ISAIAH 9:6 CHRISTMAS: WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
ISAIAH 9:6
#isaiah96christmas
INTRODUCTION… Cool Gifts for Christmas 2021, thegrommet.com
Christmas, more than any other time of year, is a season of giving gifts. It is part of what we do and what makes this time of year special. I am a full-service pastor so we are going to begin today in this ‘season of giving’ with some cool gift suggestions to get you warmed up to giving gifts and give you some good ideas. [all from thegrommet.com]
#1 Handmade Flat Candle. This thing is cool. Hand painted, flat, no dripping, different ones can go in the stand. I think this is functional and stylish, but I am a guy so I don’t think I know what stylish really is.
#2 Wad-Free Washer and Dryer Bed Sheet Detangler: This thing is also cool. Somehow this thing keeps the sheets from tangling, twisting, and balling up in the washing machine and in the dryer. It gets 4 of 5 stars out of 286 reviews.
#3 Automatic Pot Stirrer: Prevents burning, and frees up your hands. Thankfully it is also heat-resistant up to 248 degrees and even comes with three stirring speeds. The person who likes to cook in your family needs this. Side thought: get it for the person in your family who likes to start arguments… because they too are an automatic ‘pot stirrer.’
#4 Gourd Thumb Piano: The Mountain Melodies gourd pianos are elegantly designed and crafted in the United States from polished gourds. With the included songbook and its intuitive design, you will be playing and experimenting with your own music in no time.
THE PURPOSE OF CHRISTMAS
Gift giving is definitely part of Christmas, but the reason that we celebrate and give gifts is because of the birth of Jesus. We who believe in Jesus make sure each year that we observe and celebrate the birth of Jesus.
In the Church, “the earliest feast day in connection with the birth of Jesus was January 6, Epiphany, the Day of His Manifestation. This was originally the celebration of the birth itself.” Later, the Christ-mass was celebrated on December 25 because the Christians at the time did a corporate takeover to push out a pagan holiday at the same time each year. This happened under Constantine in the early 300s (The Story of Christianity, Gonzalez, 1984, page 96). The truth is Christians have always celebrated the birth of Jesus and we moved the date early in the Church to push out a big holiday not connected with Jesus.
Christmas is about the birth of Jesus because He is the greatest gift that the world has ever received! Jesus is worthy of being celebrated and we celebrate everything about Jesus… even His birth!
We celebrate the birth of Jesus because…
… the birth of Jesus is a supernatural event where God becomes flesh and dwells with us
… the birth of Jesus looks forward to all the magnificent miracles He would do
… the birth of Jesus looks forward to all that He would teach us and His life example
… the birth of Jesus looks forward to His meaningful death
READ MATTHEW 1:18-25
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with Child from the Holy Spirit. 19 And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. 20 But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for That which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will bear a Son, and you shall call His Name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: 23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a Son, and they shall call His Name Immanuel” (which means, God with us). 24 When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him: he took his wife, 25 but knew her not until she had given birth to a Son. And he called His Name Jesus.
Jesus is so important and so grand that even before His birth He had a nickname! His nickname in this passage from Matthew was “Immanuel” which is a significant name which means “God with us.” That nickname came from an Old Testament prophecy from Isaiah about the coming of the Christ. Jesus is the Christ. Jesus is the Christ which means He is the plan for salvation that people were waiting on.
ISAIAH 9:6
I find it very interesting that Isaiah was an Old Testament prophet who gave this Christ to be born several nicknames all throughout his writings. Isaiah prophesied and predicted Jesus most notably in chapters 7, 9, 11, 28, 40, 42, 49, 50, 52, 53, and 54. He talked about the Christ a lot. This Christmas Season, I’d like us to talk about Christ a lot. I’d like us to focus on one passage were Isaiah prophesies to us about Jesus Christ and there are several names for us to reflect on and I believe these Names of Jesus are impactful and meaningful for our lives. It is going to be an Isaiah 9:6 Christmas!
CONGREGATION READ TOGETHER … READ ISAIAH 9:6 (ESV)
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
The first nickname that the prophet Isaiah gives Jesus Christ in Isaiah 9:6 is “Wonderful Counselor.” We will get to the other names in coming weeks as we approach Christmas, but today we focus on “Wonderful Counselor.”
WONDERFUL
Let us focus on the first part… wonderful. This Son that is given will be called Wonderful Counselor.
ILLUSTRATION… Kevin O’Leary, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kevin_O%27Leary
I can’t help but think about a guy on TV with the nickname Mr. Wonderful. Terence Thomas Kevin O'Leary is a Canadian businessman, author, politician, and television personality. You have seen him on TV if you have ever watched Dragon’s Den or the American version Shark Tank. He is a venture capital investor who invests in entrepreneurs and makes money. He calls himself “Mr. Wonderful.”
