The Bible is the story of Jesus. That is true of both the Old and New Testaments. In the gospels, we see the life and ministry of Jesus, beginning with His birth and ending with His death and resurrection. But the Lord’s work of redemption started far before the Virgin Mary gave birth to our Savior. The earliest pages of the Old Testament predicted that One would come who would crush the head of the serpent and gather a people whom He would reconcile to God. This One who would come would be the Messiah – God’s anointed servant who would bridge the gap between God and man, who would satisfy the wrath of God and atone for sin. While the Old Testament speaks of this Messiah throughout its pages, there are certain portions where the light of the coming Messiah breaks through most brilliantly. One of those places is in the prophet Isaiah, where Isaiah describes this Messiah both in terms of man’s need and in the marvelous names He will bear. “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given,” writes Isaiah. And this given son is the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, and the Prince of Peace. That is “The Messiah’s Name” (Isaiah 9:2-7).

I. The Need for the Messiah
A. A People in Darkness
B. A People Under Oppression

II. The Messiah’s Name Tells Us Who He Is
A. Mighty God
B. Everlasting Father

III. The Messiah’s Name Tells Us What He Does
A. Wonderful Counselor
B. Prince of Peace

Questions for consideration: (1) Where in your life do you feel oppressed? When do you experience darkness? What do you do in those times? How can Jesus Christ help you in those times? (2) How can you express to your friend and neighbors who Jesus really is? What is the risk in doing that? What is the blessing that comes when you do that? (3) How can you experience the peace that Christ brings? How can you spread the peace of Christ?