Monthly Archives: December 2020

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)

We are continuing our examination of the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which were given from the inspired pen of the prophet Isaiah. Our focus this week is on the appellation “Mighty God.” On Monday we looked at the first half of His title–“Mighty.” Today we will briefly unpack the second half . . . God.

We need look no further than the ministry of our Lord Jesus, in both His message and His miracles, to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus truly is the fulfillment of the second part of the title “Mighty God.” We already saw several reasons to accept this truth when we looked at how Jesus fulfilled the title of Mighty, but there is even more proof that He was indeed God.

Jesus forgave sins – Before Jesus healed a paralyzed man, He first forgave his sins. The religious leaders who were present were outraged; they considred this blasephemy, because they knew that only God can forgive sins. Knowing their thoughts, Jesus uttered these profound words:

“Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins . . .” He said to the paralytic, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:9-12)

Jesus received worship – Receiving worship would be just as blasphemous as pronouncing forgiveness for sins . . . IF Jesus was not God. When Jesus appeared to the disciples one week after His resurrection, He showed Thomas the wounds on His hands, His feet, and in His side. Thomas responded, “My Lord and my God!” (John 20:28). Jesus did not correct Thomas, just as He had not rebuked Peter when he stated, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). No, Jesus blessed Peter and told him that this knowledge had come as a gift from God the Father.

Jesus made several claims to be God – When speaking to the religious leaders at the temple, Jesus said, “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30). Jesus told Philip that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father” (John 14:9). Time and time again, Jesus claimed equality with God His Father; the religious leaders knew it, and they sought all the more to kill Him, especially when Jesus said, “Before Abraham was born, I am!” (John 8:58). In saying He existed before Abraham, Jesus was identifying His divinity, and when He said “I am,” Jesus was applying to Himself God’s holy name that He had shared with Moses at the burning bush. The religious leaders were completely tipped over by this, and they immediately picked up stones to stone Him (John 8:59).

Both the words and the works of Jesus make it crystal clear that He was God incarnate – the eternal, self-existent, unchanging God of the universe. On Friday we will look at both parts of this name together.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

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)

As we move through the weeks leading up to the celebration of the birth of our Savior, we will continue to examine the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which were given by the inspired pen of the prophet Isaiah. As I said last week, when a king was crowned in Isaiah’s time, the king would be given names or titles that would identify his rule, his reign, and the scope of his kingdom. The same was true in the four names given to this Child who was born to us and this son that was given to us.

This week we will focus on the prophet’s second title that finds its fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ: “Mighty God.” As we did with “Wonderful Counselor” last week, we will look at the first half of the name today, explore the second half of the name on Wednesday, and bring them both back together to close out the week on Friday.

Mighty is the Hebrew word gibbor, which means “power and strength.” Our English word omnipotent (absolute in power) expresses this attribute perfectly, and it can be rightly applied only to our Triune God.

It is interesting to note that the word gibbor can also mean “hero.” It is God Himself who is the hero of every biblical story. Only God is almighty (omnipotent), and this title finds its fulfillment in our Lord Jesus Christ in His mightiest act of all: rising from the dead. After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to two downcast disciples who were walking on the road to Emmaus, and He asked them what they are discussing. The two men did not recognize the risen Savior, and they were surprised by the question. They replied —

“Are you only a visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?” “What things?” he asked. “About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, mighty in word and deed before God and all the people.” (Luke 24:18-19).

Those who had eyes to see recognized the supernatural power of His might. By the power of His Word, all things came into existence (Colossians 1:16). Jesus demonstrated the power of His being over nature, over disease, over demons, over sin, and even over death. Peter preached this truth in his sermon at Pentecost.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:22)

Here is something to remember, the God who parted the waters of the Red Sea is the same God who walked on the waters of the Sea of Galilee. The God who spoke all life into existence is the same God who speaks the Word of truth and life into your heart. To be sure, mighty in word and deed is one thing, but mighty when it comes to you and me, uniquely and personally, is another thing altogether! If you have trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, you are a receipient of that power.

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. I and the Father are one.” (John 10:27-29)

Jesus is mighty to save . . . mighty to sanctify . . . and mighty to keep us secure in our salvation. May that truth set us free to be all God is calling us to be. On Wednesday, we will take a look at the word “God,” the second half of Isaiah’s second appellation for this Child born on Christmas Day.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

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)

Today we will conclude this week’s study of the first name given by the prophet Isaiah to this child who would be born, this son who was given to us on the first Christmas Day. If you’ve been following this “Cosmic Christ Child” series, you know that we looked at the first word in the appellation “Wonderful Counseler” on Monday; on Wednesday we studied the second word; today were are going to put them back together and take in the full effect of the name Wonderful Counselor.