O'Leary's appearances on Dragons' Den and Shark Tank popularized the nickname "Mr. Wonderful" for him. He has said that he is often referred to by that name in public. O'Leary has said that the nickname serves both as a fun reference to his reputation for being mean as well as a reflection of his view that his blunt assessments are helpful to misguided entrepreneurs. In a 2013 interview, O'Leary implied that he could not remember how he got the nickname.
The prophet Isaiah focuses our attention on the Christ Who would come and says that He will be called Wonderful Counselor and we know how and why He has that Name! It is no mystery why Jesus is called the Wonderful Counselor.
THE WORD
The Hebrew word in Isaiah 9:6 that gives us our English word “wonderful” is a word that means “to be marvelous”, “to be surpassing”, “to be extraordinary.” It also means to be “separate by distinguishing action.”
Jesus is marvelous. Jesus is surpassing. Jesus is extraordinary. Jesus is separate because of His distinguishing actions.
How?
#1 Jesus is marvelous because Jesus is sovereign over Creation. Jesus is God and Jesus carries with Him power over the Earth. Even Satan when tempting Jesus in Matthew 4 knows that Jesus has the ability and power to turn stones into bread. Jesus turns water into wine in John 2 at a wedding. Jesus causes fish to gather on one particular side of a boat. Jesus being sovereign with power makes Him marvelous! In a passage in Matthew 8, Jesus is with His disciples and He literally calms the storm and the disciples marveled at Jesus because of His power.
READ MATTHEW 8:26-27 (ESV)
And He said to them, “Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?” Then He rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. 27 And the men marveled, saying, “What sort of Man is this, that even winds and sea obey Him?”
#2 Jesus is surpassing because His teaching and the way He spoke about God was far and above anything that had ever been heard. Jesus spoke about loving neighbors and holiness and righteousness and belonging to God as children in ways that stirred hearts and still stirs our hearts! In a passage in John 7, the Pharisees and other religious leaders wanted to arrest Jesus to get rid of Him, but the officers they sent to get Him did not bring Him because they were absolutely astounded at His teaching.
READ JOHN 7:45-46 (ESV)
The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why did you not bring Him?” 46 The officers answered, “No one ever spoke like this Man!”
#3 Jesus is extraordinary because of His many miracles. Jesus healed lepers, drove out demons, caused the lame to walk, gave sight to the blind, and brought people back to life who were dead. This makes Him extraordinary. Jesus healed a woman who bled for years and provided food for the hungry and walked on water. This makes Him extraordinary. In Luke 5, everyone who saw what Jesus could do glorified God and were in awe.
READ LUKE 5:24-26 (ESV)
“But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—He said to the man who was paralyzed—“I say to you, rise, pick up your bed and go home.” 25 And immediately he rose up before them and picked up what he had been lying on and went home, glorifying God. 26 And amazement seized them all, and they glorified God and were filled with awe, saying, “We have seen extraordinary things today.”
#4 Jesus is separate because of His distinguishing actions on the cross! You and I are tied down and crushed by our sinful nature and we have nothing good in us. We are tied to sin and we bear that guilt. Everyone has hope and assurance out of sin because of the distinguished actions of Jesus on the cross. Our salvation and forgiveness and freedom from guilt comes only because of the actions of the Son of God on the cruel cross.
READ ROMANS 5:17-19 (ESV)
For if, because of one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the One Man Jesus Christ. 18 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the One Man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
ILLUSTRATION… Kevin O’Leary, kevinoleary.com
The very first words on venture capitalist Kevin O’Leary’s website is “You can call me Mr. Wonderful.” I think the man is probably a bit full of himself, but I don’t know him. He might in fact be wonderful in some ways.
I do know Jesus Christ. Jesus is wonderful because He is sovereign over creation, because of His teaching, because of His miracles, and because of His death on the cross for us. Jesus is truly wonderful. Wonderful is a word that absolutely describes Jesus Christ and we know why He is called “Wonderful.”
TRANSITION
Isaiah calls this future Christ… Wonderful Counselor. The term Isaiah uses has two parts. Both are important.
COUNSELOR
Let us focus on the second part… counselor. This Son that is given will be called Wonderful Counselor.
THE WORD
The Hebrew word in Isaiah 9:6 that gives us our English word “counselor” is a word that means “to advise” “to consult,” “to give purpose” and “to devise a plan.” I often imagine a counselor to be someone who is a little wiser or a little further ahead in life than me so that they can look back and offer insight or advice or wisdom.
ILLUSTRATION… Adviser (p)
One of my earliest advisers in ministry I met when I was in eighth grade. My family moved to Illinois when I was in eighth grade and we visited a few churches. Our first week at Central Christian Church in O’Fallon, Illinois my dad and mom knew it would be our church home. The minister Horace Shaffner, preached his sermon that Sunday and then died the next day. I have got to tell you… that is the way to go! Charlie McGee was the Associate Minister at Central Christian Church and took over and he was our pastor for the three years we lived in Illinois. He was and is an excellent minister and preacher and I came to respect him greatly. His father was president of St Louis Christian College once upon a time and Charlie taught some as SCC as well. It was several years later in 1997 when I was looking for an internship that I asked if I could go to Central Christian Church and intern under Charlie. In 1998, he married Kelly and I.
