.

It is a long time since 1832, longer still from 353, longer still from that dark night brightened by a special star in which Jesus the king was born. Yet, as we approach December 25 again, it gives us yet another opportunity to pause, and in the midst of all the excitement and elaborate decorations and expensive commercialization which surround Christmas today, to consider again the event of Christmas and the person whose birth we celebrate. - Brian L. Harbour, James W. Cox, The Minister's Manual: 1994, San Fransico: Harper Collins, 1993, p. 254.

Good evening, tonight we are looking once more at Isaiah 9:6. Tonight we are looking at the name mighty God. I know that some times it is hard to think of Christ Jesus as mighty God, after all we usually hear Him called the Son of God. But never forget He is God, was God and will forever and ever be God. He was before time, before "In the beginning."

Isaiah the prophet, nearly eight hundred years before the birth of Christ, declared by divine inspiration the names of our Lord. He is called “Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” These names contain revealing characteristics of the Lord. Though certainly not comprehending all that these titles mean, Isaiah recognized the Messiah as “The mighty God.”

Isa 9:6
6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

1. Meaning of the name — “Mighty God.”

The words “mighty God” are translated by others as “the Illustrious One” or “the Shining One.” But the Hebrew word for God is אֵל‎ (El) and has as its root meaning “strength.” When the word is a proper name, it is translated “the Strong One.” The other word of the title isגִּבֹּר‎ (ghib-bore') which also means strength or might.

When the two words are put together, they mean “The Mighty Strong One.” In the prophecy of Isaiah, the word El refers to deity in the absolute sense. It is never used for men but only of divinity. It is never used metaphorically. So the Hebrew title Gibbor El means “The Mighty God.”

The great Danish philosopher and theologian Soren Kierkegaard points out that our Mighty God is even more wonderful and powerful as our Redeemer than He is as our Creator. He says, “God creates out of nothing. Wonderful, you say. Yes, to be sure, but He does what is still more wonderful: He makes saints out of sinners.” [SOURCE: Soren Kierkegaard, Leadership, Vol. 8, no. 4.].

Have you experienced the life changing wonder of Mighty God?

Here in verse 6 we read, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given.” Christ Jesus is the Son of God. The text also says, “His name shall be called . . . Mighty God.” These words declare Christ Jesus’ deity. Christ Jesus is not only the Son of God; He is God Himself.

What the Messiah came to do could be done by none other than God Himself. Only God can redeem people from their sin; only God can vanquish death; only God can triumph over Satan; and none but God can make atonement. In this work of reconciliation, the prophets recognized the Messiah as more than a man. He must be also partaker of the divine nature; He must be God.

The angel said to Joseph of the yet unborn Jesus, “Call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The prophets did not comprehend our doctrine of the Trinity, yet they believed that some day God would robe Himself in human flesh and enter into humankind’s world. Christ Jesus is God-in-the-flesh. He is the “Mighty God.”

2. Christ Jesus is the Mighty God.

Some deny His deity. Many say that Christ Jesus is not the Mighty God. He is a good man but not the God/man. The New Testament has strong words of condemnation about the person who denies our Lord is very God. “Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist — ​he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also” (1 John 2:22 – 23). 

 

If Christ Jesus is not the Mighty God, then we all are idolaters. We worship Him who is not God. The first command of the Ten Commandments is “Thou shalt have no other Gods before me.” If we worship a Christ who is not God, we sin. If Christ Jesus is not the Mighty God, He was a blasphemer and was worthy of death. He claimed to be God. He said, “He that hath seen me hath seen the Father. . . . I am in the Father, and the Father in me” (John 14:9 – 10).

Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15:12 – 20 that, if Christ Jesus is not the Mighty God, then all of our preaching is in vain and our faith is also in vain. If Christ Jesus is not the Mighty God, then they who are asleep in Christ have perished. Their hope of glory in eternal life is so much grasping after straw!

