Heaven’s Birthright: The Names of Jesus (Christmas Devotional)

When you think of the season of Christmas, what words come to mind?

Twinkle lights, advent, Jingle Bells, sugar cookies, manger, and stockings are all ones that I fondly recall. And I would even venture to say that the “buzz words” we individually come up with are as unique as an intricately designed snowflake gliding from the heavens.

A time of year that is so diverse and multifaceted would most likely need pages upon pages of space to fully capture individual responses and fond memories.

I believe the same is true when it comes to how we personally describe who Jesus is.

Isaiah 9:6, in the New International Version, says: “For unto 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.”

Whether you have heard this scripture in a December sermon or have studied it in your annual Christmas devotional, these names of Jesus ring true in every circumstance.

So together, let’s explore who Jesus is.

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Heaven’s Birthright: The Names Of Jesus Christ

There are many different names of Jesus we encounter while reading the Bible. Here we are just going to focus on a few of those found in scripture.

If you enjoy this Christmas devotional you will also appreciate Our Source Of Joy: A Christmas Devotional

Wonderful Counselor – The Names Of Jesus

A counselor is a person who supports someone in their journey to improving their well-being. They help identify issues and offer solutions and insight into how they can move forward while being an encouraging and confidential person of trust.

In a world of so much pain and disarray, this first name brings much hope.

Jesus is our wonderful, perfect counselor. He is faithful to walk with us through the hardship and steadily leads us down the path of everlasting life. Throughout the Gospels, we can glean insight and direction on how to love others, walk faithfully as His disciple, and how to live a life of truth.

Mighty God – The Names Of God

How incredible is it to know that Jesus was not only fully man but also fully God?

Jesus, born to humanity, was brought into the world through meager circumstances. The earthly son of a carpenter and a teenage virgin took his first breath in a filthy, disease-infested dwelling place of livestock. Yet, the world knew of his birth through the illuminating glory of the God of the world.

Throughout his last years on earth, Jesus’ miraculous works of feeding the hungry, healing the sick, and bringing life to death allowed us to see with our eyes and know in our hearts that he is who he says he is, the Son of God, dwelling at the right hand of the Father.

Everlasting Father – The Names Of Jesus

I have often heard that we can be quick to compare God the Father with our fathers here on this side of heaven. And this is dangerous thinking not only because imperfect people disappoint people but also because God is a holy, just, and perfect Father, and One we won’t entirely be able to grasp until we are in heaven face-to-face.

So I find it intriguing that the prophecy about Jesus in Isaiah 9 says that he is the Everlasting Father. And yet it brings so much comfort.

I believe Jesus is the Everlasting Father because he reveals such a perfect, loving Heavenly Father. Jesus’ face reflects God’s face, and the Son’s words reflect every syllable released from the Father’s mouth. Jesus leads like a strong father, as the Good Shepherd, directing his flock to everlasting and abundant life.

And while his identity is that of the Son, Jesus loves with the heart of the Father.

Prince of Peace – The Names Of God

I like to imagine that when the shepherds, wise men, and townspeople visited the infant Messiah, there was an essence of peace surrounding that manger.

In John 14:27, Jesus declared that he came to bring us peace. However, this is not the peace that the world gives; peace that is surface deep, superficial, and based on circumstances.

Jesus lived his life on this earth, co-laboring with the Spirit of God, and when Jesus ascends into heaven after his resurrection, he then gifts those who believe in him the Holy Spirit.

So, not only did Jesus teach us how to live lives of peace, but he gave us his source of peace as well.

Immanuel – The Names Of Jesus

Matthew 1:23, NIV, says, “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means, ‘God with us)”

Immanuel, God with us. But what does this truly mean?

The more obvious explanation is that Jesus left the right hand of the Father to come to a broken world and reconcile us back to heaven’s heart. Praise God!

However, beyond surface observation, I noticed something intriguing. Looking at the same scripture in The Passion Translation, we read, “Listen! A virgin will be pregnant, she will give birth to a Son, and he will be known as ‘Emmanuel,’ which means in Hebrew, ‘God became one of us.’”

God became one of us.

How incredible that, yes, Jesus came to reconcile us back to God through the ultimate sacrifice for our sins, but let’s look a little deeper.

Jesus came to become human. God fully embraced humanity in the flesh. And just as Hebrews 4:15 says, we have a High Priest who empathizes with our weakness, our temptations, and our heartache; we can know that Jesus understands the deep hurts and struggles of our hearts.

Immanuel came to endure every brokenness and defeat every deep sin crevice this world offers.

Oh, how incredible the love Jesus has for us and the countless, wonderful characteristics that he embodies!

Jesus, what a beautiful, wonderful, mighty name it is.

Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus. Thank you for loving us so much that You would send your Son as a baby to endure the things of this world. Thank you for everything that Jesus is and that because of his surrender, I will dwell at the right hand of Your throne forever. You are a good and faithful God. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

1. Which of the five names of Jesus means the most to you and why?

2. Which name is difficult for you to embrace? Is there a circumstance you have endured that may make it hard to believe?