WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, MIGHTY GOD
(Isaiah 9:6-7)
I’ve always thought that the naming of children should be taken seriously. As educators, Nelda and I were amazed at the names parents gave some children —names they will live with all their lives. Nelda had a little girl in one kindergarten class named, “Latrina.” She told the mother that she wouldn’t call the child by that name and didn’t think it should be used because of the connotation with “latrines.” That little girl is probably a young mother herself now and may appreciate the unremembered teacher who changed her name.
We lived just 150 miles away from San Francisco in the late 60s and early 70s in the heyday of the hippie movement. When the Haight-Asbury section became more of a high-rent district, many of the hippies moved down the coast to the Monterrey Peninsula, got married and had children. They didn’t name their kids Melissa or Matt, so people in that area grew accustomed to hearing names like Moonbeam, Earth Love, Precious Promise, Time Warp or Spring Fever.
That’s when the kindergarten teachers first met little "Fruit Stand". Every fall the parents would send their kids to school on the bus for the first time. Each child had a clip-on nametag. When Fruit Stand came on the bus with his odd name the teachers tried not to make a big deal of it.
"Would you like to play with the blocks, Fruit Stand?" or "Fruit Stand, how about a snack?" By the end of the day the name didn’t seem any more odd than Sun Ray. They took the kids out to the buses. "Fruit Stand, which is your bus?"
He didn’t answer. That wasn’t too strange. Kids with funny names were often shy about it. So it wasn’t a big deal because the teachers had instructed the parents to write the names of the school bus stops on the back of the nametag. The teacher reached over to Fruit Stand and turned his tag over and there, neatly printed was the name, "Anthony."
When Isaiah prophesied 700 years before Bethlehem, God’s promised baby was given several titles. “His name [is] called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (Is. 9:6). These names indicate that His kingdom will be different from any other power known on earth. Last week we looked at the meaning of the child who was born and the son who was given. Today we look at the first two titles: “Wonderful Counselor”, and “Mighty God.”
Where do we get most of our counseling today? I suggest that much, if not most of it comes from emails. I got this email earlier in the week, tweaked it a bit and sent to my emailing friends:
Hi All,
I just want to thank all of you for your educational emails over the past year.
Thanks to you, I no longer open a public bathroom door without using a paper towel.
I can’t use the remote in a hotel room because I don’t know what the last person was doing while flipping through the channels.
I can’t sit down on the hotel bedspread because I can only imagine what has happened on it since it was last washed.
I can’t enjoy lemon slices in my tea or on my seafood anymore because lemon peels have been found to contain all kinds of nasty germs including feces.
I have trouble shaking hands with someone who has been driving because the number one pastime while driving alone is picking your nose.
Eating a Little Debbie sends me on a guilt trip because I can only imagine how many gallons of trans fats I have consumed over the years.
I can’t touch any woman’s purse for fear she has placed it on the floor of a public bathroom.
I must send my special thanks to whoever sent me the one about poop in the glue on envelopes because I now have to use a wet sponge with every envelope that needs sealing.
Also, now I have to scrub the top of every can I open for the same reason.
I no longer have any savings because I gave it to a sick girl (Penny Brown) who is about to die in the hospital for the 1,387,258th time.
I no longer have any money at all, but that will change once I receive the $15,000 that Bill Gates/Microsoft and AOL are sending me for participating in their special e-mail program
I no longer eat KFC because their chickens are actually horrible mutant freaks with no eyes or feathers.
I no longer use cancer-causing deodorants even though I smell like a water buffalo on a hot day.
Thanks to you, I have learned that my prayers only get answered if I forward an e-mail to seven of my friends and make a wish within five minutes.
Because of your concern I no longer drink Coca Cola because it can remove toilet stains.
I no longer can buy gasoline without taking someone along to watch the car so a serial killer won’t crawl in my back seat when I’m pumping gas.
I no longer drink Pepsi or Dr Pepper since the people who make these products are atheists who refuse to put ’Under God’ on their cans.
I no longer use Saran wrap in the microwave because it causes cancer.
