When I was a kid, we used to play this game. When someone was wearing a stocking hat, we would run up to them and say, “Where was Mickey Mouse when the lights went out?” When the other person said, “I don’t know,” we would pull their stocking hat over their eyes and say, “In the dark!” The idea, no matter how childish, was to get the person stumbling around and confused, so everyone could have a good laugh. The problem is that it never worked, but like most kids, we kept doing it, hoping that some day it would work.
Have you ever been in a position where you were in the dark, either in reality or in a figurative sense? I remember, as a kid, being at a relative’s house and waking up in the middle of the night and not quite being sure where everything was. I would squint my eyes to try to see where I was. Sometimes I would wake up and forget where I was. I got that thing where you ask, “Where am I?” I would kind of stumble around. That is a scary feeling especially when you are young.
Darkness brings with it a sense of fear and despair. Last spring, we were out to eat breakfast on Saturday morning. It was a cloudy rainy day, but it was daylight. The restaurant lost power, and Joey quickly tried to climb out of the high chair into mommy’s arms. We lack the security we have during daylight when it is dark.
Darkness is also a feeling of despair, not necessarily associated with the lack of physical light. I think of the house-church movement in Communist China. People risk their lives and live in fear just to go to church. There is darkness in that nation. But at the same time, a great light is dawning in China. Recent surveys have calculated that there are now more Christians in China than there were over 50 years ago when the Communists took over.
I also remember, from my childhood, that is was a great relief when the Sun would come up when I was in an unfamiliar place. There is something very comforting about light piercing the darkness.
Turn with me to Isaiah 9.
Read Isaiah 9:1-7.
When Isaiah wrote this Israel was experiencing a time of great darkness. They were surrounded by hostile powers that were salivating at the prospect of conquering their land. There was a region in the northern part of Israel especially under the veil of darkness. The area that was under the veil of darkness would later be referred to as Galilee. Verse 2 says that the people in darkness have seen a great light. The darkness would be pierced with blazing light of the dawn.
Verse 3 says that there will be great rejoicing at the appearance of the light.
The next 3 verses outline the reason for the rejoicing. Verse 4 says that the burden of darkness would be lifted. The burden of sin would be lifted.
Verse 5 says that the clothes of war would be fuel for the fire. There would be no more strife.
Verse 6 says that a child is born. This Child will carry the government on his shoulders.
I want to focus in on the four names given to the Child. They truly are beautiful names that are rich and full of meaning.
The first name is Wonderful Counselor.
This is one title, contrary to Handel’s Messiah. You will notice that there is symmetry with the four names. This is one title.
A reading of recent history books will show that recent presidents have had numerous counselors. They have a chief-of-staff, special counsel, press secretary, spokesman, and numerous other people who counsel them. A quick look at the Reagan administration will point this out. There are no less than half a dozen books written about the Reagan administration by former aides and advisors. The Nixon administration had at least as many. It is clear that the President of the United States consults various experts in matters where critical decisions are necessary. We often talk about the President bearing the burden of the office. Even with the best and brightest advisors and counselors, the office of the President takes a toll on the person serving. Just about every president in recent memory has looked like they 20 years while in office. The burdens of leadership and government are stressful, and it shows on the faces of the leaders.
This name of the Child indicates that he will need no counselor or advisors. The government will be on his shoulders, but he will not need the advice of anyone. This is someone who is wise beyond imagination. There are very few leaders, and no successful ones that do not have good counselors or advisors. Even the most power hungry individuals are surrounded by a group of trusted advisors.
If that is the case, how than can this Child rule, or carry the government on his shoulders, without advice? This Child is one smart cookie. Who is it that needs no advice, and is, in fact, the Wonderful Counselor? According to Luke 2, when Jesus was 12 years old, he went with his parents to the Temple, and stayed behind and when his parents found him, he was “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions.” To top it off, Luke 2:47 says, “Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” Here is a child who amazed the great scholars of his day with his wisdom. This Wonderful Counselor is Jesus Christ. He is the one who needs no advice from anyone. In fact, it is he who gives advice. When he is King of lives, he gives us direction. He shows us the way to go. This name points to one of the great attributes of God. That is, he is omniscient. That means that he is all knowing.
The second name given the Child is Mighty God.
There is usually one particular characteristic listed about every great leader. That is strength. Strength is a valued quality of every good leader. Name a great leader who was a wimp. Even if the leader isn’t strong there is a illusion of strength. When watching political campaigns, candidates want to look strong. Newscasters say things like, “Senator Jones looked strong on crime today as he came out in support of legislation that helps police.” We are conditioned to seek strong people as leaders. George Bush the elder was often criticized for being a wimp. The implication was that he was somehow unfit to lead because he lacked strength.
