“GREAT EXPECTATIONS”
(taken from a message by Matthew Rogers)
ISAIAH 9:2-6
OPEN
Every so often, in the world of high school boy’s basketball, there comes a player with incredible talent and skill. He and his team become the focus of a lot of media attention. That player becomes one of the most talked about high school athletes in the nation.
Recruiters from the big-time colleges across the country come to the games just to watch the young man play. They begin to envision him playing for their school of higher learning and how he can help their school win a national championship. Those recruiters have a term for high school players with this kind of potential – “Can’t miss.” He’s referred to by this term because any school who signs this prospect “can’t miss” having a superstar on their team. However, not every player who is labeled as “can’t miss” seems to avoid missing.
That’s what happened to a young man named Ronnie Fields. Maybe you’ve heard of him. Ronnie played for Farragut Academy in Chicago. Not only was Ronnie considered a “can’t miss” prospect but he had a “can’t miss” teammate named Kevin Garnett. They took Farragut to the high school state tournament in 1995.
Garnett was a senior and turned pro right after graduating from high school. Fields was only a junior that year. But the next year, his senior year, Fields – a 6’3” guard – averaged 33 points and 12 rebounds a game. He was named Illinois’ Mr. Basketball for 1996.
Fans and media alike were enamored with Fields. Some even said that he would become the next Michael Jordan because of the way he could seemingly defy gravity and float effortlessly through the air. He accepted a scholarship from DePaul University, and seemed to be heading for stardom.
But then life fell apart for Ronnie Fields. In February of that same year, a serious car accident left him with a fractured vertebrae in his neck. In July, DePaul withdrew its scholarship offer when Fields failed to qualify academically. In September, Fields pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual abuse and was sentenced to 2 years probation and counseling.
Then in December of ’96 Fields became a benchwarmer for the Rockford Lightning, a professional team that was part of the CBA, a far cry from the National Basketball Association where the real stars play and where his high school teammate, Kevin Garnett in October of that year signed a $123 million contract, the richest in the history of sports at that time.
Was Ronnie Fields the “can’t miss” prospect that so many felt he was? No. In fact it’s fair to say that his post-high school career was pretty disappointing. It’s difficult to live up to expectations of absolute greatness. So many things can go wrong along the way.
And yet the predictions about Jesus Christ placed incredibly high expectations upon him, even before he was born. Let’s take a look some of these expectations in Is. 9:2-7 – “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder. For as in the day of Midian’s defeat, you have shattered the yoke that burdens them, the bar across their shoulders, the rod of their oppressor. Every warrior’s boot used in battle and every garment rolled in blood will be destined for burning, will be fuel for the fire. 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. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.”
In all of Scripture there is no prophecy more thrilling than that found in Is.6 – “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.”
Over the next several weeks, we’re going to look at this passage in depth. Today, I want to introduce each section we’ll focus on until the first of the year.
In the midst of some awful prophecies about Judah and the fate of Jerusalem, we find these words of hope. God loves his people so much that he will not let them go. These unusual titles for Jesus show us that we can count on Him to live up to His expectations. Let’s look at each of these titles in Is. 9:6 to see how we can still count on Jesus today.
WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
This title shows an expectation of wisdom. The term “wonderful” is a reference to the acts of God as being in incomprehensible, marvelous or miraculous.
“Counselor” carries with it the ideas of one who determines upon a plan of action and carries it out. Jethro counseled Moses on how to delegate responsibility. Let’s see how this term is used in some other biblical passages. Ex. 18:19 – “Listen now to me and I will give you some advice [counsel], and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him.” In 2 Kings Chapt. 18, King Hezekiah claimed to have counsel or strategy and strength for war.
What Isaiah is saying is that Judah’s only hope was this “Wonderful Counselor” whose plans, purposes, designs, and decrees for his people would be marvelous. So what we can expect is to look to Jesus as our “Top Advisor.”
Rulers in every country in the world have advisors. Top business people have advisors. The sole job of an advisor is to counsel and advise their clients concerning plans of action to solve problems, overcome obstacles, and implement procedures.
We all need a counselor at one time or another. We need the advice of friends or family. Sometimes we need professional counselors to help us sort through our problems and pain. Sometimes we need them for direction, advice, and instruction. These counselors are educated and practiced in helping us become the best we can be. The good counselors have wisdom and understanding. Their advice is sound.
