“For a Child will be born to us, a Son will be given to us;
And the government will rest on His shoulders;
And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
Isaiah 9:6 (NASB)
Series: Our Savior, Our Hope
In the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season, most of us find ourselves needing more stamina than ever, just to get through the weeks in front of us. This has led to some interesting conversations about how we need superpowers to get everything accomplished! When asked who my favorite superhero is, I immediately think about the “powers” they possess before I answer. Superman can fly, has super strength, and X-ray vision. Wonder Woman has super strength and an outstanding golden “Lasso of Truth.” Then there’s Spiderman, who has super speed, strength, durability and can crawl up walls! And you have to love Storm from X-Men, and her ability to control the weather. Who to pick? What makes these attributes so attractive? Is it power? Fame? Fortune? All the above?
Unlike these comic book heroes, we can find real people who did remarkable things in God’s Word. Moses parted the Red Sea, and Joshua brought down the wall of Jericho. Samson had immense strength to take down his enemies, and let’s not forget David, anointed future King, who defeated the giant, Goliath, with a slingshot and a stone. Each of them performed these great works, knowing it was not by their own power, but by the power of the Mighty God they served. The Old Testament prophet Isaiah calls Jesus, Mighty God and continues to remind us of His power in Isaiah 40:28-31:
Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. (NIV)
The prophet Jeremiah also proclaims the majesty of our God in this scripture:
‘Oh, Lord God! Behold, You Yourself have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You, who shows mercy to thousands, but repays the wrongdoing of fathers into the laps of their children after them, great and mighty God. The Lord of armies is His name; (Jeremiah 32:17-18 NASB)
The Old Testament books are full of God’s power at work. He rescues His people time and time again from despair and captivity. He provides, protects, and defends those whom He has called for His purpose. As we turn the pages into the New Testament, He sent His Son to become flesh that He might reconcile all of us to Himself. The opening scripture in the Gospel of John, says it all:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. (John 1:1-3 NIV)
Peering further into the New Testament, we see the power of Jesus. His miracles of turning water into wine, healing the blind and the sick, raising Lazarus from the dead, calming the sea, and in His last moments, He took the weight of all our sins and died for us. There is nothing too hard for our God. Nothing.
Jesus—our Savior, our Hope—is also called the “Lion of Judah.” Through the tribe of Judah, the lion symbol came to represent the blessing, majesty, and divine protection of the Jewish people. He has also been called the “Lamb of God.” A lamb was often the sacrificial animal presented to God as an offering for forgiveness and righteousness. One man, the Lion and the Lamb. One of the strongest, most powerful animals and one of the most timid, frail animals are both used to describe Jesus.
He held the strength of a lion and laid down His life for us. And adorned the heart and gentleness of a lamb to be the ultimate sacrifice for all humanity. Jesus. Mighty God, my Hero.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Isaiah 9:6, 40:28-31; Psalm 147:4-5; Job 9:4; Jeremiah 32:17-18, 27; Zephaniah 3:17; Ephesians 6:10