The Name of JesusSample

Mighty God

The second name the prophet gives Jesus in Isaiah 9:6 ESV is "Mighty God"–so let’s think about the might of Jesus.

Throughout the Gospel accounts of Jesus’ life on this earth, we see demonstrations of his might. One of my favorite sequences in the book of Mark begins at the end of Mark 4, where Jesus calms a storm. The Bible says the disciples were afraid for their lives when the storm arose, but interestingly, the Bible says they were "filled with great fear (Mark 4:41 ESV)" after Jesus spoke, and the wind and the waves were still. Why? Because they realized that this man in the boat with them had power over nature.

In the next story, at the beginning of Mark 5, Jesus encounters demons who had possessed a man. Jesus told these demons what to do, and they obeyed, distinctly demonstrating Jesus’ power over demons. Then a woman who had been sick for over a decade simply touched Jesus’ garment, and she was healed, showing Jesus’ power over disease. Finally, Mark 5 ends with Jesus raising to life a young girl who had died.

When you put these four short stories together, you see quite a picture of Jesus’ might. As God, he has power over nature, demons, disease, and death itself.

Now let this soak in: if you’re a follower of Jesus, this same Jesus lives in you. In other words, the Mighty God who has power over nature, demons, disease, and death lives in you!

This doesn’t mean you or I need to go out and try to still the wind and waves next time we see a storm coming over the water. But it does mean that no matter what temptations or trials we face in this world, we have the resources of the Mighty God in us. You are not weak in the fight of faith in this world. The Mighty God is in you and for you, and that means nothing this world throws at you can stand against you. In the words of Paul to the Romans, "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31 ESV)

Today, reflect on the specific ways you feel weak and in need of Jesus’ might. What would change if you were depending at every moment on Jesus’ power instead of your own? Praise Jesus for his might and express your need for his strength and power in your life in specific ways. Then pray for over 38 million Sunda in Indonesia who have been taught that Jesus is just a man and who desperately need to hear that Jesus is the Mighty God, who alone has the power to save them from their sins.