Jesus has the credentials to be our counselor because he is completely trustworthy and wise. Jesus provides two things that we’d look for in a great counselor. First, he is understanding. Heb. 4:15 – “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” Second, he is someone who really cares. 1 Pet. 5:7 – “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
So when we face any and every decision, this prophecy tells us that Jesus is there to advise us and give us direction. He can see every possible outcome and knows which choice is best. Every time.
What should I do with my investment portfolio? When do I retire? Should I spank my child? Which movie will we rent? Should I re-model my kitchen? Jesus is our top advisor. He can see every possible outcome, and knows which choice is best. Every time.
We can count on Jesus to be our “Top Advisor.” The Wonderful Counselor. The second title is…
MIGHTY GOD
This title gives us an expectation of power. The word “mighty” in the original language was commonly associated with warfare and has to do with the strength and vitality of a successful warrior. And calling this child “God” is a prophecy regarding the divinity of Jesus Christ. He will be the all-powerful God himself! We can expect Jesus to be our “Mighty Warrior.”
Many people with a limited exposure to Jesus Christ, view him simply as someone very meek and mild.
Someone kind and gentle. Someone who turned the other cheek, and when the soldiers beat him, and made him
carry his cross, he did not resist. And all those things are true. But the larger picture of Christ in the Bible is one of “Mighty Warrior.”
There’s a praise chorus that says: “Mighty Warrior, dressed for battle, holy Lord of all is he. Commander in Chief bring us to attention. Lead us into battle to crush the enemy.”
The enemy is Satan and the unseen powers of evil that have permeated every level of existence in our world. Christ is the Mighty Warrior who has defeated and conquered these powers through his work on the cross and his resurrection from the dead. And even though these powers have been defeated, they still exist to cause us
trouble, almost like sore losers in the battle for cosmic control.
That’s why Paul can say in 2 Cor. 10:3-4 – “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” Our weapons are different, because the battle is spiritual.
Rev. 17:14 says this about Jesus: “They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers.”
Christ is our victorious king who has already triumphed over the evil powers of this world! Because of that, we can expect Jesus to continue give us victory over our struggles. As a “Mighty Warrior” he will deliver us safely from the wars we wage against the embarrassing temptations we have a difficult time getting under control. Do you have any of those? I sure do. He will deliver us. He is the Mighty God!
EVERLASTING FATHER
From this title, we have an expectation of care. “Everlasting” points to a promise of kingdom that will never end. Is. 9:7 – “Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.”
The term “Father” is not to be confused with God the Father, but instead refers to the enduring, compassionate, fatherly care of the Messiah to his people. We can expect Jesus to be our “Provider Forever.”
Jesus’ parental role is seen in Mt. 9:36 – “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Another verse that expresses his parental role is Mt. 23:37 – “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
Jesus provides the care we need and promises to be our provider forever.
PRINCE OF PEACE
This is an expectation of wholeness. A “Prince” is a leader, military commander or noble. “Peace” is the world “shalom” which means the absence of strife, completion, fulfillment or wholeness resulting in unimpaired relationships. We can expect Jesus to be our “Life Calmer.”
He has brought peace to a once broken relationship with God. Rom. 5:1 – “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In the practice of evangelism, there is a very effective illustration of this thought. It’s called the “bridge illustration.” God and man are together in the beginning. Sin enters the world and creates a gap. Christ comes to bridge the gap. To bring us peace with God.
This peace is life’s greatest gift. A completely unimpaired relationship with God. What once was broken by sin, and impossible to restore, has been completed by Jesus Christ – on the cross he cried, “It is finished!” Peace with God!
He also provides “peace on earth,” at least that’s what the angels announced to the shepherds on the night Christ was born. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, goodwill toward men.” Peace on earth! Including the space of it that you occupy!
CLOSE
The first century Jews had expectations of the Messiah. Although Jesus didn’t fit their expectations, he does fulfill the biblical expectations.
I need to expect Jesus to be my:
“Top Advisor” - Wonderful Counselor
“Mighty Warrior” - Mighty God
“Provider Forever” - Everlasting Father
“Life Calmer” - Prince of Peace
