by Emmett Smith

The final designation of Christ in Isaiah 9:6 is "The Prince of Peace". In his blessing of Judah as recorded in Genesis 49:10, Jacob said, "The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be". Shiloh means peace or tranquility, and the passage certainly refers to Jesus. His mission was to make peace between God and man.

In Luke 2:14 (WEY), the angel and heavenly host proclaimed, "Glory be to God in the highest Heavens, And on earth peace among men who please Him!" to the shepherds at night. And in John 14 as Jesus was comforting His disciples He said, "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." In John 16 He said, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

In his benediction upon John's birth Zacharias said that John would be a prophet who would, "guide our feet into the way of peace ". Paul told the Romans that, "we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ". And to the Colossians he wrote that Jesus had made peace, "through the blood of his cross". There could be no peace with God except for Jesus' faithful fulfillment of the plan. He is indeed the Prince of Peace!

Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: Philippians 4:7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.

by Emmett Smith

How could Isaiah refer to the Messiah as "everlasting Father"? Isn't He properly referred to as the "Son of God with power" (Romans 1:4)? Let's not any of us pretend to completely understand this paradox. After all, Paul told Timothy, "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory" (1 Timothy 3:16).

We simply don't (can't) understand the divine nature. The Bible tells us that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit are one God. In Genesis, God said, "let us make man". How can God be one and yet three? That's a mystery. How could God become human? Don't try to tell me you understand it completely. I won't believe you. I don't believe anyone whose only experience is human experience can understand it. However, there are some interesting scholarly comments on this paradox.

Adam Clarke wrote that the phrase "everlasting Father" should be translated as "the Father of the everlasting age". Interestingly, some scholars say that Romans 1:4 which says Jesus was, "...declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:", is supportive of this assertion. The phrase "by the resurrection from the dead" does not apply solely to Jesus, but is generic, i.e. "resurrection of those who are dead". As 1 Corinthians 15:20 says, Christ is, "risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept".

So Jesus is the Father of the everlasting age. The firstfruits of those who rise from the dead, never to die again! Both Old and New Testaments refer to the "last days". And Jesus certainly ushered in those last days (Hebrews 1:1,2). Daniel (chapters 2 & 7) referred to the kingdom that would never be destroyed, but would stand forever. And Jesus, who is the "the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2), established that kingdom, and now reigns over it. Are you one of His subjects?

by Emmett Smith

That's right. Jesus was proclaimed to be "...mighty God..." in Isaiah 9:6. And so He is! In the salutation of his second letter Peter referred to Him as "...our God and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2Peter 1:1). John's gospel begins with the declaration that in the beginning "the Word was God". And should there be any doubt as to John's intent, verse 14 declares that "the Word became flesh and dwelt among us", an obvious reference to the incarnation. And Matthew's quotation of Isaiah 7:14 (Matthew 1:23) explains that the name Emmanuel means "God with us".

Have you thought about this lately? God became human. He lived "among us" according to many hundreds of witnesses of record! (see 1 Corinthians 15:1-9 & 1 John 1:1-4) And 1 Timothy 3:16 summarizes it as follows: "And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory". The gospel is unique in this respect.

No other religion claims that their god became human, lived a simple human life, was put to death by fellow humans, and then demonstrated his power over death in the resurrection. And all this so that we humans could have a loving relationship with Him. The mystery is made even more compelling when we look at Philippians chapter 2. Verse seven says that He "emptied himself" in becoming a man. Just look at a few different commentaries on that verse if you don't think it's mysterious. How could we understand how the sovereign of the universe became human?

But we can understand why. A few verses further on, we're told that His obedient death on the cross enabled Him to be exalted, to be given a name above all others. And we're also told that "every knee should bow" and that "every tongue should confess" that Jesus is Lord. And those knees and tongues are not limited to human ones either, but to things heavenly, and earthly, and under the earth, i.e. every sentient creature ever to exist. The question is not whether we will submit to Him and confess His name, but when we will do it! Whether before or after it's eternally too late.

In John chapter 20, as events following the resurrection are noted, the reaction of Thomas is recorded. We sometimes refer to him as "doubting Thomas". When the others told him that they had seen the Lord alive, Thomas said "I will not believe" unless "I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side". But when the Lord presented this evidence, his response was simply "My Lord and my God".

Think about it. Given that the evidence was true, what other response was possible?

John 20:29  Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

by Emmett Smith

Continuing with last week's passage from Isaiah, not only is Christ wonderful, He's a counselor. Isaiah 11:2 also says, "And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD". The word translated counselor means to advise, to deliberate or to resolve. That's an interesting definition. His advice is the best available. It's plentifully available within the pages of the Bible. He Himself is always available through the avenue of prayer, and no appointment is necessary. However, there's more to it than that.

Those who seek His counsel and heed it are among the happiest, most joyful people in this world (John 15:10,11). Those who accept contrary council are headed for trouble. Examples and precepts abound throughout the New Testament. But there's more to that definition. In addition to advice, there are also the elements of deliberation and resolve. He was present in the beginning, and the statement "let us make man" tells us the entire Godhead were involved in the creation. Imagine the deliberations of that council as the creation progressed!

And that council still exists. Jesus intercedes for us in the Father's presence (Hebrews 7:25). He is our advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1). And the Holy Spirit enhances our prayers as He intercedes as well. So there are deliberations around the throne as a result of our prayers! Of course this assumes we are submissive to His will. The unfortunate aspect of this is that those who reject His counsel and rebel against His will are also going to come up on the Council's agenda.

Acts chapter 17 records Paul's sermon to the Athenians at Mar's Hill. In his conclusion, Paul pointed out that God would no longer overlook men's ignorance, but that "all men everywhere" are now commanded to repent. And the reason for the need of repentance is specifically stated as the appointed day of judgement. And that judgement will be "by that man whom He hath ordained", namely Jesus.

Revelation chapter 6 records a vision of men's response to those events, as a cross section of human society all say to the mountains and rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?" The answer to that last question is simple. Only those who have received His counsel and valued it above that of all others.

by Emmett Smith

In Isaiah chapter nine, right in the middle of prophecies of doom and destruction for Ephraim and Judah, is found one of the most profound statements about our Lord. The sixth verse reads "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".

Indeed Christ is wonderful, from many perspectives. It would not be possible to exhaust this line of thought in a single short message. Interestingly, one of the definitions of the word wonderful is "worthy of praise". This brings to mind the heavenly scene in Revelation Chapter 5, where the angels, living creatures and elders, myriads and thousands strong, worship "the Lamb that was slain" proclaiming Him "worthy" of "power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing"!

As the Psalmist said in Psalms 40:5, " Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered". He is praiseworthy for more reasons than can be enumerated! It is not possible to even compile His wonderful works in order. Scientists try to formulate orderly and rational explanations for their observations. But He who is the ultimate source of what is observed can't be formulated.

The more we learn, the more wonderful His works and thoughts seem! Recent breakthroughs in microbiology and genetics have simply reinforced the wonders of His creation. Don't believe what some claim. The human genome is not even beginning to be completely understood. Having supposedly "mapped" the information that controls human cellular growth (how completely that's been done is open to dispute) we still are light years from understanding what that information means. The quantity of information governing the smallest and simplest organisms would fill a set of encyclopedias!

Yes, He is wonderful. And "the lamb that was slain", who was present in council during creation, without whom was not any thing made that was made, became a willing sacrifice for our sins! If that's not wonderful, then nothing is!