Mighty God or puny god? People of genuine faith would never choose puny god. But before we got to the obvious answer… Just for transparency, my title comes from the funniest scene in any of Marvel Comic’s Avenger movies. The Hulk just smashes things. He never talks. That’s part of what is so funny when Puny god comes out of the Hulk’s mouth in reference to Loki – the series villian. I grabbed a 43 second YouTube link so you can laugh at it yourself! Just turn up the sound.
Mighty God: Leadership
In Isaiah 9:6 we see the word mighty. It’s a Hebrew adjective specifically pertaining to leadership. Bible dictionaries define the word like this:
Having or weilding great authoritative power
Military leadership; heroic or valiant
Israel’s Messiah, the Mighty God, will weild great power and authority as He leads heaven’s armies like no human leader can do or will ever do. His power and exceeds that of those who lead Satan’s forces. The One Isaiah wrote about is our Divine Champion, Leader and Defender. He is described in Deuteronomy 10:17 –
For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes.
All during Jesus’ earthly ministry He advocated and modeled a different idea of leadership than the Jews (or anyone else!) expected. Their expectation was someone like King David who would free them from Roman rule and opprression. Bluntly, they were looking for the heroic, military leader Isaiah described. That vision will be realized. But in His first coming, Jesus demonstrated the principles of leadership in His Kingdom: servant leadership (see Matthew 12:17–21; 20:28). And that is part of what put Him at odds with those around Him. His Kingdom is not of this world (see John 6:15; 18:36).
Prophecy Proved
Isaiah foretold our coming Messiah. How do we see that prophecy fulfilled? Let’s look at Christmas. Many people think the manger in Bethlehem is the beginning of the Christmas story. But Scripture gives us a much bigger picture!
Philippians 2:7-11 shows us that when Jesus came to earth, He emptied Himself. That means He set aside some His divine privileges. So rather than coming in majestic power which He rightly possesses, He came humbly as a slave (servant) and took the form of Man.
BUT… As noted above, the world will see the Mighty God aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy when Jesus returns at His Second Coming. And this brings us to the idea of dual fulfillment in Biblical prophecy. The Second Coming is a good example. It will be the ultimate fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy. But we also see the Mighty God aspect of Isaiah’s prophecy in Jesus’ first coming. His divinity and poiwer can be seen in His conception (Luke 1:35, 49), His ascension (Luke 24:50–51) and in all His miracles in between those two events. In every case, Jesus weilded divine power and authority. Let me remind you…
His Earthly Ministry
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Scripture preserves many observations of Jesus and His powerful ministry. Notice the following:
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through the whole countryside – Luke 4:14
More specifically, Luke 5:17 lets us know that the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. That mighty power healed people just by touching Jesus (Luke 6:19 and Luke 8:46). But Jesus’ power wasn’t limited to people. Luke 4:36 and Mark 1:32-34 are just two places where we see Jesus’ powerful authority over the demonic realm! Additionally, His teaching was as powerful as His miracles. Luke 24:19 tells us Jesus was powerful in word and deed before God and all the people.
Finally, when the Apostle Peter was preaching at Pentecost, he said:
Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through Him, as you yourselves know – Acts 2:22
Pinnacle Of Proof
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It is incomprehensible to us that Jesus had the power to lay down His life and take it up again (John 10:18). He laid His life down by submitting to death on the cross (Philippians 2:5-8; II Corinthians 13:4). But that wasn’t the end of Hsi mighty power. The pinnacle of proof that Jesus is the Mighty God prophesied by Isaiah is seen in the resurrection. Death is inescapable. It is appointed for all of us to die. But by God’s mighty power and authority Jesus conquered death and walked out of that tomb!. What further proof does one need?
But just to make it clear, the Spirit inspired the Apostle Paul to give us these thoughts in Ephesians 1:19-23 –
…the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
By God’s awesome power, Jesus rose from the dead and is now at the Father’s right hand in heaven, high above every other authority, power, and leader. The Bible says God granted Jesus authority over all people and gives eternal life to those given Him by the Father (John 17:2; also John 10:28; I John 2:24-27).
Mighty God – Coming Again
Mathew 24:30 tells us Jesus Christ will come again to earth with power and great glory. When Jesus re-enters the world stage, the whole world will see Isaiah’s vision of a Mighty God and victorious King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus will conquer all rebels, detractors and satanic forces. He will then hand over the conquered kingdoms to His heavenly Father (I Corinthians 15:24–25).
As Mighty God, Jesus will judge all the people of the earth (Revelation 18:8-10). Then He will sit on His eternal throne and reign in great power and authority (Revelation 11:15–17; 12:10). Every creature in heaven and on earth will bow down and worship Him. And according to Revelation 5:9–13 and Revelation 19:1-6 heaven will celebrate the Mighy God. The eternal chorus will include the following:
Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise forever and ever. Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God
After all that, it’s easy to answer my opening questoin. Our God is certainly no puny god. So as you celebrate God’s Gift this Christmas season, remember Heaven’s chorus, the Mighty One it celebrates and join that chours every day.
Soli Deo Gloria!
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