Around Christmas, Christ is most often depicted as a baby in a manger, surrounded by sheep and cows in a humble stable. We remember His birth and coming as an infant — but we can easily forget that He is so much more than that.
In His coming, Christ fulfilled more than 300 prophecies through His birth, life, death and resurrection. Isaiah 9:6, one of the most widely known of these prophecies, reads,
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Contained in this verse are some wonderful promises of who the Christ would be and what He would be like. It can also serve as a powerful reminder to us today of who Jesus is and will always be.
As we go through the names of Christ listed in this verse and explore what they mean together, take time to meditate on these definitions and what they mean to you. Then, read through the verses and the surrounding chapters. I encourage you to find more Scriptures that speak to these truths and think on them throughout the week, reminding yourself of who God is and will be forever.
Wonderful Counselor
This is the first of the names of Christ that are listed. In the Hebrew, “wonderful” means “marvelous thing, a miracle.” The word “counselor” refers to one who would “advise (well), consult, (give) counsel, determine, devise, guide, purpose.”
Christ is a miraculous and wonderful advisor for us. He counsels us and guides us, giving us direction and wisdom when we ask for it. He also gives us a purpose, directing our steps and helping us to be miraculously fulfilled and at peace when we are on the path He leads and guides us on.
Verses to meditate on:
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”
Psalm 23:1-3
“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.”
Psalm 37:23-24
Mighty God
Christ’s second name listed in this verse has two parts. The first, “mighty,” in Hebrew means “champion, chief, excel, giant, mighty man, strong man.” Secondly, He is God Himself.
Christ is our champion and our chief. He is our mighty, strong, and powerful God. He fights for us when we are weak, He protects and defends us, leads us and fights for us — He is mighty and strong enough to handle anything we may face.
Verses to meditate on:
“The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
Zephaniah 3:17
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39
Everlasting Father
In Hebrew, the word “everlasting” in this context means “eternity, old, perpetually, world without end.”
Christ is our eternal, never-ending, everlasting father, who has no end. He is our provider and caretaker, who will never leave us wanting or abandoned. He provides for our every need and can be trusted to keep us safe — and He loves us, for all eternity.
Verses to meditate on:
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?”
Matthew 6:25-26
“Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
Matthew 7:9-11
Prince of Peace
The last of the names of Christ in this verse, “prince,” means “chieftain, chief, ruler, official, captain, prince.” “Peace” in the Hebrew means “completeness, soundness, welfare, peace.”
From these definitions, we know that Christ is our ruler. He is our prince who, when we rest under His authority, gives us completeness and soundness. He is our source of welfare and peace, no matter what surrounds us, because He is in control and He is our anchor.
Verses to meditate on:
“For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him. He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken. On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God. Trust in him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us. Selah.”
Psalm 62:5-8
“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock.”
Isaiah 26:3-4
This week, I encourage you to meditate on the names of Christ and take time to thank Him for all He has done for you. If you’re struggling to believe God’s promises, I encourage you to pray these verses over yourself and your family. Be at peace knowing that God’s Word is true, and Christ will be near to comfort you and speak to you as you call upon Him.