Isaiah 9:6-7

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder. And his name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

“And his name”

“…and his name shall be called…” Oh, how the earth had awaited this moment. In Isaiah 9:6-7, we have the declaration of the name. Yet, for years, there had been only and continuously a question about the name, “And his name?”

In Genesis 3:15, the Lord promised that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the seed of the serpent. We call this the first gospel. What a promise! And no doubt the question followed, “and his name?”

In Genesis 12:1-3, the Lord promises that he will take the seed of Abraham, make him a great nation, and through him bless the nations of the world. What a promise! And no doubt the question followed, “and his name?”

In 2 Samuel 7:12-16, the Lord promises King David a descendant whose throne and kingdom will be like no other. His rule and his kingdom will be forever. What a promise! And no doubt the question followed, “and his name?”

In Isaiah 53:1-12, there is a promise that a “man of sorrows” will come who will be “pierced through for our transgressions” and “crushed for our iniquities.” The Lord’s “servant will justify the many as he will bear their iniquities.” What a promise! And no doubt the question followed, “and his name?”

And now in Isaiah 9, the question of the ages is answered. “HIS NAME will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Finally, the name! Yet one more question emerges: “And who is this?”

All creation waits…and the question hangs in the air like mist hovering over a lake on a cool morning. The answer eventually comes in Luke 1:31-33, “…you shall call his name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David; and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; and his kingdom will have no end.”

Jesus, the one who will crush the head of the seed of the serpent.

Jesus, the one through whom all the nations of the world will be blessed.

Jesus, the one who will rule and reign forever.

Jesus, the one who will bear our guilt, justifying by grace all who put their trust in him.

And there is even more to that name, Jesus. We read about it in Philippeans 2:9-11, “Therefore, also God highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

So, today, we worship the one who answers the question that echoed throughout the years, “and his name?” Jesus! We bow before him. We confess that he is Lord.

Prayer:

Lord, draw our hearts to you on this day. May we see that your name is to be the sole object of our affection. May we realize more deeply that you are truly the answer for which all humanity of all time has been looking. Please, let us find that answer more fully in you today. And we pray this in the only name that is worthy, Jesus.

Amen.

This article is a devotional from the 2021 CCCA Advent Project written by Dr. David Talley, professor of Old Testament. This devotional as well as the entire 2022 Advent Project can be found on the CCCA website.