Over the years, I have called on Charlie McGee when I have hit a situation that I have needed advice on. I have found him to be thoughtful, wise, prayerful, and correct in situations that I have consulted him on. Some of how I preach is also influenced by Charlie.
Perhaps you have someone in your life like that.
In the Old Testament, many times kings were seen as counselors for the people of Israel. The people lived their lives and needed advice and purpose and many times a plan to navigate issues in life. For example, in Micah 4:9, the people are crying aloud because they are in great pain and the Lord asks the people of Israel in a rhetorical manner if their king is gone… if their counselor was gone. The word ‘king’ and the word ‘counselor’ are parallel and explain each other and are interchangeable. The king would have listened to the people and acted for the people. The king was a source for wisdom for folks.
In the Old Testament, the Ultimate Counselor is God. God is seen as ultimate wisdom and knowledge and having the ultimate will and plan for life. For example, Isaiah 28 says in verse 26: “For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him” and just a few verses later it says, “This also comes from the Lord of Hosts; He is wonderful in counsel and excellent in wisdom” (Isaiah 28:29). God is the ultimate listener and counselor and life advice giver.
In the New Testament, Jesus Christ is the Son of God and He is exactly the same in these areas because He is God. The book of Hebrews puts flesh on the Ultimate Counselor because not only does Jesus Christ have all wisdom, but He also has experience as a flesh and blood human being.
READ HEBREWS 4:14-16 (ESV)
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
We do not have a Savior that is unaware of what we deal with. Jesus is not far removed from us and incapable of understanding the joys and frustrations of life. Jesus of Nazareth 100% knows what human life is about because He is human and He lived life like you and me. It is because of His faithfulness and righteousness and His obedience to God the Father that we have any hope in this life to draw near to God in grace. Jesus Christ is the Wonderful Counselor.
TRANSITION
The prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus was born in Bethlehem, looks forward in the power of the Holy Spirit and prophesies about Jesus. He calls Him the Wonderful Counselor.
READ ISAIAH 9:6 (ESV)
For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His Name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
He calls Jesus Wonderful Counselor.
Ok, what does that mean?
How does this impact my life?
How does Jesus being the “Wonderful Counselor” change our perspectives?
APPLICATION
What I want you to know is that this nickname of Jesus is not a cutesy nickname that means nothing. The nickname of Jesus Christ in Isaiah 9:6 exudes trust. We can absolutely trust in Jesus Christ and in His teachings and in the way of life that He calls us to.
The world that we live in is self-serving. Most of the time the people around us are seeking the best for themselves and their families and in no way are looking out for others. Self is most important. If we have an issue, “don’t look at me, it’s not my fault.” Blame others. We are entitled to our rights and no one had better step on them or curb them because “I” and “me” and “mine” is most important. We have to live in such a world.
The world that we live in presses down on those who are perceived as weak or different. The rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Those with privilege many times do not even see the hurt around them and do not understand the plight of those who struggle. Politics plays games with health, money, security and many times it is the downtrodden who pay the price because of the games people play. We have to live in such a world.
The world that we live in peddles right and wrong and wrong as right. We scarcely know what is true about a situation or a person or news items because there is an active effort to shade the truth so that it fits a particular worldview. That worldview is often opposite of what the Bible shares as truth, not always, but most of the time. Our entertainment even pushes certain truths on us so that we cannot even watch a cartoon or read a fiction book without coming face-to-face with shifting cultural norms. We have to live in such a world.
What do we… believers in Jesus Christ… do in such a world?
I submit to you that we trust completely in the Wonderful Counselor.
Place your trust and faith in Jesus Christ because He proved His Wonderful Nature by being sovereign over all creation and proved His power and character by His miracles. Jesus Christ showed His Wonderful Love by dying on a cross for us. Jesus Christ can and will be your anchor in prayer in a world that is self-serving and confusing. The presence of the Holy Spirit will give you wisdom to navigate these days when up seems down and there is stress when it comes to finances and vaccines and employment and rights. You will not fail if you trust in Jesus Christ as your Wonderful Counselor.
Place your trust and faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ and in the Word of God. His Word defines for us what is important. His Word guides us in discussions when truth seems to be up in the air. God defines truth. God defines morality. God defines right and wrong and better and best. God defines what we should think about political issues. If we navigate these days with our own wisdom or with American rights or with self-interest as our foundation, we will fall into sin. You will not fail if you trust in Jesus Christ as your Wonderful Counselor.
CONCLUSION IN PRAYER
INVITATION
#1 Trust in Jesus for the first time, Baptism
#2 Join church as members, Come up front
#3 Trust in Jesus again and commit yourself to Him, Pray
