"And His Name shall be called Wonderful ..."
Isaiah 9?6
The names for Jesus shared in Isaiah 9:6 are all packed with meaning. God chose to begin that verse with Wonderful. The noun wonder means "a feeling of surprise caused by something beautiful." As believers, we are continually surprised by the beauty of the Lord Jesus. Wonder is the perfect response to our Wonderful Savior.
In Judges 13 we learn the story of the birth of Samson. Having gone through infertility ourselves, this story resonates with me. The Angel of the Lord (the preincarnate Jesus) shares His Name –Wonderful – with Samson's parents. We also learn a lot about our faith from their responses. It begins with the preincarnate Jesus delivering this glorious news to the barren wife: "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son." Judges 13:3. "Someone" Wonderful brought "a beautiful feeling of surprise" to a woman longing for a child. The Bible never tells us her name but we relate to her.
She immediately believes. She runs to tell her husband "a man of God appeared to me. He looked like one of God's angels ... He didn't tell me his name." The Angel of the Lord (the preincarnate Jesus) would soon do that. Manoah immediately prays and asks the man of God to come back again and give more instructions. God graciously answered and the preincarnate Jesus appeared again. When Manoah asked if he is the same man, the Bible says Jesus answered, "Yes, I am." I smile, thinking that He may have really said, "Yes, I AM."
Centuries later, the Great "I AM, " the "Someone" given by God to save all who will believe in His Name, did exactly that on the cross. John 3:16
Manoah's next question is a faith lesson for all of us. There is no doubt in this man whether it will happen. Manoah asked, "When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy's work and life?" WHEN. Not if.
One word can teach so much. Are we struggling to trust Jesus with something this Christmas? Are we afraid to believe that "feeling of surprise" that He longs to share with us? Afraid it cannot be true? It won't happen? Don't let IF rob you. Let's commit we will trust God and believe the WHEN is true.
We're told Manoah did not realize it was actually the Angel of the Lord (the preincarnate Jesus), but he knew this good news was definitely of God. Manoah wanted to prepare a burnt offering to thank God. Then he asked just one question. The best question. "What is your name? For WHEN all of this comes true, we want to honor you." Preparing an offering was the customary response before the cross. Today our offerings are spiritual words of worship and adoration, a giving of our hearts.
Now we come to the wonderful part of the story! The Angel of the Lord (Jesus) replied: "Why do you ask My name? It is too Wonderful for you to understand."
Everything about Jesus is Wonderful. His name is Wonderful. His coming to earth in Bethlehem long ago is Wonderful. His taking on human flesh and becoming one of us is Wonderful. The Lamb of God given for the sins of the world is Wonderful. The Lion of Judah rising victorious from the grave is Wonderful. The list goes on and on ... And yet it is all too Wonderful for us to understand. There is certainly no shortage of reasons to worship and prepare our hearts for this coming Christmas celebration.
Wonder surrounds Jesus in the Gospels. When He taught the people about the Kingdom of God, when He performed miracles, when He touched the untouchable leper, when He comforted the grieving mother, when He healed the sick and raised the dead, the reaction was always the same. The people wondered. The people marveled. Matthew 7:28-29, Mark 1:22 and 1:27, and Luke 4:22. In John 4:28, the Samaritan woman at the well was so filled with wonder she left her water jar and ran to tell everyone in her town about Jesus. In Luke 24:32, the disciples said their hearts burned within them with wonder when Jesus explained the Scriptures.
Let's enjoy a new sense of wonder this Christmas season. It's true –– Jesus is too Wonderful for us to truly understand. But let's make quiet moments with Him a priority. Let's have a WHEN perspective, not an IF perspective. Let's ask for hearts so filled with wonder that we lay down the "water jar" of our work and tell our loved ones about Jesus. Let's ask Jesus to fill our hearts with wonder so that the reality of Jesus burns within us this season as never before.
If you're like me, I get a song in my mind and it won't go away. I am inviting this praise song to come into my thoughts and stay there throughout Christmas ––
His Name is Wonderful, His Name is Wonderful, His Name is Wonderful
Jesus my Lord.
He is the Mighty King, Master of Everything, His Name is Wonderful
Jesus my Lord.
He's the Great Shepherd, the Rock of all ages, Almighty God is He
Bow down before Him, Love and adore Him, His Name is Wonderful
Jesus my Lord.
Have a Wonderful Christmas.
Changed by His Word.