Prince of Peace
Wonderful Counselor
Studying the incarnation through the names that Jesus is called in Isaiah chapter 9. We will also be studying Luke chapter 8 if you want to bookmark that for later.
I have a very electic taste in music. I like music from almost every style and genre. In the case of classical music, one of my favorite Christmas compositions is Handel’s Messiah. I’m sure everyone here has heard it during the Christmas season. What most people don’t realize is that almost its entire text is taken right from the words of Scripture.
In every performance, the pinnacle of the musical piece comes toward the end as the choir sings the Hallelujah chorus. There is this slow build up that crescendo’s into a wave of worship to God. I particularly love when the bass voices sing “And He shall reign for ever and ever.”
During these next four weeks and culminating on Christmas Eve, we are going to look at four descriptions of the babe born in Bethlehem. As we do that, it’s my hope that you will see that these attributes of Jesus are exactly what we need, and what we need to be showing the world about the one we worship and follow.
The goal of this series is to help you take an hour on Sunday and get your mind and hearts off of the commercialism of this holiday and back where they belong- on the wonder of God becoming human a human baby in Bethlehem’s manger.
So as an introduction to this series I want to read you the verses of the bible from which Handel wrote his hallelujah chorus.
Isaiah 9:2
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;
On those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned.
Isaiah 9:6
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.
Of the increase 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.
Let’s pray.
The holiday season brings about a flood of emotional activity. It starts with Thanksgiving, and right after we celebrate how thankful we are, people come materialistic terrorists on Black Friday when they hit the stores to find the biggest deals out there.
Hopefully, amongst all the hustle and bustle of the holiday, it also brings about some introspection.
Personally, I start to think about the following during this time-
- I want to change the pace and pattern of my life.
- I want to be with family and friends.
- But above all- I promise myself something at the beginning of the season- that I won’t let myself get so caught up in the busy-ness of the season that I lose focus on the reason for the season.
And I don’t think it’s just me who feels these things this time of year. I think we all do, don’t we?
I think that somewhere just inside our skin is this thing that wants hope and warmth and security. I think it’s part of the human condition and triggered by the changing of the seasons.
And more than anything during this series, I want to help us all get a little closer to that hope and warmth and security.
I don’t know any better way for that to happen than for us to look at the gift God gave us in letting Jesus be born.
During this time of year we speak of something called the “incarnation”, which is a big word for an even bigger idea- God becoming a little baby in Bethlehem’s manger.
This same God who challenges our imagination and our spirits to believe something so incredible is the same God who wants to show you the wonder of what He can do and who He can be in your life.
If we really believe who Jesus claimed to be, imagine how that would change you: give you clarity, and courage, and understanding, and hope.
When I read scripture and consider God’s sovereign control and plan, I like to believe that God couldn’t wait to write inspire Isaiah to write down the text of Isaiah 9:6 so many years ago. I think He couldn’t wait to tell folks about how wonderful His Son would be to them when He finally came to earth.
God didn’t wait until a few days before Jesus was conceived. He didn’t schedule it a week out, a year out, a decade out, or even a century out. 700 years before Jesus was born, God chose Isaiah, a prophet and said, “Isaiah, write this down and tell people about it. Here’s what My Son is going to be like: he’s going to be a wonderful counselor, a mighty God, an everlasting Father, and a prince of peace to you all.”
Because so many people needed the clarity and courage and understanding and hope, God began announcing the news about His Son 700 years before He ever arrived.
Long before Handel ever wrote the Messiah, people who felt like they were in darkness were looking at this description of God’s Son and saying, “Yes! This is what I need God to be for me”
So let me read the central part of it to you again:
Isaiah 9:6 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. – Isaiah 9:6
“And he will be called ‘Wonderful Counselor.”
I want to talk you through just that phrase in the hopes that you will never again look at a manager scene without appreciating the wonder of the person who was in it.
If you have been around church for awhile, you know that the people God inspired to write the bible didn’t write it in English. Isaiah lived in ancient Israel and wrote these words in Hebrew.
