“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. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this.” — Isaiah 9:6-7
This is one of the most quoted Messianic prophesies in all of Scripture. You will find it this year on a lot of Christmas cards. Most would recognize the words, “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Let’s break these descriptions down a bit.
“Wonderful Counselor” — Jesus was a Wonderful Counselor to those He taught and revealed His divine truths to. He taught the multitudes in parables. He sat on hillsides and in boats along the seashore teaching with truthful authority. The true wonder of His teaching and counseling is that He continues to teach us today. He continues to reach to you and me with that same truthful authority through the Scriptures and through the fellowship of believers.
“Mighty God” — The beginning of this prophecy clearly tells us that the Messiah would be a male child born into this world; but it also says that He would be called “Mighty God.” The Messiah would be unique and never be repeated. There would only be a need for one. He would be both God (God’s Son) and man (Mary’s son). Why both? Only Jesus (both God and man) could live and die in our place and pay the eternal price for our sins.
“Everlasting Father” — Although not the Father, but the Son of the Father, He was the perfect expression of His Father’s love. If you want to know how much God loves you, you have to look at Jesus. He is the embodiment of the Father’s love. In His own words He had come to do His Father’s will. Jesus fulfilled that love and will by dying on the cross and bearing our sins. “For God (the Father) so loved the world that He gave His only Son that whoever believes in Him would not perish, but have everlasting life.”
“Prince of Peace” — This is my favorite description of Jesus. The prophecy says there will be no end to the reign of His peace. I can tell you that this is absolutely true. Ever since I met Jesus (at the age of 17), He has been my source of peace. He has been that peace in good times and in bad. I know that He will be that peace for me for the rest of my life. I know that He is not just the source of that peace for me, but for millions and millions of others as well.
It is my prayer today that we see in Jesus the true depth of this prophesy.
Peace!
Pastor Tom
www.firmlyrooted.org
