The Wednesday Word [13APR22]

Jesus: The Wonderful One

by D.G Miles McKee

His name shall be called ‘Wonderful’ (Isaiah 9:6).

“Wonderful” comes from the root word “wonder.” It can also be translated as ‘amazing,’ ‘surprising,’ ‘astonishing’ or ‘awe-inspiring.’  Jesus is all these things!  Does Jesus bring wonder to our lives?  I hope so!  May we always find wonderfully surprising and astonishing things in Him.
 
Being that His name is Wonderful it is not strange to see there are so many wonderful things associated with Him.  Salvation, for example, belongs to Him and He gives it to lost people (Luke 19:10). He doesn’t charge them, He freely gives. That’s wonderful.  Not only so, but look at those to whom He gives this Salvation … He gives it to the ungodly (Romans 4:5). That again is wonderful!
 
There has never been anyone as wonderful as Jesus. But, think about it, He was either wonderful or arrogant.  

He came and pointed out our sins but acknowledged no sin of His own. That is either arrogant or wonderful?

He claimed to not only be sinless but also to be the Saviour from sin. That’s either arrogant or wonderful!  

He came and told us we must repent but had no repentance of His own.  That’s either arrogant or wonderful.

He tells us that we are sick but that He is our physician.  That’s either arrogant or wonderful!

He tells us that we are His sheep and that He is our shepherd.  That’s either arrogant or wonderful!

So, how say you? Is He arrogant or wonderful?
 
In the annals of human history, there never has been anyone like Him, and there never will be.  He is called wonderful simply because there is no better way to describe Him!  I dare you to make a point of telling your friends, that He is wonderful!  Email them and let them know. Post it online. Let everyone know that He is wonderful!
 
Here’s another wonderful thing.  Notice in Scripture how we are called sheep. (John 10:11-15). We are not called lions, we’re too weak for that name. We are not called serpents; they are wise, but sheep are dumb. He doesn’t call us dogs.  If a dog gets lost, he often finds his way back home.  A sheep can’t do that. Sheep are weak and stupid and lose their way. But we have a shepherd whose name is Wonderful.  He knows how to find us. He’s a shepherd who has a treasure house of wisdom and has all the strength that we need. He is wonderful!

The word ‘wonderful’ is sometimes translated as marvelous or miraculous.  Spurgeon says, “Christ is the marvel of marvels, the miracle of miracles. His name shall be called Miraculous," for He is more than a man, He is God's highest miracle. "Great is the mystery of godliness; God was manifest in the flesh." His Name is Wonderful! (Spurgeon: Sermon Number 214: His Name shall be called Wonderful)
 
Let’s face it, Jesus is Wonderful in who He is!  He is wonderful in what He did.  He is wonderful in what He is doing and wonderful in what He will yet do.  It’s no wonder then that the Puritan, John Flavel, wrote of Him saying,
 
 “Out of His agony comes our victory;
 Out of His condemnation comes our justification;
 Out of His pain comes our ease;
 Out of His stripes comes our healing;
 Out of His gall and vinegar comes our honey;
 Out of His curse comes our blessing;
 Out of His crown of thorns comes our crown of glory;
 Out of His death comes our life!”
 -John Flavel (1627-91 A.D.)
 
He is Wonderful!
 
And that’s the Gospel Truth!