In Hebrew, “Wonderful Counselor” is…
Pele’ yo’hetz = Wonderful Counselor
“Pele” means wonderful, but it goes beyond that. It’s used dozens of times throughout the O.T. and it tends mean “wonderful” in the sense of ,
Pele’ = “the best ever” Or, “better than anyone else could expect to do”
Because it usually describes something so great only God can do it, almost all the Bible’s references to pele are referring to God.
Job uses the word when he says that God, …performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. – Job 9:10
David says about God, …you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. – Psalm 86:10 And that word “marvelous” is pele.
See the sense of it?
“Yo’hetz” means counselor, but in our day and age, when we think of a counselor, we usually picture someone sitting across the room while we are laying on their couch asking us things like, “So, how did you feel about that?” and “Tell me me about your mother”
That’s not what a Counselor was in the time Isaiah was writing this down.
Neither were they lawyers. We often head this term used in courtroom dramas to refer to lawyers on either side of the case being argued before a judge.
But that’s not what Isaiah is speaking to use either.
In Isaiah’s day, Counselors weren’t therapists, they weren’t lawyers
They were strategists. They were chief advisors to those in power. They gave people they were counseling advice how who to run a war, or win a political campaign, or organize a new business venture. Counselors advised a king or other person of importance about the best course to take given whatever circumstances they were facing.
So “Yo’hetz” means one who to gives advice and guidence
In Jesus’ lifetime here on earth, we saw several examples of Him fulfilling this role prophesied by Isaiah.
In Luke 19, Jesus set up a lunch appointment with a crusty, financially-driven businessman named Zacchaeus. During the lunch He helped Zacchaeus see how his single-minded pursuit of wealth was doing to the people around him. Jesus’ counsel changed the course of Zacchaeus’ whole life. His counsel was “pele”-the best ever. It was better than Zacchaeus could have expected from anyone else.
We see another example of this type of counsel in Luke 8
In Luke 8, he says that Jesus restored a man’s life who had been tormented by demons for a long period of time. Afterwards, as the man’s mind is clearing and he’s realizing what has happened to him, the Bible says, The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him… - Luke 8:38
Now, that’s understandable, isn’t it?
Here’s a guy whose whole life has just turned around. He’s grateful, and he wants to soak up all he can from Jesus. So he begs Jesus, “Please let me go with you. I’ll carry your bags, I’ll shine your shoes. I just want to be near you so I can testify to that you’ve changed my life.”
Most teachers would say, “Of course you can stay with me. In fact, that would probably be the best place for you to be right now.”
But Jesus doesn’t say that. Instead, the text says …but Jesus sent him away, saying, “Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” – Luke 8:39
Translated, “I love that you want to serve me and spend all your time with me. The best way for you to do that is to return home and show people the power of God working in your life. Be a trophy of grace- a symbol of the saving power found in a relationship with Jesus the Christ.”
The man did just that, So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.” – Luke 8:39
Other people might have given him different counsel. And it might have been good counsel. But Jesus’ counsel was the best ever-the best possible counsel.
Immediately following that, the text says in Luke 8:40, Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. – Luke 8:40
The next verse says, Then a man named Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve was dying. – Luke 8:41
Push pause on that for a minute and try to imagine how Jairus must have been feeling. The text says he’s a leader in his religious setting. So he’s probably a fairly mature guy, probably wields some power and authority.
But he’s helpless to help his daughter.
What does he do? He calls on the wonderful counselor. Jesus.
And Jesus says he’ll come.
So now, you’re Jairus, and you’ve got this wonderful counselor’s full attention, and he’s coming with you. And you’re hoping he’s going to fix things. But you know there’s not much time.
Here’s the next verse.
As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. – Luke 8:42
So now, you’re slowed down, and you know time is running out. (“Come on, we have to go”)
Next verse: And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. – Luke 8:43
Why do you suppose she’s in the crowd?
Because, like everyone else, she’s discovered that Jesus’ abilities are the best ever. She’s hoping the wonderful counselor can help her.
Next verse: She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. – Luke 8:44
See what just happened?
This is very significant and often lost in the story. This condition would have made her unclean in the eyes of their society. Under Mosaic Law, any discharge, particularly bloody discharge made you possibly infectious and therefore guaranteed. That was why she was considered to be unclean.
If she left the house, she would have to loudly announce to everyone around her- “I’m unclean, I’m unclean!” and people would cross the street or run into their house so they didn’t’ come anywhere near her.
