For to us a child is born, To us a son is given, And the government will be on his shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah 9:6 has become one of the most well known prophecies concerning the birth of Jesus. Chances are you’ve heard this verse a time or two during the Christmas season. But have you ever dug into the rich truth this verse teaches about our Savoir?
Over the next two weeks, we’re going to look into each of the names given to our coming King hundreds of years before His birth. These names clearly speak to who He is and how He works in our life.
Wonderful
In most translations, Wonderful and Counselor are listed together as if wonderful describes His counsel. However, in the original language, wonderful is a noun, not an adjective. Wonderful means, “A wonder, a marvel, something extraordinary.”
Jesus, the One who spoke the whole world into being and sustains all things by His powerful word (Heb.1:3), set aside His privileges of deity and humbled Himself (Phil.2:6-7). He wrapped Himself in human flesh and made His dwelling among us (John 1:14). Born to a woman and subject to the Law, just like us, He came to redeem us from the burden of the Law and set us free to experience our rightful inheritance as children of God (Gal.4:4-5).
It’s crazy wonderful what He did. Extraordinary. Jesus is a most certainly a wonder, in every sense of the word. But He is also wonderful. From His character and nature to His plans and promises, everything about Jesus is wonderful.
If you’re feeling a little numb this Christmas, ask God to open your eyes to the wonder of His extravagant love for YOU this Christmas season. And if you’re in need a need a miracle, turn your eyes to our wonder-working Savior. Remember nothing is impossible with Jesus.
Counselor
The second name, Counselor means, “someone to advice, direct, instruct, show you the way to go.”
Is this how you see Jesus, as your Counselor?
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve told Jesus that I wished He was sitting across from me at the table to give me advice, to counsel me and tell me what to do. I want God-with-skin-on, the Word made flesh, at the kitchen table. Yet every time He quietly reminds me that it’s better this way.
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. John 16:7
We no longer have Jesus here with skin on. Instead, He’s moved inside. He’s given us His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, to guide us from the inside.
But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26
Jesus reminds us that inside is better than across the table.
Our Savior, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, came to be our Counselor, the One who instructs and teaches and shows us the way to go. He is for us, in our corner, and on our side. We are never alone. Whether we feel His presence or not, we can trust that we are never without the faithful instruction of our wonderful Counselor.
This week, will you step away from the distractions and noise to sit in the presence of the Father? Will you carve out some time to quiet your heart and reflect on the One who came to be your Wonderful Counselor?
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