Today we are at a point in the Messiah that gives me goosebumps every time I hear it sung or read! Isaiah spoke of the light coming into the world that will dispel the darkness of sin in 9:2 and then in 9:6 he fully describes this coming Savior. He will come as a babe and will be amazing!
“For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
Is this your Jesus? He came as a baby, Luke 2:7 “and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” He was the Son of God given for us and is expressed by Jesus and Martha in John 11:25-27 “Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” Philippians 2:9-11 describes a future time when Jesus will reign in power and might. He will be all the government we will need. “Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
Isaiah then describes attributes of Messiah’s character.
- He will be called Wonderful Counselor. Psalm 32:8 describes what God does for us. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.” John referred to Jesus as the Word making these words from Psalm 119:24 come to life. “Your statutes are my delight; they are my counselors.”
- He will be called Mighty God. Job 35:5 ““God is mighty, but despises no one; he is mighty, and firm in his purpose.” David spoke of God in Psalm 89:8 “Who is like you, Lord God Almighty? You, Lord, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds you.”
- He will be called Everlasting Father. 1 Chronicles 29:10 “ David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, Lord, the God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting.” John 6:40 “For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”
- He will be called Prince of Peace. Romans 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” John 14:27 “ Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”
Jesus is all this and so much more. Praise Him today!
Linda
Isaiah 60:2-3 “For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
Isaiah 9:2
Blessings,
would provide deliverance. Isaiah 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” 
exactly the way God said it would affirms God’s sovereignty, omniscience, wisdom and power. How can all this be we ask along with Mary? The angel had it right in verse 37 “ For nothing will be impossible with God.” 
Malachi 3:1 “I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the 
me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you.” This covenant or agreement with God was His promise to be their God and they would be His people. Jesus was God’s messenger of the covenant and the fulfillment of all God’s promises. He was coming in the flesh to His temple to be with His people bringing a message of love, repentance, restoration and redemption from God. John was going to come in the spirit of Elijah and prepare the way calling mankind to repent and return to God. He was to prepare the hearts of the people so they would be ready to listen to Jesus.
On this first Sunday of Advent, our scripture is Isaiah 40:5.
Isaiah 40:1,3,4 opens the Messiah and that is where our Advent story begins.
bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
In Psalm 22 David wrote words that described the coming Messiah’s work and anguish while here on earth. When he took the sins of the world upon himself Jesus cried out in agony, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, so far for the words of my groaning?” (verse 1) The Psalmist describes Jesus’ conditions on the cross, “they have pierced my hands and my feet.” (16b) “They divide my garments among them and cast lots for my clothing.” (18) These visions of Messiah and what awaited him were given to David. By reading them, we can see proof that Jesus fulfilled each and every prophecy made about him and be assured that He is from God. We catch a glimpse into the Omniscience and Sovereignty of God.
This advent season I will be blogging each day using prophecies about Messiah and His coming as highlighted in Handel’s Messiah. He turned the words of Charles Jennens, his librettist, who created the story from Old and New Testament passages into glorious song. Handel wrote the Messiah in about 3 weeks in the late summer of 1741. His divine inspiration has humbled and inspired audiences ever since. Recently, I got a copy of a handbill that is given out when one attends the Messiah. It contains all the scriptures that the ‘story’ is based upon and their references. Each time someone attends a performance of the Messiah, they are presented with these scriptures in both writing and song. Praise God! He has used Handel and his work ‘The Messiah’ to tell his story to the world since 1741 in this unique way.
was made lower than the angels for a little while [by taking on the limitations of humanity], crowned with glory and honor because of His suffering of death, so that by the grace of God [extended to sinners] He might experience death for [the sins of] everyone.” AMP The author of Hebrews wanted us to see and know how Jesus lowered himself to come to earth. Being in a human body placed him lower than the heavenly beings He had created in the heavens and with mortal man who He has also created. The Creator Himself came to earth. Why? The verse tells us God’s purpose in coming- to extend grace to us sinners and to save us from the penalty of death. Because of my sin, Jesus came to save me and restore me. Psalm 103: 3-5 sums it up perfectly. Jesus “
As we move towards December 1, let us be mindful of why Jesus came and what His coming accomplished for us. Praise God that He came to forgive, heal, and redeem me from the penalty of eternal death for my sin and crowns me with His abundant love and compassion. He alone satisfies my soul.
Do you need some extra hope today? It is not man made, cannot be bought or sold, it only comes from Jesus. Grab hold of it today in faith. End this Christmas season with hope and begin anew in the new year. Jesus transforms lives- let Him in and He will work a miracle in your life. He will be with you 24/7 and give you hope for now throughout eternity.
Fearless Living 