If she failed to do this, she could be stoned to death. She is risking her life right being in a crowd and having physical contact with others to meet with the wonderful counselor Jesus. Not only is she at risk of death from touching others, but she is now reaching out and touching a holy man while having her condition.
We really don’t have a modern example as to the extent how bad what she is doing is, but it’s really bad.
Next verse: Jesus wheels around and says, “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. – Luke 8:45
Remember, if she is recognized she will be executed. Everyone knows she has a disease, and probably a disease brought on by sexual promiscuity. In this culture, that made her less than human. She would have been seen as about ¼ step above a leper.
But Jesus stops to speak with her.
Now switch gears- remember Jesus is supposed to be hurrying to heal the daughter of the synagogue leader, Jairus.
What do you think he is thinking right about now?
Why are you wasting time on this worthless sinful woman? We’re going to fix my dying daughter, remember, and time is running out.
But Jesus, not to be hurried, apparently stops right there in the middle of the road. Because the next sentence says, When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” – Luke 8:45
The disciples are like- come on Jesus “Who can tell who touched you. Probably the person who touched you doesn’t even know it themselves.”
Jairus is thinking, “Come on! Come on!”
Everyone is pushing Jesus to hurry up here.
But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” – Luke 8:46
At this point, if I’m Jairus, I’m thinking, “Alright, okay, so what? What’s done is done. Let’s keep moving.”
But the text says, Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed.” – Luke 8:47
Now, why would Jesus make her do something like this?
Think about Jairus- “You’re stopping for her? My daughter is dying and you stop to minister to this sinner”?
This is why Jesus is a wonderful counselor. Look at what he says Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.” – Luke 8:48
Which I think is a hint as to why Jesus stopped in the first place. See, he wasn’t content with just healing the woman’s body. He was interested in her heart. He wanted to counsel her and speak life into her where for so many years there had been nothing but suffering and death.
The wonderful counselor wanted to begin rebuilding her soul after all these years of suffering.
Jesus takes the time to encourage her and say “You did good! You expressed faith in me, and that expression healed you! Now, as you go, don’t just go with a healed body, go with a healed heart too, go in peace.”
See what Jesus is up to here? He’s not just meeting a single need. He’s helping them in every way.
Meanwhile-
Jairus is still standing there trying to get Jesus to move faster. Put yourself in his shoes- his daughter is dying and Jesus doesn’t seem all the concerned as he speaks to this woman.
How many of you have been there- seeing someone else get healed while you are still suffering?
And in the next verse, his worst nightmare is realized.
While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue ruler. “Your daughter is dead,” he said, “Don’t bother the teacher any more.” – Luke 8:49
Do you think that at this moment, Jairus was still looking at Jesus as a wonderful counselor?
But Jesus is a wonderful counselor and tells Jairus
Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” – Luke 8:49
Is that good counsel, or not?
V. 50. When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” – Luke 8:51-52
How would you respond to counsel like that?
They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. – Luke 8:53
Jesus seemed like he was anything but a wonderful counselor in this moment. But look what happens next-
But Jesus took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. – Luke 8:54
There is a saying that it’s always darkest before the dawn. Many of you might be in that dark night of fear, or doubt, or unbelief.
You need a wonderful counselor.
Jesus wants to be your wonderful counselor this morning.
And that is my hope is that two things will happen for you as a result of coming this morning.
One is that, for the few weeks, you won’t look at a manger the way you did before.
I hope that every time you see a manger you’ll think not just about a little baby, but a God, growing up to be a wonderful counselor. Maybe while you’re thinking about it, you can just pause and say, “Jesus, thank you for being a wonderful counselor.”
The second thing I’m hoping will happen for you is that, every day from now until Christmas, you will seek out the counsel of Jesus. If you’ve never read his life story, you’ll start today with the Christmas story, and you’ll find out what he has to say to people.
Or, if you already have a relationship with Him, that you’ll seek His counsel every day. – Every morning when you get up, every time you face a decision or a challenge. Throughout your day you’ll say, “Jesus, counsel me on this.” “Jesus, give me your perspective, give me your advice. Direct me. Give me counsel on this.”
Jesus will change your life, if you let Him be your wonderful counselor.
