Day 14- Wonderful, Counselor, The Mighty God

"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."

             Isaiah 9:6

    In a conversation with a friend I was taking apart the titles, Wonderful, Counsellor, and analyzing them apart from each other. She offered another suggestion which made me think. She asked that I not discount the beauty of the Parallelism in Hebrew poetry. Even in the English translation the syllables of these words add rhythm and texture to the concepts which are ever growing in magnitude. Which is why the libretto, written by Charles Jennens, based on the King James version of the Bible, worked so well for George Frederic Handel. The words are music. And, the music teaches the grandeur of these names of Jesus Christ.

It is quite well known that when Handel got to the Hallelujah chorus, his assistant/servant found him in tears saying, “I did think I saw heaven open, and saw the very face of God."

                  

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 13- My Savior

"Fore therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe."

                                                   1 Timothy 4:10


   

By Annie Henrie Nader

     

 Last year at this time I had an experience that showed me my need for the Savior, which is not a new discovery. I was driving through a neighborhood with many flashing red lights which indicate a four way stop. My mind was wandering. I stopped to let the driver on my right proceed through and then I started into the intersection. Suddenly a car on my left slammed on her brakes. and in a second I realized that the flashing red light was not flashing. I proceeded through in a daze. It took me some minutes to process what had happened. I ran a red light and almost caused an accident. I pulled into a parking lot and had a feeling that someone was following me. I got out of the car and walked over to the store, my mind spinning with what could have been. Dismay engulfed me as I realized what a danger I had been to other drivers. Shame flooded my body. What if my unintended actions had hurt someone. Looking down that road of possibilities I saw that I would not be able to undo that mistake, no way to fix it or make it right.
   When I came out of the store, I noticed a piece of paper under my windshield. I knew who left it. How I know I cannot say but I knew someone had seen the incident and had followed me to leave a message. I couldn't read it. I left it there under my wipers, on the windshield as I drove on to my destination. I was certainly going to be chastised. There might be threats to report my behavior to the police. When I was under control I opened the note.

       "I watched you run a red light. A woman had to brake suddenly to avoid being hit by you. She had a child in the car. Please be careful. Stay safe."

     Life can wage consequences that blindside us. Some consequences come because we willingly break His commandments. Some come because we are careless, thoughtless, or victims to circumstance. He saves us and carries the guilt for all of these when we humble ourselves and  turn to him. He sees all, he knows all, and asks us to be careful and stay safely within his protecting arms.



             

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 12- The Messenger Of The Covenant

The Messenger of the Covenant, whom ye delight in; behold, he shall come.

There are many messengers in the scriptures. Angels come to bring messages as well as individuals with a select mission to bring the world the truth. Some messengers bring information and power to fulfill covenants God made anciently. God will not forget the promises he made to Abraham. Most of them were not fulfilled while he was alive on the earth. The Old Testament ends with the account of Malachi. 

Malachi 3:1 says, “Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.”

Who is the messenger of the covenant? Jesus Christ himself. The New Testament opens with the "good news" that he will come. But, he comes to a stable not a temple. Could Malachi be prophesying about his Second Coming?

    “Our Lord is the Messenger of the Covenant. (Mal. 3:1.) He came in his Father’s name (John 5:43), bearing his Father’s message (John 7:16-17), to fulfil the covenant of the Father that a Redeemer and Savior would be provided for men. (Moses 4:1-3; Abra. 3:27-28.) Also, through his ministry the terms of the everlasting covenant of salvation became operative; the message he taught was that salvation comes through the gospel covenant.” (Bruce R. McConkie, Mormon Doctrine, p. 488.)

   In this advent time of waiting I like to remember that the gospel was restored and we are waiting again for The Messenger of the Covenant to come. 

                 

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 11- The Good Shepherd

" I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

     Sheep are animals easy to herd. They respond to the call and love of a shepherd. Even as he was called the Lamb of God so we, his disciples, are called his sheep. Sheep don't need a whip, or a horse, or a truck to drive them. 

