12-08-2024 - His Name is Counselor

Text: Isaiah 9:6.

                    Birth announcements are usually made after the child has been born.  But such was not the case with the birth of Jesus.  The prophet Isaiah made the announcement centuries before the event.  Last week we began looking at all of the names Isaiah gave to the coming Messiah in Isaiah 9:6.  The purpose in the five names was to reveal the personality and earthly mission of our Lord Jesus.  Last week we looked at why Jesus was called “Wonderful.”  Today we will look at why Isaiah called the coming Jesus “Counselor.”  A Counselor is one who gives us advice, instructs and mentors us teaches us and serves as an advocate when we need one.  When we look at Jesus, He is that to us and so much more.

                   The name “Counselor” speaks of His wisdom.  Counselors share their wisdom with others.  As counselor, we are assured that Jesus has wisdom to share with us.  Wisdom that is worthless is wisdom that is unavailable to anyone and can’t be applied to life.  But Jesus is available everyone.  As our Counselor, we have the assurance that the Son of God is available to us and all of mankind if they choose to accept Him by faith. 

                   Jesus came to the manger, His birth was announced to shepherds, and wise men came to worship Him.  Paul wrote in Philippians 2:5-7:  “ (5) Let the mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God.  (7) But made Himself of no reputation and took upon Him the form of a servant and was made in the likeness of man.”  Paul is reminding us that Jesus willingly left the splendor and glory of Heaven to come to our world as a humble servant.  By doing so, He is our perfect example of the kind of life we should live. 

                   As Counselor, Jesus came to us with answers.  Luke 2:41-52 shows how He gave answers to scholars in the Temple.  It was the time that the 12 year old Jesus had gone with His family to celebrate the Feast of the Passover. He stayed behind to meet with the scholars in the Temple and Scripture tells us how they were astonished at the questions the young man asked, and the level of understanding and knowledge was far superior to their own. This assures us that He has the answers and knowledge that we need.

                   Jesus gave answers about the need to be born again, to Nicodemus, a Pharisee and ruler of the Jews, who wanted to know more about the man he believed was a teacher from.  Jesus explained to him that night of the need to be born again in order to see the kingdom of God.  Jesus had no problem giving answers to His critics.  John 2:18-22 records how just before another Passover Jesus drove the merchants and money changes from the Temple, scolding them for turning His Father’s House into a den of thieves.  Calling Himself the Son of God didn’t sit well with the Jews, and they demanded He give them proof of His claim.  Jesus responded that they would kill Him but would rise again in three days.  Of course, their closed minds and hard hearts didn’t understand what He was telling them. 

                   Jesus provides answers about eternity explaining the promise of Heaven in John 14:1-6 where He tells the Disciples if you believe in God then you can believe in Him.  He goes on to assure them how big Heaven is, and He will go and prepare a place for them so He can return again and receive them to Him.  He also reveals that He is the Way, Truth, and Life and no one can get to the Father without Him.  He provides information about the perils of Hell in Luke 16:19-31 where we learn about the beggar Lazarus who sat by the rich man’s gate each day.  The rich man ignored Lazarus and never once offered anything to help the man.  They both died and Lazarus was carried to Heaven in the arms of the angels,.  The rich man woke up in the dregs of Hell.  From there he was able to see how well Lazarus was doing in Heaven and admitted to the Lord that he had been wrong and would change.  But the lesson to him and all people today is that redemption must be secured BEFORE we die because after death, it will be too late.  Jesus gives us all the information we need to know so we can make a fully informed decision about where we choose to spend eternity.

                   As Counselor, Jessus gives assurance for hopeless sinners.  He has a message of love that we learn of when He met the woman at the well recorded in John 4.  When He told her things about her life that He couldn’t possibly know, she realized that she has met the promised Messiah and made the decision to change her life.  He showed love for crooked Zacchaeus in Luke 19:1-10 where we learn that he was a rich tax collector.  Tax collectors were the most hated of people by the Jews because they felt they were all crooks.  Zaccheus had heard Jesus was coming and he wanted to see Him.  Because he was a short man and the crowds were so large, he climbed a sycamore tree so he could see Jesus pass by.  When Jesus saw him, He told him to come down from the tree because He was going to spend the day at his home.  The people were astonished that Jesus would socialize with the likes of a crooked tax collector.  During their visit, Zaccheus assured the Lord that he always gave half of his goods to the poor and if he had ever mistakenly taken anything from another he repaid it four times.  Jesus assured him that he deserves salvation just as any of the Jews even though he had been shunned because Jesus had come to look for and save those who are lost.  And there is the love Jesus showed to the dying thief on the cross recorded in Luke 23:39-40.  Even though Jesus was in agony Himself, He recognized and rewarded the faith of the thief next to him that awful day.

                   All information that we need to know to make an informed decision about whether or not to believe, by faith, that He is the Son of God who died to take away our sin so that we could be restored to the family of God is provided by our Counselor Jesus.  While Jesus was physically on earth, and still today, He reaches out to those who have no hope and shows them they can look forward to eternity.

                   So, we celebrate more than a miracle birth at Christmas.  This virgin-born Savior has the answers everyone in this world needs – past, present, and future.  His answers are relevant to every need and everyone in need, regardless of age or station in life.  Anyone can bring their burdens and problems to Him and He will help.  The wise counsel that only Jesus can offer will guide all who look for it through every problem and difficulty that will be encountered in this life.  Nothing is too trivial, too small, or too large for Him to take the time to help us through.

                   Those who accept them into their heart and life by faith will fully realize the extent of what Jesus is offering.  Yes, we have to live this difficult life until God determines it is time to return Jesus to establish His eternal kingdom.  But through His earthly life and ministry, He showed us how He is always available to children, adults, rich, poor, and sinners like me and you.  And until the time comes to leave this life, we are never left alone to deal with problems and uncertainty because Jesus never leaves us and very often picks us up and carries us through our most difficult experiences.

                   Until we meet again, may God bless and keep you, may He shine His light on you, show you grace, and give you peace in all the days ahead.