Day 4: The King's Song
“If Jesus Christ is actually God come in the flesh, you’re going to know much more about God. You’re seeing Him weep. You’re seeing Him upset. You’re seeing Him cast down. You’re seeing Him exalted. If Jesus is who He says He is, we have a 500-page autobiography from God, in a sense.
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“For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. And he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Yesterday we saw the Baby Boy being assigned some amazing names to grow up into, starting with Wonderful Counselor. It's as if the King proudly sang a future for His Boy right in front of us. Can you hear it? "And He shall be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
And the music shifts from Wonderful Counselor to a powerful second harmony: Mighty God.
With Mighty God comes strength and victory and power. Where Red Seas are piled a mile high on each side and humans can walk confidently on dry ground. Where blind ones are given sight and God forgives humans and humans forgive each other. These are no small things. These are things of might.
And that strength and power of a Mighty God is sung, and then we hear: Everlasting Father.
Who needs to know a Dad who will always show up and be engaged? I know many foster children who need to know a Dad-Who-Lasts. A Dad of tenderness and protection and a good plan and loving arms ready for you every morning. I know grown men who have craved a Present Dad their whole life. Wanting a father who is affectionate and strong and available. With this title, Everlasting leaves no room for Absence. What a Christmas gift.
And then the last, beautiful note of the song: Prince of Peace.
Princes are sons of kings. And THE King reigns supreme and has given His Prince a banner of peace that passes all understanding, waving behind him as He rides the countryside. This peace sweeps over us when the sky is falling, as we vacuum the carpet (again), as we sing to our sick and feverish babies in the late night. And if we cannot find it, we can certainly ask, calling upon His very name for peace upon peace. He loves when we come to Him and appeal to who He is.
And He can absolutely hold all 4 offices at once. Me? I can barely get my kids off to school with their coats on in below freezing weather. Let alone touch being "everlasting" at anything. Thank God for who He is and His general ability to, say, hold the oceans in His hand.
Though one title may jump out at us according to our need, the Baby-King isn't just one of those at a time. These names are not isolated. He is Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace simultaneously. Incredibly. Thankfully.
Which speaks to the beauty of the mysterious Trinity. Father, Son, Spirit - three in one.
This sweet, diapered, helpless baby is promised to come wrapped with counsel and might and affection and peace. This is what it means when God becomes man. All the names. Wrapped up in one, tiny package. That's quite the gift.
And yet, there may be one of those names singing over your soul today, one you haven't noticed or listened for before.
Which name, in the middle of all the names, speaks to you? Why?
May you find that the Baby Boy, wrapped in all the names, is helping you unwrap each of His beautiful titles this Christmas season.
Dear God, thank you for ALL of who you are. Thank you for your advising, your power, your fatherly affection, and your peace. And that you said this is what you will call the Baby-King. The one sucking his hands, drooling, crying, helpless. You sang a future over Him that could only be of Your Spirit's work. You gave us a helpless baby and turned him into one who commands the army of heaven. Your Christmas gifts are amazing. Amen.
“And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
“Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?”