And thanks for letting me know I can’t boil a cup of water in the microwave anymore because it will blow up in my face…disfiguring me for life.
I no longer check the coin return on pay phones because I could be pricked with a needle infected with AIDS.
I no longer go to shopping malls because someone will drug me with a perfume sample and rob me.
I no longer receive packages from UPS or Fed Ex since they are actually Al Qaeda in disguise.
I no longer shop at Target since they are French and don’t support our American troops or the Salvation Army.
I no longer answer the phone because someone will ask me to dial a number for or which I will get a million dollar phone bill with calls to Jamaica ,Uganda , Singapore and Uzbekistan .
I no longer buy expensive cookies from Neiman-Marcus since I now have their recipe.
Thanks to you, I can’t use anyone’s toilet but mine because a big brown African spider is lurking under the seat to cause me instant death when it bites my butt.
And thanks to your great advice, I can’t ever pick up $5.00 dropped in the parking lot because it probably was placed there by a rapist waiting underneath my car to grab my leg.
If you don’t send this e-mail to at least 144,000 people in the next 70 minutes, a large dove with diarrhea will land on your head at 5:00 PM this afternoon and the fleas from 12 camels will infest your back, causing you to grow a hairy hump. I know this will occur because it actually happened to a friend of my next door neighbor’s ex-mother-in-law’s second husband’s cousin’s beautician...
Have a wonderful day...
Seriously, counseling is a major industry in the United States. W. A. Criswell said, “Counseling is like dipping in the ocean. You can dip with all your heart all day long, and at the end of the day, it’s still an ocean” [W. A. Criswell, quoted in “Pastoral Counseling: Benefit or Burden to Ministry?” Leadership, Volume VIII, Number 2, Spring, 1987, 131}.
Draining as the process is, Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor, whose resources are never exhausted. In the gospels Jesus repeatedly identifies needs, exposes the source of troubles, and offers assistance. His counsel is exceptionally wonderful, because He counseled as no other human could. His counsel is that of the Mighty God.
Jesus said, “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Matthew 11:27). God the Father disclosed Himself to humanity through Christ. Jesus came to reveal God. The words, “anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” show that Jesus alone can reveal the actual knowledge of God. It is because of His relationship with the Father, that He says plainly, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (v. 28). He is the “Mighty God” who welcomes the weak and weary to lean on Him for the counsel they need.
I. THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
Every human spiritual need is met by this Wonderful Counselor. The psalmist says, “I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me” (Psalm 16:7). His Spirit is with us today to comfort and counsel us. “But the Helper [Counselor], the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you” (Jn. 14:26). We do not know God naturally, and cannot understand spiritual things apart from His help. Jesus meets our need by revealing God to us.
Those who heard the Sermon on the Mount were amazed at Christ’s authority. When He finished speaking, Matthew says, “the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes” (Mt. 7:28-29). He taught and counseled with a power the major teachers of the time did not possess.
John called Jesus the logos, which means “word” but in a much broader sense than the English term. John said, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). He continues in verse 14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” Any Jew hearing those words would think immediately of the Genesis account of creation where God spoke all things into being. To them a word spoken was a deed done. When God speaks the thing is accomplished instantly. “God said, ‘Let there be light’; and there was light” (Gen. 1:3). He said, “so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” (Is. 55:11). Jesus came to be the “Wonderful Counselor.” He revealed God and the writer of Hebrews could say, “…in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world” (Heb. 1:2).
When he introduced the gospel, John chose the one word that was meaningful to both Greeks and to Jews. He said, in effect, “Listen, you Greeks, the Logos of God which you have written about for centuries has now come to earth as a man, and we have beheld him, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1-3, 14).
Plato had a group of philosophers and students gathered around him in the Golden Age of Athens when he said, “It may be that some day there will come forth from God a Word, a Logos, who will reveal all mysteries and make everything plain.” Now John says, “Yes, Plato, the Logos has come; now God is revealed to us perfectly. He is the ‘Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God.’”
