CHRISTMAS - 4 PS’ OF MESSIAH
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.- Isaiah 9:6-7
A reader may be forgiven if the 4 Ps’ in the title of this message remind him of the 4 Ps’ of Marketing. Yes, the magic mantra of success in Marketing is all about putting the right product in the right place, at the right price, backed by right promotion (thanks Marketing guru E.J. McCarthy). Now can you believe it that Messiah as far as his apparent earthly nature is concerned is an irresistible mix of 4 Ps’? Confused? Let me explain keeping the above-captioned Scripture portion in focus which is quoted time and again during the Christmas season.
First things first. The promised Messiah who is to be worshipped more than anything else for HIS UNIQUE QUALITIES would be fully Divine (MIGHTY GOD) and fully human. Events in Jesus’ life especially towards the end of His earthly journey attest to this fact. There you see Him DYING on the cross (Luke 23:46 ). Hey, can the Divine die? NO! His earthly body died as an atonement for sins of mankind even as His Divine being entrusted NOT TO THE GRAVE but into the Heavenly Father’s hands went into the ethereal realm to perform supernatural works as the following Scripture portion proclaims
So he went and preached to the spirits in prison— those who disobeyed God long ago when God waited patiently while Noah was building his boat.- 1 Peter 3:19-20
Besides His Divine attributes it is the magnitude of greatness in his apparent “human” traits which would make us fall in love with Him again and again. Now Isaiah the Prophet toeing the line of a creative Modern day Biblical Scholar could well have used the words “Omnipotent, Omnipresent and Omniscient” to capture the essence of the Messiah’s character. Why then was he guided by Divine Inspiration to prophetically describe the Messiah as…EVERLASTING FATHER…WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR, PRINCE OF PEACE BESIDES DECLARING THAT GOVERNMENT WOULD REST UPON HIS SHOULDERS. The answer is as simple as it is profound. For only then would the Messiah instantly and truly appeal as an “irresistible mix” to the Jews truthfully embodying as He was the 4 different types of leaders’ in the Jewish history!!!
To the uninitiated, let me explain that Israeli history spanning 2000 years before the advent of Christ divides itself neatly into 4 parts of approximately 500 years each. At every stage of their “four installment” history, they were led by towering personalities whom we can classify on the basis of their calling into 4 categories beginning with…what else…letter P!!! Firstly, the first of the Ps’…
I) PATRIARCHS
And He will be called …Everlasting Father…
Any recounting of Israeli history be it in OT or NT times begins by first training the spotlight on the call of the greatest Patriarch of them all ABRAHAM (Joshua 24:3 / Acts 7:2 KJV ) who is reverently addressed by one and all as Father Abraham (Remember the Sunday School Choral sung by swinging arms matching the beat of marching legs…Father Abraham has MANY SONS…). Agreed, the twelve tribes may have originated from another great Patriarch Jacob (Abraham’s grandson) but there was none greater than Father Abraham amongst the Patriarchs’ for it was with him the Divine Covenant was made (Genesis 12:1-3 ) and the ceremony of circumcision initiated (Genesis 17:9-13 ). Well Father Abraham who was mortal and rejoiced to see the first advent of the Messiah was not even born WHEN THE EVERLASTING FATHER -THE MESSIAH THE GREAT I AM- was in existence (John 8:56-59 ) from eternity.
Well, the Jews may take pride in identifying themselves with Father Abraham calling themselves even as his children (Matt 3:9 ) be that as it may Dear Reader this Christmas how about becoming a child of infinitely greater EVERLASTING FATHER (John 1:12 ) by accepting Him into your hearts. Every one born as a descendant of fallen Adam (including the respectable ones’ of the society) needs to accept Him, for all of us by birth inherit the fallen Adamic nature (Romans 5:12 ). Well Yours truly did it 29 years back…on October 16th, 1983 to be more precise. After becoming His child, Ah… the joys of walking with Him when He starts leading us playing the role of… oh it brings us to the second sub-title
II) PROPHETS
And He will be called … Wonderful Counselor …
An Oxford Dictionary would give the definition of the word Counsellor as one who gives “guidance”. Starting with that peerless Prophet Moses and ending with the redoubtable Samuel, the people of Israel for the next 500 years (after the era of Patriarchs) were led by the Prophets. The principle calling of any Prophet is to “guide” the people in the ways of the Lord. Now who was the Greatest of em’ all? A no brainer really…Moses by far for he not only guided the people GEOGRAPHICALLY all the way from Egypt to the brink of the Promised Land but also most importantly was the first of the Prophets to guide them in the MATTER OF HOLY LIVING in tow with the Holy God (Leviticus 20:7-8 ).
Well Moses bound by limitations of time and space could not guide all the people all the time but our Messiah who excels Moses (Heb 3:3), is a wonderful Counseller guiding us at all times by being WITHIN US in the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 14:26 / 1 Cor 2:11-16 )/ I John 2:27 ) advising us in all matters including those so private that some are known not even to our spouses!!! Say Christian…are you listening to his still small guiding voice (John 10:4/27 ) in all areas’ of your life (Isaiah 30:21 )?