Here is a name for the Child that is divine. This is showing the divinity of the Child. There are leaders who have claimed to be divine, but there are none that can prove it. Several years ago the Communist Chinese kicked the Dahli Lama out of Tibet. He had claimed to be divine. My question is, if he is divine how did mere humans manage to force him out of his country? I mean, if he were divine, he should be able to zap his enemies. The reality is that the Dahli Lama is just a plain old guy like the rest of us.
The Child here is described as the Mighty God. He is the mighty warrior. He has power. Jesus conquered death. He was killed on the cross, but he also rose again to life. Jesus is the true divine One who conquered death. He offers life because he is the Mighty God. Jesus is God.
The third name given to the Child is Everlasting Father.
One of the problems with society today is a noticeable lack of influence from fathers on their children. A few years ago, a major greeting card company decided that a few weeks before Mother’s Day, they would offer free Mother’s Day cards to inmates at a nearby prison. Inmates flooded the area where the company had set up shop, so the inmates could express their love for their mothers. Encouraged by the success of this endeavor, the greeting card company decided to repeat the event for Father’s Day. No one showed up to get Father’s Day cards. What does that tell you? It tells me that there is a significant link between missing fathers and wayward children.
I have a wonderful father. My dad provided for me in incredible ways when I was younger. He spent hours with me. He sacrificed for me. He was at almost all the ball games and track meets. He provided a house, food and clothing. He gave an incredible sense of security when I was younger. But the reality is that some day, I will no longer have him as an earthly father.
The name given to the Child here is that of Everlasting Father, or Eternal Father. He is the eternal provider and protector.
A couple weeks ago we talked about the concept of the shepherd being someone who is both strong and gentle. That is an apt description of my dad. He was strong when he had to be, but he was also tender and gentle. I remember one time, when I was young, we were over at someone’s house, and there was a girl outside. It was getting quite chilly, and my bent down and scooped her up and carried her inside. This girl always had a certain affection for my dad.
Jesus says in John 10:11, “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me.” Jesus is a provider for us. He fulfills this name in that he gives us what we need.
The fourth name is Prince of Peace.
Prince is a title of royalty. It does not necessarily mean the son of a king. Princes are full-fledged rulers. Many “princes” have risen to power through war or the threat of war.
The question is what is peace?
Richard Nixon wrote that peace is not the absence of conflict, but learning to deal with conflict.
John Lennon wrote:
Give Peace a Chance
Ev’rybody’s talking about
Bagism, Shagism, Dragism, Madism, Ragism, Tagism
This-ism, that-ism, is-m, is-m, is-m.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
All we are saying is give peace a chance
C’mon
Ev’rybody’s talking about Ministers,
Sinisters, Banisters and canisters
Bishops and Fishops and Rabbis and Pop eyes,
And bye bye, bye byes.
All we are saying is give peace a chance
Lennon is saying that the end of war (the Vietnam War in particular) would bring about peace.
Both of these men, from opposite ends of the political spectrum, are wrong.
Peace is more than the end of a war. The peninsula of Korea is not at peace even forty years after end of the Korean War. The fighting stopped, but that did not bring about true peace for the inhabitants of the region. There is a fear of renewed hostility that has increased with the news that North Korea is developing nuclear weapons.
Contrary to what Richard Nixon may say, peace is more than just putting up with conflict. Conflict is a part of human nature, but Jesus offers peace. In Philippians, the Apostle Paul says the peace of God surpasses all our understanding. We cannot grasp the kind of peace that God offers.
The Hebrew word for peace, shalom, entails more than just the end of fighting or tolerance of conflict. It includes a sense of well-being and prosperity. That is what Jesus offers. That doesn’t mean he’s going to park a Porsche in our driveways, but he will see that our needs are taken care of.
Conclusion
These names carry with them a great deal of significance. Jesus is our all-knowing, all-powerful, ever-present advisor, protector and defender.
He is here for us today. He can offer us the peace that may be lacking in our lives. This is a time of year when we think the most about peace. We talk about “peace on Earth and good will toward men.” But we are often lacking the true peace of the One who is the Prince of Peace.
Is the peace gone for you? Are you tolerating conflict? Maybe it’s at work or with a family member. Would you be satisfied with an end of hostility? Or do you want more? Do you want the peace that Jesus brings?
He can give it to you today. It will last. He will be with you forever. As verse 7 says, “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” He is here today to offer peace if it’s gone for you. What a perfect time of year to do it. This week, will celebrate the birth of the Child that Isaiah talks about. All you have to do is ask him.
