His Name Shall Be Called Wonderful
This title phrase comes from a very familiar portion of the Bible found in Isaiah 9:6: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
In the previous verses of this chapter God, through Isaiah, is describing what would happen in the future of Israel. In verse 2 He talks about a great light shining in the darkness. In verse 3 it talks about joy being increased. In verses 4 and 5 it talks about deliverance from the oppressor and war being ended. How would God do this? The answer is found in verse 6. It will be through a person who would come as a child. Through Him, this child who would grow up and shine forth, all of these things would take place.
Then Isaiah begins to sound out what He will be called. The first name mentioned is that of Wonderful. The Hebrew word for this is ‘pala,’ which means, simply, to distinguish or separate in order to accomplish hard, hidden, high, marvelous miracles and wondrous things. Take that meaning and apply it to Jesus and it fits perfectly.
We say that it is a simple meaning, but in reality it goes deeper than we can imagine, for Jesus is far more wonderful than words or thoughts can express. All we can do is try. He is separated, distinguished, marvelous and wondrous in so many ways. For instance, He is Wonderful in who He is and was before He descended to live on this earth, for He was God who dwells in the eternal; God who never had a beginning; God who looks upon His great and vast creation as if He was standing looking at a ball in His hands. We cannot comprehend God in time, let alone try to comprehend Him as to eternity. But He was there before time began as we know it. He is Wonderful!
He was and is wonderful in His Incarnation. This God we mentioned above deemed it necessary to wrap Himself in human flesh, come as a baby born of a human woman, lay in a manger, be surrounded by animals and shepherds and later on wise men. God became flesh and bone in order to bring humanity hope and deliverance and joy. That well-known preacher, Charles Spurgeon, put it like this: “Is he not rightly called Wonderful? Infinite, and an infant—eternal, and yet born of a woman—Almighty, and yet hanging on a woman's breast—supporting the universe, and yet needing to be carried in a mother's arms—king of angels, and yet the reputed son of Joseph—heir of all things and yet the carpenter's despised son. Wonderful art thou O Jesus, and that shall be thy name forever.”
We could go on and on about how the name Wonderful describes the matchless Christ, but space and time fails us. But may we ponder it as we enter this Christmas season! May it fill our minds and hearts with joy and a longing to praise and honor and adore the One who became like us! He is Wonderful!