4 Prophetic Names of Jesus

This is a special time of year as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. I took a Scripture writing challenge this month with some friends using different passages about the coming of Christ at His birth. I find the prophecies of the Old Testament about Christ’s birth so fascinating. Isaiah and Micah, along with other prophets, prophesied exact details about Christ’s first coming which Jesus fulfilled to the letter.

These prophecies prove the inspired Word of God in ways that no man could have planned on his own. It always excites me to think that if God planned and fulfilled those prophecies so precisely, how much more precise His Second Coming will be!

In this Scripture writing challenge, I have been looking at some of the prophecies the Holy Spirit led Isaiah to share with us.

"Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel." Isaiah 7:14

The virgin birth is a foundational doctrine that doesn’t make sense to the human mind. But it was necessary for God to miraculously bring His Son to earth as a human and yet maintain His sinless perfection. Without a virgin birth, Jesus was just another man! Praise God for this prophecy fulfilled hundreds of years later through the birth of Christ!
 
The prophecy of Isaiah that I want to focus on today is found in Isaiah 9:6.

"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." Isaiah 9:6

This Child that was to be born, Micah 5:2 tells us, in Bethlehem, would be the ruler of Israel. Micah points to the eternality of Christ in that prophecy as well. Isaiah tells us that He would be a ruler. And then Isaiah, under inspiration, gives us four prophetic names describing the One Who would redeem us from sin and death.

1. He is called the Wonderful Counselor

This name refers to the WORDS with which Christ would minister to us. Think of these wonderful words of counsel He gave to His disciples and to us while He lived on this earth.

"Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light." Matthew 11:28-30
 
"And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:27
 
"But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren." Luke 22:32
 
"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in Me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:1-3

And this is only barely scratching the surface of the wonderful counsel He gave to us in the whole cannon of His Word. He is indeed our Wonderful Counselor!

2. He is called the Mighty God

I challenge you to read your Bible and find the wonderful WORKS that this Mighty God has done. The Old Testament recounts for us the wonderful works He did for the children of Israel. The New Testament, especially the Gospels, recounts the works Christ did while He was here on the earth as a man. The Epistles demonstrate the wonderful saving and sanctifying work He is doing in people of all ages. Revelation, in particular, prophesies the works that He will do in judgment in the days to come. The work of this Mighty God is literally one of the themes woven throughout the whole of the Bible. I love the way John describes the Mighty God and His works during His earthly ministry in John 21:25.

"And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written."  John 21:25

The wonderful part about His works is that they did not stop when Jesus left the earth. If you are a believer today, this Mighty God performed His work of salvation in you and He is continuing that work in you today and will complete it when you meet Him face to face! (Philippians 1:6)
 
The Redeemer of my soul and yours, if you are a child of God, is indeed the MIGHTY GOD!

3. He is called the Everlasting Father

This name refers to His WAYS. He has always existed and wants to be closely related to us like a loving, earthly father is with his children. He desires to protect us and provide for us. He describes Himself as our Father throughout Scripture. 
 
These are a few of my favorite verses that show that fatherly relationship He desires to have with each one of His children

"A Father of the fatherless, and a Judge of the widows, is God in His holy habitation."  Psalm 68:5
 
"He shall cry unto Me, Thou art my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation."  Psalm 89:26

​"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in Heaven." Psalm 89:26

"…for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him." Matthew 6:8b

Twice Paul uses the term Abba, Father which literally means “Daddy.” These verses are very special to me and should be to all believers when we understand the close relationship that our Everlasting Father wants to have with us.

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." Romans 8:15
 
"And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father." Galatians 4:6

What a blessing that this Child that was to be born is the Everlasting Father for those who would choose His adoption!

4. He is called the Prince of Peace

This name refers to His WILL being done. Who else has come on the scene and promised peace and actually delivered? Peace is something that many people seek. Jesus made it clear when He was on earth that He came to bring true peace for all who would accept it.

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." John 14:27

Christ clearly told us that the world does not have the answer to peace! Isaiah tells us in Isaiah 9:7 that this peace would be endless! Many politicians and world leaders have made it their life’s goal to bring peace to the world only to fail. The world today is in great need of true peace. The only way to have peace is through the Prince of Peace. 
 
Our Redeemer promises us peace because He is the Prince of Peace.

What a wonderful prophecy that points to so much more than just the birth of Jesus!

• How do these four prophetic names of this Child affect us today? 
• Are you resting in the words of the Wonderful Counselor? 
• Have you recognized and even personally experienced the works of the Mighty God?
• Are you following the ways of your Everlasting Father?
• Are you seeking the will of the Prince of Peace?

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How do we keep our focus firmly on the birth of Christ during the busy Advent season? Most Christians agree that Christmas is all about Jesus, yet most of us spend little time preparing our hearts to celebrate Him. Why is this? Partly because we don’t know how.

In Unwrapping the Names of Jesus, Asheritah Ciuciu leads readers through the four weeks of Advent with these four themes: Hope, Preparation, Joy, and Love.

Each week:

• Begins with an interactive family devotional that equips readers to celebrate Advent together
• Offers five daily reflections that focus on that week's name of Jesus
• Includes suggestions for fun-filled family activities or service projects 

​Unwrapping the Names of Jesus can be used by readers in their own personal worship times or as a tool to engage in family worship during the busy holiday season. Either way, participants will gain a greater sense of awe and wonder at who Jesus is.

By focusing on the person and character of Jesus throughout the Advent season, readers will prepare their hearts so that when they admire the live nativity, sit in the candlelight service, or wake up on Christian morning, they can join the faithful who sing from the bottom of their hearts, "O come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord!"

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​Joy, peace, and power—these are only some of the gifts promised to those who trust in the name of the Lord. Praying the Names of Jesus will lead readers into a richer and more rewarding relationship with Christ by helping them to understand and pray His names on a daily basis. 

By understanding the biblical context in which these names and titles were revealed, readers will gain a more intimate knowledge of Jesus and His plan for their lives. They will also begin to see how each of His names holds within it a promise: to be our Teacher, Healer, Friend, and Lord—to be God with Us no matter the circumstances. Prince of Peace, Lamb of God, Bread of Life, Yeshua... Through His names and titles, we come to understand more fully how Jesus reveals God's heart to us.

Praying the Names of Jesus focuses on 26 of His most prominent names and titles to provide six months of devotions. Each week provides a unique devotional program designed for personal prayer and study or for use in small groups. Praying the Names of Jesus is the companion volume to the bestselling Praying the Names of God. In ways both surprising and profound, it reveals a rich portrait of Jesus that will move readers toward a deeper experience of His love and mercy.

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