The apostle John opened his gospel with one of the most profound statements in all of sacred Scripture about this Wonderful Counselor:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. (John 1:1-4)

One cannot help but hear the echo from the opening words of the Bible: “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). Jesus was with God from all eternity; He is the living Word of God, the source of God’s creation, and the living expression of God’s communication with and love for the world. Jesus Christ is “the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word” (Hebrews 1:3).

We don’t know much about the early years of our Wonderful Counselor after His birth in the manger, but there is one event that sheds great light on why this title applies to Jesus Christ. When Jesus was twelve, his family went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, as was their custom. The following week, Jesus stayed behind after his family had departed for their home in Nazareth. When Mary and Joseph realized Jesus was not with their party, they returned to Jerusalem and found him in the Temple engaged in conversation with the religious leaders.

They found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. (Luke 2:46-47)

Here we see Jesus at the age of twelve amazing everyone who heard Him as He engaged in conversation with the wisest and most learned men in Israel. Their amazement was not rooted so much in His age, but rather in the depth of His wisdom. When He began His three years of ministry some 19 years later, the people could see and hear the distinct difference between our Wonderful Counselor and the religious leaders of that day:

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. (Mark 1:22)

It was a common practice for the religious leaders to quote well-known rabbis to add authority to their words. This was not, however, the practice of Jesus Christ. He was the Word of God incarnate, and when He opened His mouth to speak and teach and heal, the listener knew it was Jesus who had true authority. Jesus rebuked evil spirits (Luke 6:35), taught us to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44), and to forgive others as we have been forgiven (Matthew 18:32). He showed compassion to sinners and castigated the self-righteous.

At a time when many disciples were deserting Him, Jesus asked Peter if he wanted to go away also; Peter replied, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.” (John 6:68-69). Truly, Jesus was the Wondlerful Counselor, who offerred words of life that no one else had uttered!

Before we move on to Isaiah’s next title for Jesus, I’d like you to think about this: Is it not a wonder to you that Jesus knows everything about you – every thought, every word, every deed, and every desire – and yet He still loves you and wants to be in relationship with you? “I have loved you with an everlasting love,” He assures us; “I have drawn you with loving-kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). To be fully known and yet eternally loved by the One who is Truth is a the most wonderful and remarkable thing of all! May your heart be lifted up with joy on December 25 as you celebrate the birth of Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!

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)

During the weeks leading up to Christmas Day, I am going to share some thoughts about the four names of the Cosmic Christ Child, all of which are rooted in these words from the pen of the prophet Isaiah. Throughout this week, we will examine the name “Wonderful Counselor.” On Monday we dug into the meaning of the first word, “Wonderful,” and today we will unpack the second word: Counselor.

In the ancient world, one of the duties of a king was to deliver counsel to the people of his kingdom, helping them to navigate their lives and to live as happy, productive citizens. When you think of a king as a “counselor,” your thoughts might immediately go to the wisest man in the world in Isaiah’s day: King Solomon, who had given wise and godly counsel to his people. As the nation of Israel became increasingly apostate, the prophet Micah emphasized this truth of a king as counselor when he warned Judah of coming judgment: “Why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished?” (Micha 4:9 ESV).  

The answer to Micah’s query is that the true Counselor had not yet arrived on the scene. On the Mount of Transfiguration, the voice from the cloud said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Matthew 17:5). Jesus was the promised Counselor whom God had promised through Isaiah. Here is how the author of the letter to the Hebrews described Him:

In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. (Hebrews 1:1-3)

God spoke to Adam, Abraham, and Moses personally. He spoke to Jacob in a dream. He spoke to Isaiah in visions. But when the appointed time had fully come (Galatians 4:4), God spoke to the world through His Son, our Wonderful Counselor. The inspired gospel accounts are filled with compelling accounts of Jesus as the Counselor, from His patient instruction of the religious leader Nicodemus, who came to Jesus at night (John 3), to His gracious invitation to the broken and shunned Samaritan woman who was trying to avoid contact with other people by coming to Jacob’s well at noon (John 4). Jesus always knew just the right words to say because He is omniscient (all-knowing). His disciples recognized this truth, saying to Him, “Now we know that you know all things” (John 16:30).   

Jesus our Counselor knows our thoughts, hears our cries, and speaks perfectly into every situation we face. Paul described Christ as the One “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3). Paul was not saying that this wisdom and knowledge is “hidden” from us, but rather that all wisdom and knowledge are contained in Him and are now available for us to access and to guide us throughout every aspect and season of life.

On Friday, we will return one more time to the title “Wonderful Counselor” to see how both these names fit perfectly together.

This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race.NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!