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.
Introduction
The usual greeting at this time of the year is: compliments of the season! It is Christmas Yuletide, well noted for great joy, merriment, exchange of lovely gifts, evergreen songs, highest degrees of pomp, etcetera. Hence, I join a host of gladsome hearts, globally, to say to you, very merry Christmas season!
Now, most people often think about Christmas as a single day’s event, commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, but it’s much more than that. It’s actually a season of a whole lifetime, celebrating the incarnation of God in Jesus the Christ.
Incarnation is the self-revelation of God to the world, whereby both His power and wisdom came to our planet earth and became human, just for the reconciliation of humanity to Himself (1Corinthians 1:24). It’s God partaking of human
nature so we can be partakers of the divine nature (2 Peter 1:4). Alleluia!
Jesus Christ Is Remarkably Wonderful!
Indeed, there are few words in the human diction, which can describe Jesus as perfectly as the word, “wonderful”! A wonder is generally suited to excite amazement and admiration, whether it be miraculous or not (Jeremiah 32:17).
“Wonderful” is usually applied to anything that is quite distinguished and distinctly great (Daniel 12:6). Thus, here it denotes the unusual and remarkable assemblage of qualities that distinguish the Messiah, and qualify Him as the Mighty God.
When we cast our minds upon the various “infallible proofs” of His unfailing goodness, ever-enduring mercy and unfathomable greatness, we cannot but marvel and declare that we serve the One who is, in all respects, wonderful.
However, the wonderfulness of Jesus Christ is intrinsic to His divine person, transcending the sheer awesomeness of the things that He did and still does. I believe this was what inspired the Psalmist to write: “thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone” (Psalm 86:10).
Even before the Master walked the shores of the earth, the wonder of His person was known to some people, by revelation. For example, when the Prophet Isaiah foretold the first coming of Jesus, he proclaimed that “His name shall be called Wonderful ....” (Isaiah 9:6).
All the attributes inherent in the other names alluded to in that prophetic proclamation – His guidance, His might, His everlasting love, the Peace He gives – are best summed up in one word: wonderful.
Likewise Daniel, while in the land of captivity, saw a revelation of Jesus and His glory and His dominion, which is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away (Daniel 7:14). What a wonder – a universal kingdom and dominion that knows no end!
Albeit, nothing tells the story of His wonder as much as His matchless love, which saw the omnipotent, omnipresent and omniscient One voluntarily take on the human form and submit Himself to the death on the Cross. This is truly mind- blowing!
Jesus Christ Is The Unique Wonder of All Wonders!
Justly is Jesus Christ called Wonderful. He is both God and man. His love is the wonder of angels, and of glorified saints. Jesus Christ, in His being and in His works, is exalted above the ordinary course of nature.
He is wonderful in His person, and in the glory and beauty of it. It was a wonder that God gave Him for us, and that He came. He’s wonderful in His humility, self-denial, patience, conduct, courage, and greatness of soul.
His conception was wonderful. After His birth, the direction of the wise men to Him by a star, His preservation from Herod's cruelty, and His wisdom in disputation with the law-doctors in the temple at twelve years of age were all records of wonder.
His baptism in Jordan was a wonder. His victory over Satan’s temptations in the wilderness, His doctrines, His mighty works and His transfiguration on the mount were all wonderful.
Jesus was even wonderful in His death. By dying, He procured life for us. He abolished death, destroyed the devil and obtained eternal redemption for all mankind. At His death, there was a great earthquake, darkness fell upon the earth, and even the temple veil was supernaturally rent in two (Matthew 27-28).
Again, wonderful is His resurrection from the dead, and His ascension to heaven. His entrance into heaven is wonderful: He’s even now seated at the right hand of God interceding for us.
Yet, more wonderful will Jesus Christ be in His second coming. The trumpet will sound with the voice of the archangel, the dead will be raised, there will be the rapture of saints, followed by pronouncements and executions of distinct divine judgements. Please pause here, and ponder!
Jesus Christ is the Wonder of all generations. He’s the embodiment of all wonders over the ages. In His ordinances, His manifestations and His grace, now and hereafter, Jesus is wonderful in all content.
History is replete with various examples of the “almightiness” of Jesus Christ and His wondrous works. He fed five thousand with five loaves and two fish. He walked on water and calmed the storm. He healed the sick, raised the dead and cast out devils!
However, most amazing of all, He reproduces Himself and dwells within millions of believers across the earth. Thus, as believers today, we can experience and live as proxies of His wonder on the earth (Luke 17:21; 1Corinthians 3:16)!
No wonder then that we, His people, are for signs and wonders (Isaiah 8:18). He is not only "wonderful", but a "miracle of unfolding secret", revealed to believers through the mercy of God (Judges 13:17-18).
Yes indeed, Jesus Christ is the One who defies every adjective that we attempt to use in qualifying Him (Job 9:10). He is our wonderful kinsman-Redeemer.
He’s wonderful in all He is, in all He does, and in all that belongs unto Him. He’s the King of kings; He lives in us and we’re His viceroys on earth (1John 4:17).
Please, celebrate Him responsibly this season, building up yourself on your most holy faith. Surely, the One who is called “Wonderful” shall make you a wonder unto many, and you shall enjoy manifest goodness within and all around you! You won’t miss it, in Jesus name. Amen. Happy Sunday!
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Bishop Taiwo Akinola,
Rhema Christian Church,
Otta, Ogun State, Nigeria.
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