III) PRINCES
And David perceived that the LORD had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel’s sake.- 2 Sam 5:12
…the government will be on His shoulders. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom… Isaiah 9:6-7
For the next 500 years after that committed Prophet Samuel made way for the first of the Israeli Kings (Largely people’s choice –King Saul- who faltered after a promising start) the Princes’ would lead the people of Israel. It was under King David that the nation which began as a family 1000 years ago became a mighty empire holding sway over whole of Mid West Asia. King David besides being the most powerful Monarch in the annals of Jewish history would also become a benchmark to his successors in the matter of obedience to the Almighty (II Chronicles 17:3/ 28:1/ 34:2 ).
What about the Messiah’s superiority over great King David. Well, the latter himself calls the Messiah His Lord as this Scripture testifies…
The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."- Psalm 110:1 / Matt 22:44 / Heb 1:13
Say my fellow pilgrim, Is David’s Lord the Lord of every area of your life? Before Jesus’ sets-up His universal millennial rule at His imminent Second Advent, He needs to rule first unopposed in the lives of His Chosen Ones’ ransomed by His precious atoning blood. Before His Will is done on Earth as it is done in Heaven (Luke 11:2 KJV ), should it not be accomplished first in Toto in the lives of every Christian?
IV) PRIESTS
And He will be called … Prince of Peace...
But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous.- 1 John 2:1
The last 500 years of Jewish History coinciding towards the end with the First advent of the Messiah witnessed the leadership of Priests beginning with sincere Joshua (Ezra 2:2/3:2/ Zech 3:8 ) and ending with capricious, self-seeking ones’… the likes of Annas and Caiaphas (Luke 3:2 ), who were “yoking” people with their own, man-made “heavy” traditions, so much so the Redeemer made the clarion call “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Well as per the Law what was the primary calling of the Priest? To stand in the Gap and intercede for the people. He would be people’s representative before God and vice-versa. In other words, he would virtually be a “PEACEMAKER” between Holy God on one side and unholy people on the other. Messiah by His unique virgin birth alone qualifies to be the “PERFECT PEACEMAKER”. By virtue of being the Son of Man (Mary-Luke 19:10 ), he would be Man’s advocate before God and by the same token by being Son of God (John 3:16 ) He would represent the interests’ of the Almighty before men. Now by shedding His precious atoning blood on the Cross the Messiah has become the PRINCE OF PEACE of the Entire World as this Scripture declares…
So Christ has now become the High Priest over all the good things that have come. He has entered that greater, more perfect Tabernacle in heaven, which was not made by human hands and is not part of this created world. With his own blood—not the blood of goats and calves—he entered the Most Holy Place once for all time and secured our redemption forever.- Heb 9:12
Before He establishes World-wide peace at His Second Advent, Jesus is keener now on establishing the peace that passes all understanding in the hearts of everyone who accepts Him as his “personal High Priest”. How is that done? By placing His Holy Spirit in our hearts who by HIS JOYOUS PRESENCE at all times (except at the times of our disobedience) assures us that ALL IS WELL BETWEEN US AND OUR CREATOR. Is anything more important than this realization which at once puts our troubled minds at rest. IF THE LORD IS ON OUR SIDE, THEN WHO CAN BE AGAINST US (ROMANS 8:31 ). Now Dear Friends, those of you who have never accepted Jesus as “High Priest” of your life, why delay any further and those who have done so but have back-slidden since, isn’t the time right now for appropriating this Biblical promise in your lives…
“But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”- I John 1:9
Christian life begins with repentance and is sustained by repentance.
Hey, the Heavenly Father on the First Christmas put the
a) RIGHT PRODUCT: MESSIAH EMBODYING THE 4 PS’ OF JEWISH HISTORY
b) IN THE RIGHT PLACE: ISRAEL IS AT THE CENTRE OF EARTH -- Ezekiel 5:5
c) AT THE RIGHT TIME (when Rome the World power had connected the nations under its control with excellent roads facilitating easy spread of the Gospel- GAL 4:4),
d) AT THE RIGHT PRICE (ABSOLUTELY FREE TO US BUT AT AN INDESCRIBABLE COST TO HIM) AND
e) BACKED IT UP WITH RIGHT ANGELIC, COSMIC PROMOTION (LUKE 2:8-15 /MATT 2:2) AND LATER BY AWE-INSPIRING MIRACLES (JOHN 10:37-38).
Sadly, hardened in their hearts, amongst His own people there were very few who accepted Him (John 1:10-11) when He came for the first time till His death. However the Good News with capital G is even today to those who accept Him ... He gives them the right to become children of God (John 1:13) like He did 2000 years ago. Say Reader have you accepted HIM? Then MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, BROTHER!!! MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU, SISTER!!!
HALLELUJAH!!!
(Suresh Manoharan)
ps: This message replete with pics/animations is available on the following URL...http://www.jandsmministries.com/message_dec1_12.asp