As a Wonderful Counselor Jesus intercedes for us now as He did for many in the New Testament. His intercession for Peter was certainly wonderful. Satan came to God on one occasion and expressed his opinion of Peter saying, “I don’t know what your Son ever expects to accomplish with that bag of wind named Peter. If you would just give me permission to blow on him, he’d fly away like chaff at threshing time.” God permitted Satan to afflict Peter, just as He had allowed him to attack Job. But Jesus prayed for Peter asking that the experience might strengthen him instead of devastating him. He prayed that the chaff would be blown away to reveal the true grain. Jesus said, “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers” (Lu. 22:31-32).
The Savior interceded successfully. Though Peter denied the Lord three times, once even with oaths and cursing, his faith did not fail. Rather, when the cock crowed, reminding him of Jesus’ words, he was overcome with remorse and he went out and wept bitterly. The Wonderful Counselor then came to the humbled Peter and again commissioned him for to service (Jn. 21:15-19).
A great word identifies this Wonderful Counselor. In the Greek language the word is parakletos. In English it is translated “Comforter,” Counselor,” or “Advocate.” Jesus uses the same word to describe the Holy Spirit when He spoke of “another Counselor.” The word literally refers to one who is called alongside to help another, like a lawyer.
Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life” (Jn. 14:6). He is the One who makes sense of the confusion that haunts and taunts us today. People turn to psychologists, psychiatrists, analysts, philosophers, religious quacks, astrologers, and all kinds of human advisers. Charles Swindoll says tongue in cheek, “Anybody who isn’t schizophrenic these days just isn’t thinking clearly” [Charles R. Swindoll, Strengthening Your Grip, (Waco: Word Books, 1982), 90]. Christ, the Wonderful Counselor, is the ultimate and only answer to all of life’s confusion.
Jesus is the Counselor who knows all about you. He knows the needs of your heart. He knows how to meet those needs, and He always gives wise counsel to those who will hear and obey Him.
When Jesus met the Samaritan woman at Jacob’s well, He led her through some steps toward psychological and spiritual wholeness. Ignoring the taboos that stood between Him and the woman, and showing respect to her individuality, He let her know that she was a unique and worthwhile person with the potential for growth and wholeness. Other rabbis would condemn such a scarlet woman, but Jesus patiently allowed her to reveal the depth of her own need until she recognized that she wanted her life changed. He gently exposed her lifestyle to break the vicious cycle that led her from one man’s bed to another, in and out of marriage. Jesus convinced her that He could quench her compulsive thirst.
Larry Crabb, a gifted teacher of biblical counseling, says, “Counseling is not a discipline like dentistry or medicine which depends fundamentally upon a growing amount of technical knowledge administered by a highly trained professional. Rather, counseling is centrally and critically a relationship between people who care” [Lawrence J. Crabb, Jr., Effective Biblical Counseling, (Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1977), 14].
Jesus is a “Wonderful Counselor” because He demonstrates so effectively that He cares!
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian Department of Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles) in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons, businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.
As the holiday season neared, the orphans heard the true Christmas story for the first time. They heard about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem; and how after finding no room in the inn, they went to a stable, where Jesus was born and placed in the manger.
The children listened in amazement to the story they had never heard before. Sitting on the edges of their stools, they tried to grasp every word. As a follow-up activity to the story, each child was given three small pieces of cardboard to make a crude manager. They also received a small paper square, cut from yellow napkins to lay in the manger for straw. Small squares of flannel from a discarded nightgown were used for the baby’s blanket. Pieces of tan felt were used for the doll-like baby.
Making their way around the room to observe the children, one noted, "All went well until I got to one table where 6-year-old Misha sat. He appeared to have finished his project. As I looked at the little boy’s manger, I was startled to see, not one, but two, babies in the manger! Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the boy why there were two babies."
Misha very accurately recalled the story that had been told until he came to the part where Mary put Jesus in the manger. "Misha then started to ad lib his own ending," the man recalls: "And when Maria laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked if I had a place to stay. I told him I have no momma and I have no papa, so I don’t have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with him. But I told him I couldn’t because I didn’t have a gift to give him like everybody else did.
