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The sermon centers on Isaiah’s name “Wonderful,” applying it to Jesus as the eternal Son who became incarnate. Spurgeon emphasizes the mystery of Christ’s humility, suffering, crucifixion, and triumph, presenting salvation as a sinner’s movement from condemnation under the Law to mercy in Christ. Jesus is also portrayed as the comfort of believers in severe trials. At His return, He will bring terror to those who reject Him but joyful worship and final hope to His saints.
Theological center: Jesus Christ is the eternal divine Son who became human, suffered and rose for sinners, comforts His people, and will return as Judge and Redeemer.
Applications: Come to Christ in faith · Praise Christ for His condescension · Prepare for Christ’s return · Contemplate Christ’s wonder
Primary texts: Isaiah 9:6 · 1 Timothy 3:16 · Job 19:25
“His name shall be called Wonderful.” Isaiah 9:6 ONE evening last week I stood by the seashore when the storm was raging. The voice of the Lord was upon the waters And who was I that I should tarry within doors when my Master’s voice was heard sounding along the water? I rose and stood to behold the flash of His lightnings and listen to the glory of His thunders. The sea and the thunder were contesting with one another—the sea with infinite clamor striving to hush the deep-throated thunder, so that his voice should not be heard. Yet over and above the roar of the billows might be heard that voice of God, as He spake with flames of fire and divided the way for the waters. It was a dark night, and the sky was covered with thick clouds, and scarce a star could be seen through the rifts of the tempest—but at one particular time, I noticed far away on the horizon, as if miles across the water—a bright shining, like gold. It was the moon hidden behind the clouds, so that she could not shine upon us. But she was able to send her rays down upon the waters, far away, where no cloud happened to intervene. I thought as I read this chapter last evening, that the prophet seemed to have stood in a like position when He wrote the words of my text. All round him were clouds of darkness. He heard prophetic thunders roaring and he saw flashes of the lightnings of divine vengeance—clouds and darkness for many a league were scattered through history. But he saw far away a bright spot—one place where the clear shining came down from heaven. And he sat down and he penned these words—“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.” And though he looked through whole leagues of space, where he saw the battle of the warrior “with confused noise and garments rolled in blood,” yet he fixed his eye upon one bright spot in the futurity, and he declared that there he saw hope of peace, prosperity, and blessedness. For he said, “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful.” My dear friends, we live today upon the verge of that bright spot. The world has been passing through these clouds of darkness and the light is gleaming on us now, like the glintings of the first rays of morning. We are coming to a brighter day and “at evening time it shall be light.” The clouds and darkness shall be rolled up as a mantle that God needs no longer, and He shall appear in His glory and His people shall rejoice wit…