Calling Jesus a polymath doesn’t mean he’s good at algebra (even though he created it). It means he is good at everything. What kinds of things?
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This is Scripture for Students. I’m Steve Whitacre, president of Trinity College and a pastor at Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville. I want to help students build a daily habit for life-long Bible reading. Today is December 4, 2024 and this episode of Scripture for Students is called Jesus the…Polymath? “Grab your Bible and let’s get started.
Open your Bible to Isaiah, chapter 9. I’ve always been fascinated by people who are really good at really different things.
- Bo Jackson played professional baseball and professional football.
- Ronald Reagan was a well-known actor who went on to become the governor of California and the 40th president of the United States.
- A scientist named Linus Pauling won the Nobel Prize in chemistry and the Nobel Peace Prize for his work opposing nuclear weapons. He’s the only person to hold two Nobel prizes by himself.
If someone is really good at lots of things, there is a term for that: we call that person a polymath. Leonardo DaVinci might have been the ultimate polymath. He seemed to be interested in—and really good at—lots of different things. He was an artist, a sculptor, and an architect. He studied anatomy and astronomy; botany and paleontology. He was a mapmaker and an inventor. It might be easier to list the fields he wasn’t involved in… like podcasting. That’s something that Leo D never did. But that might be about it. Leonardo DaVinci was a polymath.
Is it fair to call Jesus a polymath? Maybe. He certainly did more than DaVinci ever did. And while most of DaVinci’s genius stayed bottled up in his famous notebooks until after his death, what Jesus did was on display for the entire world to see. And what we read about Jesus in the pages of Scripture is far, far more dramatic than anything we could find in DaVinci’s writings.
Isaiah 9 is one my favorite Advent passages, because it displays something of the incredible range and depth of character and capability that Jesus of Nazareth brought to bear as the savior of the world. Let’s take a look at Jesus the Ultimate Polymath.
I’m going to read Isaiah 9:1–7, so please follow along with me.
1 But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.
3 You have multiplied the nation; you have increased its joy; they rejoice before you as with joy at the harvest, as they are glad when they divide the spoil.
4 For the yoke of his burden, and the staff for his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, you have broken as on the day of Midian.
5 For every boot of the tramping warrior in battle tumult and every garment rolled in blood will be burned as fuel for the fire.
6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing and the keeping of his Word.
This passage promises that the Messiah is coming and what a Messiah he will be. Do you see how we get glimpses of the incredible spectrum of all that Jesus is and does? This is so much more than having the athleticism to play two professional sports. He shines light and spreads joy. He defeats enemies and raises up governments.
And in verse 6 there is this incredible, four-fold description of his name: he shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace. In these titles, we learn what this Messiah is capable of.
- He’s a Wonderful Counselor—he has wisdom for every situation.
- He is the Mighty God—he is more than just an exceptional human; he is fully divine!
- He is the Everlasting Father—this was a title used by kings in the ancient world, so it means that he rules with perfect authority and benevolence and he is the everlasting father, so there are no challengers to his throne.
- And he is the Prince of Peace—he brings an end to all hostilities and puts an end to all anxieties.
How can one man do so many different things, and so many different kinds of things and do them with such power and majesty? One man can’t do it, but the God-man, Jesus, can!
We see just a little bit of how great Jesus is when we begin to see all the ways he provides for his people, protects his people, defeats his enemies, and rules over the world.
- Jesus came as a king who welcomes his enemies and forgives their rebellion.
- Jesus comes as a physician who heals the scars of sin and binds up broken hearts.
- Jesus comes as a husband who loves his bride, the church, and will lay down his life to serve and protect his people.
- Jesus came as a lion who does battle with his enemies.
- And he came as a lamb who was slaughtered in the place of his enemies.
Every time you look at a nativity scene with a bright-eyed baby Jesus in a manger, you are seeing the acorn that will grow into a vast and mighty tree, bearing many different kinds of fruit.
So let’s not be too flippant or hasty at Advent. Let’s not get caught up in the hustle of the holiday and wave Jesus off with “he’s the reason for the season.” Let’s think deeply about the depth and breadth of who Jesus is and what he came to do.
Here’s a quick exercise for you. As soon as we’re done here, grab your journal and a pen. Read Isaiah 9:1–7 again and make a list of everything you can see that Jesus came to do. Put a star next to the one that surprised you the most. Circle the one that comforts you the most. Bring your list to dinner tonight, read Isaiah 9:1–7 to your family, tell them about your list, and ask them which one they would star and which they would circle.
That’s all for today. If you enjoyed this episode please share it with a friend and follow us on Apple Podcasts.
This content is sponsored by Trinity College of Louisville. We shape young men and young women for Christ and for the church. Learn more at TrinityCollegeLou.com. Until next time, keep growing!