I wanted to stay with Jesus so much, so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I asked Jesus, if I kept Him warm, would that be a good enough gift? And Jesus told me, ’If you keep me warm, that will be the best gift anybody ever gave me.’ So, I got into the manger, and then Jesus looked at me and told me I could stay with him -- for always!"
II. THE MIGHTY GOD
Long before Jesus was born the prophet Micah issued an amazing prediction of the birthplace of a Mighty God: “But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days” (Micah 5:2). The same prophet related the word “Counselor” to the majesty of a king, saying, “Now why do you cry aloud? Is there no king in you? Has your counselor perished?” (Micah 4:9). The Godly guidance of the Wonderful Counselor is actually the advice of the Mighty God.
Daniel had a vision of one to whom “was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed” (Dan. 7:13-14).
The angel who foretold Jesus’ birth to Mary of said of Him, “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Lu. 1:32-33). He began his ministry with the startling proclamation, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Mt. 4:17).
Near the end of the New Testament this theme is climaxed with Jesus seated on a throne, and His enemies made subject to him: “On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev. 19:16).
The kingdom of our God and Christ will endure. His wonderful counsel is everlasting because He alone is the Mighty God. This Mighty God steps into lives of confusion and provides wonderful counsel, but He also proves His divine power by bringing order to the turmoil.
How man despises this name and its implications. Man rebels against acknowledging the supreme power of such a Mighty Creator God. The scriptures confirm that in His preexistence the incarnate Christ was and is the Mighty God of creation. The entire universe finds it genesis and continuing existence in Him.
When the laws of natural science are reversed or set aside in the Old Testament this Mighty God is at the center of the action. A sea rolled back, the sun stood still, the lion’s jaws were locked, three men walked in a fiery furnace and an ax head floated, and this Mighty God was there!
In "The Silver Chair," one of the books in the Chronicles of Narnia series by C.S. Lewis, a girl named Jill walks into an opening in the forest. She’s very thirsty, and not far away she sees a stream of cool, clear water. But instead of rushing forward to drink, she hesitates in fear. Because lying there on the ground, next to the stream, is a huge lion: Aslan, the Christ figure. As she ponders what to do, he speaks:
"Are you not thirsty?" said the lion.
"I’m dying of thirst," said Jill.
"Then drink," said the Lion.
"May I -- could I -- would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill.
The lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic.
"Will you promise not to -- do anything to me, if I do come? Said Jill.
"I make no promise," said the Lion.
Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer.
"Do you eat girls? She said.
"I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn’t say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it.
"I daren’t come and drink," said Jill.
"Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion.
"Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then."
"There is no other stream," said the Lion [adapted, Alan Perkins, “Mighty God,” First Baptist Church, Richmond, OH, SermonCenral.com, December 2001].
Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other stream. There is no other source of life. There is no other way to God than through Him. But when we give ourselves to Him, He will do in us what He deems best. He is not a tame lion. We cannot control Him. But he is good; very, very good. And He can be trusted. In fact, we must trust Him; we must allow Him free reign in our lives. Or we will never know the joyful, abundant life He promises.
Jesus is the Mighty God who is with us in all that we experience in life. Regardless of how dark the night, He is the light that shines with brilliance if we will trust Him. Regardless of how lost and desperate we become, He is the way through whatever has us fearful and desperate.
He is the Mighty God whose shoulders were strong enough to bear the weight of all of our sins and not give way. My friend, you and I cannot bear the weight of our sin, but He has taken all of our sins upon Himself and yet they could not hold Him in the grave. Up from the grave He arose! He arose! With a mighty triumph o’er His foes! He arose! Because death could not hold the Mighty God in the grave there is hope for you and me this Christmas Season. He is the Christmas gift! He is the mighty God! Trust Him and He redeems you, answer your prayers, restore your broken soul, and become Lord of your rebuilt life.
This is the morning you can receive the gift of God and accept Jesus into your heart as Lord and Savior. Won’t bow your head and ask God to forgive you of your sins so that He might give you the greatest gift in the world?
A message delivered at Madison Baptist Church, Phoenix, AZ - 12/14/2008
Copyright © 2008 by Dan E. Jackson
English Standard Version Bible text unless noted differently