By Gabriele Burgess

      "But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep."

    Jesus was not hired to get the job done. He willingly became the good shepherd. One who is committed to care, to truth, to leading us back to our Father. He knows all his sheep. He carries them upon his back when they are wounded. He seeks for them when they are lost. He rejoices with them when they successfully come home every night.

     

     "I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep."

                                                                     John 10:11-15 

  Of the many names and titles Jesus was given, The Good Shepherd is one he used himself to explain his mission and to explain his commitment. The Jewish leaders should have shepherded their flock with the same zeal, but they had lost their way. They were responding more like a hireling. Do I heed his call? Do I check in every morning and night to listen to his voice so that he knows I am safely in his fold? 

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 10- The Messiah

                  There was a blessed Messiah born

    Messiah is an Aramaic word meaning "the anointed". Used as a title of an office, it denotes The King and Deliverer whose coming the Jews were eagerly expecting. The name accompanies hope. Hope in the promises made to Heavenly Father's children before the world began. Many have waited and are still waiting for him to come.

By Gabriele Burgess

 During these weeks of advent we wait and recreate that anticipation shared by so many believers. How will he change us? How will we make room for him in this precious mortal life we have been given. Come!

The Wexford Carol - Lyrics

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,

To God with love this Christmas Day

In Bethlehem upon that morn,

There was a blessed Messiah born

The night before that happy tide

The noble Virgin and her guide

Were long time seeking up and down

To find a lodging in the town

But mark right well what came to pass

From every door repelled, alas

As was foretold, their refuge all

Was but a humble ox's stall

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep

To whom God's angel did appear

Which put the shepherds in great fear

Arise and go, the angels said

To Bethlehem, be not afraid

For there you'll find, this happy morn

A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born

With thankful heart and joyful mind

The shepherds went the babe to find

And as God's angel had foretold

They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid

And by his side a virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife

There were three wise men from afar

Directed by a glorious star

And on they wandered night and day

Until they came where Jesus lay

And when they came unto that place

Where our beloved Messiah lay

They humbly cast them at his feet

With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

           

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 9- Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

Names of Christ- Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring

This 10th and last movement of the Bach cantata entitled "Heart and Voice and Deed and Life" was composed in 1716. The words written by a poet named Jahns came after. That Man should desire him is an amazing concept and that he would be our joy is a sublime idea. How many other things hold our thoughts and imagination? To wake each morning and have a thought for Him is my pursuit. 

I have noticed that the Holy Ghost does not wait for me to initiate the the thought of Jesus. The spirit draws me and it is my joy to follow. I don't want to leave the impression that I am too successful. Many mornings I wake with thoughts only of myself. However, the morning when He is my joy are the most nurturing. 

Jesu, joy of man's desiring,

Holy wisdom, love most bright;

Drawn by Thee, our soul's aspiring

Soar to uncreated light.

                

Here are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.

Day 8- The Living Water

Names of Christ- The Living Water

Gurgling waters in drains, ditches overflowing onto streets, and lawns squishy due to standing rain are signs that we here, in the Northwest have water. Today's projected snow will soon be melting and running into the overwet grass. I live on an island and am surrounded by water. I know what it feels like when my plants are parched in the heat of summer, the four days of blazing heat a year. Ha! Ha! Can there be too much water?

I think of the Woman at the Well. She must have let her pail down a long, long way to bring up water in the desert of Samaria. No wonder she was interested in having water provided for her another way.

       Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.

                                                                 John 4:10

   What is living water? It is the cool, refreshing blessing of feeling His love. It is knowing how his Atonement brings you life, physically and spiritually. It is opening the scriptures and being taught by revelation from the Holy Ghost. Living water edifies and plumps up the physical and spiritual cells in your body and mind. I can't survive without it.

                 

There are twenty-four names of Christ and twenty-four days until Christmas. Check back here to find the contents page of this series.