Dear Colleagues

Recently, I was looking on a website and came across some beautiful wooden Christmas tree decorations with the different names of Jesus inscribed on them.

They reminded me of Isaiah’s prophecy in which he describes the child that is coming.

“For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us;
   And the government will rest on His shoulders;
   And His name will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
   Eternal Father, Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6)

On deeper exploration of the Hebrew, the word ‘Wonderful’ means something extraordinary and hard to understand. Perhaps this is why we have so many words for Jesus. Both before and after his birth, there is not one single word that sums up all that he is to Christians.

In the Bible we hear how he is a Prince of Peace, a Servant King,  a Saviour and Rabboni (my teacher) to name but a few. Each of these names portrays a different facet of his character.

As we enter this Advent time of waiting, you might like to reflect on whether any of the names of Jesus are meaningful to you. Perhaps there are some that resonate with you at different times in your life. Perhaps there is one that you will keep in mind as we approach Christmas?

from June Richardson, SEA