OzThoughts Monday 11h January 2010

OzThoughts Monday 11h January 2010


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
…Everlasting Father
(Isaiah 9: 6 New International Version).

The “Everlasting Father!” I have never heard Jesus called that. Was Isaiah right in this prophecy? Isn’t it confusing that we have followed Jesus example and acknowledged the Heavenly Father, and here it is suggested that Jesus be called “Father” too.

Now when I was a Salvation Army Officer, there was, in those days, a tradition said I should be called “Lieutenant” or “Captain”. When people called me “Mr” I just laughed and said “That’s my father he died some years ago, I am Captain”.

Some years after I, in fact, became “Mr” I got a shock when I phoned the hospital and asked to speak to my son, a patient, by his christian and surname and the nurse who took the call said “Oh you are wanting to speak to “Mr Reese”. Yep, I suppose I did. I nearly said “ No, that’s my father and he died 25 years ago”.

I tell that story to remind us not to let the fact that both God and in this passage Jesus are referred to as Father cloud the truth Isaiah is proclaiming. We need to look beyond the familiar to the message in his words.

Isaiah is saying Jesus will be the Father of the Everlasting and also everlasting himself. I think of John who wrote:

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. (John 1: 1-5 New International Version).
Well there are the credentials for the job of “Everlasting Father”. When John wrote that he was not writing a job application for Jesus. He knew the outcome and was writing history. Eternal history that is! Jesus, like a father gives us life, and that life is everlasting.
PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, thank you that in your word we can see Jesus and what he means to us. I pray that you will be with us as we explore something more about Jesus. May the reality of Jesus be with us each in this week. Amen.
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MEDITATION
(Note particularly the last verse )

[Listen: Band: http://salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3154.mp3
or
Songsters: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_3196.mp3 ]

Hark! the herald angels sing:
Glory to the new-born King;
Peace on earth, and mercy mild,
God and sinners reconciled.
Joyful, all ye nations rise,
Join the triumph of the skies;
With the angelic host proclaim,
Christ is born in Bethlehem.

Chorus
Hark! the herald angels sing:
Glory to the new-born King.

Christ, by highest Heaven adored,
Christ, the everlasting Lord,
Late in time behold him come,
Offspring of a virgin's womb.
Veiled in flesh the Godhead see;
Hail the incarnate Deity!
Pleased as man with man to dwell,
Jesus, our Immanuel.

Hail the Heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the Sun of righteousness!
Light and life to all he brings,
Risen with healing in his wings.
Mild he lays his glory by,
Born that man no more may die,
Born to raise the sons of earth,
Born to give them second birth.
Authors: Charles Wesley (1707-88)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 82

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