This is the second post in a four-part Advent series. Read last week’s post here.
“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 Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” -Isaiah 9:6, emphasis added
When Ahaz was king of Judah, two armies were rising up to fight against Jerusalem, causing the hearts of Ahaz and the people of Judah to be shaken. The Lord tried to reassure Ahaz, reminding him to stand firm in his faith. Still, Ahaz doubted.
In response to Ahaz’s weak faith, God revealed to Isaiah a sign He would give to His people.
“‘The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.’” -Isaiah 7:14b
This is the first time this name is mentioned in the Scriptures, and it holds a unique meaning: God with us. This son, born of a virgin, was to be God living and breathing among the people. Isaiah reiterated this truth when he called the son “Mighty God.”
The promised Messiah was to be unlike any person who had ever walked the Earth. He was not an angel nor a demon nor merely another man; He was God with us.
Jesus is God
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. … The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” -John 1:1, 14
Since Jesus’ birth, mankind has doubted His deity. The Pharisees called Him “demon-possessed (John 8:52).” Other faiths call Him a prophet or a good man. But the Scriptures proclaim that Jesus is God who “became flesh” and dwelt among us.
Men of the first century—both those who knew Jesus and those who didn’t—testified to Christ’s deity.
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form … .” -Colossians 2:9
“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, ‘Who do people say the Son of Man is?’ They replied, ‘Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’
“‘But what about you?’ he asked. ‘Who do you say I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’” -Matthew 16:13-16
“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, ‘Surely he was the Son of God!’” -Matthew 27:54
Some argue that Jesus never claimed to be the Son of God. But when the Pharisees were testing Him and questioning His identity, Jesus made a bold statement.
“‘Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.’
“‘You are not yet fifty years old,’ they said to him, ‘and you have seen Abraham!’
“‘Very truly I tell you,’ Jesus answered, ‘before Abraham was born, I am!’” -John 8:56-58, emphasis added
The Pharisees knew what Jesus meant when he said “‘I am.’” God also called Himself “‘I Am’” when he commanded Moses to go to Pharoah (Exodus 3). Jesus was saying that He is I Am, that He and the Father are one (John 10:30).
Despite the doubts, Jesus is the Son of God. The miracle of Immanuel is that God came down to Earth to live as one of us and can empathize with our pain and weaknesses (Hebrews 4:15). It was a humbling move from a loving God.
Jesus is Mighty
But a God who can empathize with weakness should not be confused with a God who is weak. Throughout Scripture, the Lord is praised again and again for His might.
“Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.” -Psalm 24:8
“No one is like you, Lord; you are great, and your name is mighty in power.” -Jeremiah 10:6
Jesus’ entrance into the world seemed anything but mighty. He was born into a working-class family, and His first bed was where animals eat their food. But the promised Son who was to be called “Mighty God” eventually proved His strength.
“He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, ‘Quiet! Be still!’ Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. … They were terrified and asked each other, ‘Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!’” -Mark 4:39, 41
What did Ahaz have to fear? The armies he faced were mighty, but God is mightier. In the same way, Jesus is mightier than the battles you face today. He can relate to your pain and can calm the storms in your life. Rejoice, therefore, that the Mighty God that Isaiah foretold is Immanuel, God with you.