For Unto Us A Child Is Born

Isaiah 7:14 is not the only Hebrew Scripture that ascribes deity to Israel’s Messiah. Isaiah 9:6–7 is another well-known prophecy where God told His people a great deal about their coming Messiah:
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. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever.

First, this Scripture reveals the Messiah’s unique dual nature: “A Child is born” speaks of His perfect humanness (Mt. 1:18–25; Lk. 1:31–35; 2:1–7). “A Son is given” (Isa. 9:6) speaks of His deity. This verse does not mean Jesus was created a son at His incarnation. He always has been the eternal Son of God, as clearly stated in John 1:1: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He is fully man and fully God and coequal with the Father.

Second, Isaiah 9:6 reveals the Messiah’s name: “And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Names in Scripture describe a person’s character.

Wonderful. This word refers to the wonder and awe people would see in Jesus, who possessed the attributes of deity and all the characteristics of a human being, yet without sin. It also is a comprehensive description of Jesus’ entire ministry.

Counselor. He is infinitely wise, “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col. 2:3). He manifested the Spirit of wisdom and the ability to provide counsel. People flocked to hear Him. He was wonderful in His flawless counsel and guidance as Messiah and Lord (Isa. 28:29).

Mighty God. This phrase does not speak of a mere man but, rather, of a God-Man. It stresses the Messiah’s omnipotence and omnipresence. The “Child” born—the “Son” given—was unquestionably God.

Everlasting Father (literally, “Father of Eternity”). Being God, Jesus has always existed. This phrase does not refer to God the Father but, rather, to the Messiah (the Second Person of the Godhead), who functions like a father. He is the Creator and Sustainer of all things and oversees everything within His creation, as a father does (Jn. 1:3; Col. 1:16; Heb. 1:1–4). He also functions as a father in His oversight of Israel and the church.

Prince of Peace. Jesus provides peace between man and God through His atoning death. Everyone who puts faith in Him makes peace with God (Rom. 5:1) and, in turn, receives the peace of God (Phil. 4:7). Ultimately, the Prince of Peace will bring peace to the world when He returns to establish the Millennial Kingdom. Then He will sit on King David’s throne and rule the world (Isa. 9:7; cf. Lk. 1:31–33).

When Jesus asked His disciples, “But who do you say that I am?” the apostle Peter answered, “You are the Christ [Messiah], the Son of the living God” (Mt. 16:15–16).

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven” (v. 17).

After Jesus’ resurrection and ascension back to heaven, the apostle John wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life” (1 Jn. 1:1). John stated three truths about the incarnate Christ:

✶ He is God, coequal with and of the same essence as the Father.

✶ He possesses omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, immutability, and eternality—attributes belonging to God alone.

✶ He is the eternal Son of God who took on human flesh and now exists as the God-Man.

Jesus’ incarnation is among the greatest proofs of God’s love for us; and the eternal life that He bestows on those who believe, the greatest gift anyone could receive.