Christmas is not just the story of a baby in a manger. It is the story of God entering history with a name that declares His identity and intention. Isaiah says this child will be called Mighty God—El-Shaddai. These were not poetic exaggerations. They were divine revelation.

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To understand who Jesus truly is, we must hear His name the way Israel heard it:

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• El — God who holds all power, the One who sustains all things.

• Shaddai — the One whose power breaks through, conquers, and brings undeniable victory.

 

Isaiah reveals a truth that changes everything: The child born to us is the eternal God, stepping into human fragility so He can lift us into divine strength.

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El — The Divine Nature of the Child

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“EL” emphasizes the eternal essence of God — the self-existent One, the Creator, the Holy One who has no beginning and no end. The baby in the manger is not simply blessed by God; He is God. This truth resonated in the spiritual world long before it was embraced by human hearts. In Mark 5:6–8, a man possessed by demons ran toward Jesus and fell on his knees, crying out: “Jesus, Son of the Most High God!”

Even forces of darkness recognized His divine identity. The presence of Jesus disrupts evil because He carries the very authority of heaven.

 

His miracles reveal His nature — not merely acts of compassion, but evidence of deity.

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• When He calmed the storm, creation obeyed Him because He is the Creator.

• When He forgave sins, He did what only God can do.

• When He healed the sick, He revealed the heart of the God who restores.

• When He spoke truth, heaven’s voice echoed on earth.

 

To know Jesus is to know God Himself.

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Shaddai — The Power That Breaks Through

 

“Shaddai” speaks of God’s unstoppable strength — the power that not only creates and sustains, but overcomes. Jesus carried this power throughout His ministry.

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• He overcame sickness with a word.

• He overcame demons with a command.

• He overcame storms with His authority.

• He overcame sin with His sacrifice.

• He overcame death with resurrection power.

 

When Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 15:55–57, “Thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ,” he is declaring the truth of Shaddai. Victory is not achieved by human effort; it is given through Christ’s overcoming power.

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Jesus does not merely guide us—He empowers us.
He does not simply comfort—He conquers.
He does not only walk with us—He breaks chains for us.

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What This Means for Us Today

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Because the child of Isaiah 9:6 is El-Shaddai:

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• We face life with divine support, not human limitation.

• We confront fear with spiritual authority, not anxiety.

• We rise from failure through God’s victory, not our strength.

• We walk through suffering with hope, because no darkness can defeat His light.

 

El-Shaddai is more than a title. It is a promise: God is with you, and He is able! Whatever you face today — weakness, uncertainty, spiritual battle, or deep need — the Mighty God has already walked ahead of you. He stands ready not only to guide you but to empower you.

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Prayer:

Lord Jesus, my El-Shaddai,
Thank You for entering this world as both God and Savior.
Fill my life with Your divine presence and Your overcoming power.
Where I am weak, be my strength.
Where I am afraid, be my peace.
Where I am overwhelmed, be my victory.
Help me walk in the confidence that You, the Mighty God, are with me and for me.
Amen.

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Reflection Questions:

1. Where do I need the presence of El, the God who sustains and holds all things together?

2. Where do I need the breakthrough of Shaddai, the God who conquers what I cannot?

3. How would my confidence change if I truly believed Jesus is both fully God and fully victorious?​