Mighty God

In the movie Talladega Nights, race car driver Ricky Bobby sits down with his family to enjoy dinner. And like every good Southern family, he prays before the meal. But he addresses God as “Lord Baby Jesus”. His wife interrupts the prayer to remind Ricky that Jesus grew up. He didn’t stay a baby – and that it was odd to keep praying to him as if he’s still a baby.

And this was his reply: “Well, I like the Christmas Jesus best, and I’m saying grace. When you say grace you can say it to grownup Jesus, or teenage Jesus, or bearded Jesus, or whoever you want!”

This is a lighthearted moment, but it reflects a deeper truth: we sometimes diminish the full picture of who Jesus is. And that is especially true at Christmas with songs like Silent Night and Away in a Manger.

There is something mysterious and amazing about the fact that God put himself in a manger – that the Messiah was a baby. And yet, we are not meant to keep thinking of Jesus as a baby. We need to graduate from “Christmas Jesus”.

For that purpose, we are using the season of Advent to consider the four prophetic titles of Jesus found in Isaiah 9:6.

For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Today, we will focus our attention on the second title: “Mighty God”.

This title is a bold claim: that the promised Messiah of Israel was going to somehow be God Himself. Unlike the surrounding nations, the Israelites believed in only One God. The God of Israel did not share His glory with the false gods of other nations.

But when this prophecy was given, Israel was in trouble. God was allowing the ruthless, violent nation of Assyria to threaten Israel because of their spiritual wandering. Isaiah spoke of invasion, destruction, and exile.

But he also prophesied about a time of restoration and a King who would establish an eternal reign of peace and justice. This title, El Gibbor… “Mighty God”… was a declaration that the Messiah would be something more than another human hero like Samson or David; God Himself would come to earth and deliver His people.

And only in Jesus do we see the fulfillment of this name. Jesus is the ultimate champion who fights for His people and triumphs over every enemy. The identity of Jesus as Mighty God is affirmed repeatedly in the New Testament through His preaching, His miracles, and His resurrection power.

Jesus taught with a divine authority that astonished His audience. He spoke not as someone who knew and understood the Law, but as someone who wrote it. He declared sovereignty over it. He claimed to fulfill it. He claimed to have the power to forgive sins. He claimed unity with the Father. Seven times he declared Himself to be the great “I AM”, the name of God revealed to Moses at the burning bush.

The power of Jesus was also displayed in His miracles. He commanded the wind and the waves. He fed thousands of people with a few loaves and fish. He healed people. He raised people from the dead.

But the greatest demonstration of the power of Christ was His own resurrection. By rising from the dead, Jesus proved His power over humanity’s greatest enemy—death itself. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15 that death has been swallowed up in victory, and this victory belongs to our Mighty God, Jesus Christ.

Why does this matter? It matters, because the power of Jesus is not abstract or distant; it is deeply personal and transformative. This is Incarnational truth, no less personal than the title of Wonderful Counselor from last week. Not only is Christ offering us empathy and wisdom… He has the power to repair and reverse our problems.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is at work in saving us from sin. There is no addiction, failure, or shame that is too great for the Mighty God who redeems and restores.

The Mighty God meets us in the moments of our greatest weakness. According to 2 Corinthians 12, Christ’s power is made perfect in our weakness.

Jesus is also claiming the title of Mighty God over our lives, which makes this a call to repentance. He is not only the Savior who rescues us. He is the King who reigns over every aspect of our lives. But this is where we need to pause and talk about the difference between Christ and the powers of this world.

When we start talking about God claiming authority over people, it can sound restrictive and oppressive. That’s because of the way power is typically used in our world. And so, it is important to understand that God doesn’t use His power in selfish, oppressive ways.

Worldly power focuses on external control and appearances, but Jesus uses His power to change people from the inside out – transforming hearts and renewing minds.

Worldly power is often pursued for personal gain, control, or dominance. It’s focused on self-promotion and conquest.

But the power of Jesus is rooted in humility and sacrificial love, something He demonstrated by washing His disciples’ feet and ultimately by dying on the cross. He could have called legions of angels to His side, but He allowed Himself to be crucified unjustly as a substitute for us.

Worldly power is temporary and fleeting, focused on wealth, fame, or political control. It fades and is often replaced by something or someone else.

But Jesus used his power to change things for eternity, establishing a kingdom that will never end.

Worldly power tends to elevate the strong and exclude the weak, prioritizing those with status, influence, or resources.

But Jesus uses His power to embrace the marginalized and powerless. “God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong.”

And so, yes, Jesus is the Mighty God who claims ownership and authority over your life. But that’s a very good thing, not a bad thing! And He is calling on you to trust Him.

The question we are meant to ask ourselves is this: Are we placing our hope in His power, or are we looking to someone or something else for security?

Often, we try to rely on our own strength to navigate life’s challenges. But the invitation of Isaiah 9:6 is to rest in the might of Jesus, who carries the government on His shoulders. Will we surrender our burdens to Him, trusting in His power to sustain us?

There’s an old story about a group of passengers who were on a ship in a severe storm. They began to worry that the ship was in danger of sinking.

The passengers were whispering “Are we going down? Are we safe?” One passenger said, “I’ve got to find out,” so he made his way up to the top of the ship, through the wind and rain to the pilot house, where the pilot of the ship had his hand firmly on the wheel.

The pilot turned and saw the fear in the passenger’s face and just smiled at him, not even speaking a word.

When the passenger made it back down, he said, “We’re going be all right. I’ve seen the face of the pilot, and he smiled at me.”

I’m convinced that if we could see the face of Jesus in our most difficult moments, we would see a peaceful smile. His intention would be to calm our hearts. Do not fear.

I’ve felt the smile of Jesus in some of my most difficult moments. I’ve prayed anxious prayers, my faith hanging by a thread, and I’ve remembered His character and His words.

Take your burdens to Christ this morning and trust in the power of the Mighty God who is sovereign over everything.

In the words of Corrie Ten Boom, a Holocaust survivor, “Look at the world—you’ll be distressed. Look within—you’ll be depressed. Look at Christ—you’ll be at rest.”

Where is your focus today? On the chaos of the world, your own inner fears, or the Mighty God who calls you to rest in Him?