NOTES for Isa 9:6
Listing the symbolic names that reflect the essence of who Christ will become for people, the prophet Isaiah expresses in his own language very important things. It is important to listen to his words, because we often do not see God's gift in Christ because we expect something other than what God gives. The prophet says that Christ is Wonderful; His coming is not subject to the laws of the created world, and what He accomplishes is incomprehensible. "Counselor," in the Slavonic translation "angel of great counsel," means that Christ brings into the world the will of the Heavenly Father for the salvation of people and, of course, obedience to that will. The name "Mighty God," which the prophet applies to the descendant of David, is striking. Most likely Isaiah himself understands it differently from us: the Old Testament does not contain a clear revelation about the God-manhood of Christ, because people are not able to comprehend it. Involuntarily the prophet says here something that surpasses his own understanding, and we hear the voice of the Spirit inspiring Isaiah. Christ is not simply man, but also God. In Him, therefore, the presence of the Invisible God enters the world and the abyss separating us from Him is overcome. And therefore Christ opens eternal life for people; "Father of eternity," Isaiah calls Him. Finally, the authoritative entrance of eternity into human life happens because the coming of Christ makes peace among us possible. Nothing is for the prophet so characteristic a sign of eternity, so characteristic a sign of divine life, as peace. Christ's dominion is realized in reconciliation. And conversely, outside reconciliation there is no place for Him.