“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 Focus: “Behold Your King”
When someone asks me 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 that 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 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, 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 in chapter 9. And Isaiah continues to remind us of God’s power in chapter 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 chapter 32:17-18:
‘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; (NASB)
The Old Testament books are full of our Mighty 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. And then, He sent His Son to become flesh that He might reconcile all of us to Himself. In the Gospel of John, his opening verses say 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)
Peer into the New Testament and 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 is 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, weak animals are both used to describe Jesus. Wouldn’t you need the strength of a lion to lay down your life for others? Wouldn’t you need the heart and gentleness of a lamb to be the ultimate sacrifice for 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