But it is true — ​Christ Jesus is God! He is coequal and co-eternal with the Father. “for the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide them to springs of the water of life; and God will wipe every tear from their eyes." Rev 7:17

The Bible declares His deity. Christ Jesus claimed it for Himself. But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to Him, "I adjure You by the living God, that You tell us whether You are the Christ, the Son of God." Jesus said to him, "You have said it yourself; nevertheless I tell you, hereafter you will see THE SON OF MAN SITTING AT THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER, and COMING ON THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN." Then the high priest tore his robes and said, "He has blasphemed! What further need do we have of witnesses? Behold, you have now heard the blasphemy;” (Matthew 26:63 – 65).

John the Baptist knew Christ Jesus was God. He cried out, “Prepare ye the way of the Lord,” and then pointing to Jesus, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29). John the apostle believed Christ Jesus was God. He begins his gospel with this statement: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” and “The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1, 14). The absence of the article before the repeated “Word” shows that “God” is the predicate and precedes the verb for emphasis. The Word is not “a” God, He is God. To the Jewish ear, this would have been abominable. 

 

In verse 18 of this same chapter, John writes, “The only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.” These words establish beyond any question the deity of Christ Jesus. 

 

Peter believed Christ Jesus was God. He declared so on the road to Philippi: “Thou art the Christ” (Matt. 16:16). The apostle Paul believed Christ Jesus was God. In Romans 9:5 he says, “Of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever.” In Colossians 2:9, “For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

And in Philippians 2:6, Christ was “in the form of God.” The Greek word “form” is morphe. It means the sum of those qualities that make a thing precisely what it is. How would you describe the “form” of a spoon? It is metal, but so is a shovel. It has a handle, but so has the shovel. “Form” means more than size and shape. It means the beginning of being, the purpose of being, and of the same kind. Christ Jesus is more than “like” God; He is precisely and specifically God. The Bible presses its point — Christ Jesus is the Might God.

History proclaims Christ Jesus as the Mighty God.

How else will you explain His mark on history?Just over two thousand years ago He was born contrary to all the laws of human reproduction. He lived in poverty and was reared in obscurity. As an infant he was exiled to Egypt to escape the wrath of a jealous king. His hometown of Nazareth was synonymous with that which is little and least.

He seldom moved outside an area bigger than the panhandle of Oklahoma. Yet today millions call him “Lord.” As a boy of twelve, Christ Jesus startled the professors of His day with His knowledge. As a young man He ruled the course of nature, walked on the surface of the sea, and stilled the tempest. The least that was said about Him was, “He went about doing good.”

He never wrote a book, but volumes have been written to explain His contribution to civilization. He never attended an academy, yet scholars recognize His greatness. He never commanded an army, but no commander has had more volunteers than He has. He is the unequal even of history it's self. He is the unfathomed mystery of the ages. Explain all this if He is not the Mighty God. 

 

Sam Hadley was one of the meanest men in all New York. He was a slave to drink, and he cheated, lied, and stole. He deserted friends and family. He would do anything to get enough money for one more drink. One Christmas Eve, after his wife and little girl were asleep, Sam crept into the house and stole the Christmas presents and hocked them for booze. That is how mean he was.

One day he stumbled into the Bowery Mission. There he heard how Christ Jesus, the Son of God, came to this earth to die on the cross for sinners. That day Sam Hadley repented of his sins and gave his heart to Christ Jesus. The glory part of the story is that Sam became a changed man, a good husband and father, and a sober citizen. Later he became a director of that very mission where he met the Savior. Explain Sam Hadley if Christ Jesus is not the mighty God.

Conclusion

Some day everyone will confess that Christ Jesus is the Mighty God. When He comes in the glory of the angels to judge the nations, every eye will see Him. Then every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess that Christ Jesus is Lord to the glory of the Father. But it will be too late for some then. In that day it will be a confession out of fear on the part of those who have neglected to make Christ Jesus their Mighty God. It will be a confession unto condemnation and not unto salvation. Do not wait for the day of vengeance. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the acceptable time. Confess Christ Jesus today as the Mighty God who takes away the sins of the world.