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(Isaiah 9:6)

INTRODUCTION: Today we begin our Advent series focusing on the names of Jesus as revealed by Isaiah the prophet in Isaiah 9. Advent is a special time of preparation as we prepare our hearts for Christmas and focus our attention on Jesus who is the reason the season even exists. There are many distractions that can keep us from seeing Jesus, but when you prepare your heart you will see him everywhere, and you will have many occasions to worship, thank and praise him and to share your faith in him with others this Christmas season. (Read Isaiah 9:6 and pray)

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Writing 700 years before the birth of Christ, Isaiah tells us about a child, a baby, a son who will be born into our world. All life is a gift from God, but this Son is a special gift, because as Isaiah says, he is given for you. He is no ordinary child, for he will be a ruler and a king. Isaiah says, “the government will be on his shoulders,” and that “of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:7)

So, how will you recognize this baby when he is born? How will you know when this special child has entered our world? Isaiah identifies him for us by his names, four of which are given here in Isaiah 9 – Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. These are not names in the sense of the names that we use for each other on a daily basis. Rather these are names that describe the character, the quality, the essence of who this child is. And there is only one child who was born into our world in all of history who fulfills the meaning of all these names. We celebrate his birth each year at Christmas, and his name is Jesus.

The first name is Wonderful Counselor, and that is the name we will look at today. One thing we all need in our life is wise counsel or guidance. Whether it’s for your marriage, your family, your relationships, your work or your play, we all need God’s guidance to make good and right decisions along the way. And that is what this first name in Isaiah 9 is all about.

Some translations separate this first name into two names – Wonderful and Counselor – but in the original language they are presented as one compound name, just like the other three names in the verse.

The first word in the name, “wonderful,” is actually the word “wonder.” It doesn’t mean wonderful in the sense of “great” so much as “miraculous, astonishing, beyond understanding, something that only God can do.” We find this word used in other verses in the Bible such as Job 9:10 where Job proclaims: “[God] performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” (Job 9:10) Or again in Psalm 78:12 where we read: “He did miracles in the sight of their fathers in the land of Egypt.” (Psalm 78:12) That word “miracles” in verse 12 is the same word as “wonderful” here in Isaiah 9:6.

Or again in the book of Judges. When Samson’s parents asked the angel of the Lord his name, the angel replied: “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding?” (Judges 13:18) That phrase “beyond understanding” is also the same word as “wonderful” in Isaiah 9:6. So Isaiah is telling us that this child will be called a miraculous counselor, an astonishing counselor, a counselor beyond our understanding, a counselor that only God could bring about.

Now the word “counselor” in this verse is also a little different than what we think about when we hear the word counselor today. We immediately think about the counseling profession. We picture someone lying on a couch, and the counselor saying, “Tell me about your childhood.” But the word counselor here refers more to an advisor or a guide. Think about the kings in the Old Testament and how they had a group of advisors who would give them guidance or counsel. That’s what this word means.

Well, this child who will become a king would not need a group of advisors, because he himself is the “Wonderful Counselor,” the amazing one sent by God full of wisdom and truth. And as the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus offers you the wisdom and guidance you need for your life.

So, let’s talk about what we mean when we say that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Why is Jesus the “Wonderful Counselor?”

I. Jesus is approachable

First of all, because he is approachable. One of the marks of any good counselor is that they are approachable. If you don’t feel comfortable with a person, you are never going to approach them with your problems. And if you can’t go to them with your problems, then no matter how good a counselor they may be, they can’t help you. One of the reasons Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor is because he is eminently approachable. Let me give you two reasons why.

   A. He understands your struggles
      – Hebrews 4:14-16

First of all, Jesus is approachable because he understands your struggles. Now that may come as a surprise to you. You might wonder, “How could Jesus, the perfect Son of God, possibly understand my struggles?” Well, let’s see what the Bible says about it. Hebrews 4 says:

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has gone through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. 16 Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4:14-16)

Jesus is able to sympathize with your weaknesses, because he also experienced temptation when he was here on earth. And not only did he experience temptation, but he was also tempted in every way, just as we are.

Now Jesus got it right. He never gave into temptation – he was without sin – but he knows what you’re going through, and he is on your side. You can never shock him with your sin or repel him with your failures. He knows what it’s like to be tempted, and he understands your struggles.

   B. He bridges the gap between you and God
      – 1 Timothy 2:5

Another reason Jesus is approachable is because he bridges the gap between you and God. 1 Timothy 2:5 puts it this way:

“For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

Why do we need a mediator? Because without a mediator, God is not approachable. God is Spirit; we are flesh. God lives in heaven; we live on earth. And most serious of all, God is holy, and we are sinful. The apostle Paul describes God this way in the book of 1 Timothy: “God, the blessed and only Ruler, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone is immortal and who lives in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see.” (1 Timothy 6:15-16) So, how do you approach the unapproachable God? You need a go-between; you need a mediator. And Jesus is that mediator.

In fact, Jesus is the only mediator between God and man. You might wonder why Jesus is the only mediator. Well, it has to do with that word “wonderful,” “miraculous” back in Isaiah 9 again. It is the wonder we celebrate each Christmas – the miracle of Jesus being born into our world as a human being. Jesus took on flesh so that he might die in the flesh so that he could become the mediator between God and man. Because he is God, he can approach God. And because he is man, we can approach him. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor first of all because he is approachable: he understands your struggles, and he bridges the gap between you and God.

II. Jesus is reliable

A second reason why Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor is because he is reliable. It’s one thing to be approachable, but if you are going to be a good counselor you must also be reliable. For example, your crazy Uncle Larry might be a great person, easy-going and very approachable, but he may not be the best person to go to for advice. (I apologize if any of you actually have a crazy Uncle Larry – this is what we call a “generic” example. All names and places have been changed to protect the innocent.)

But Jesus is not only totally approachable; he is also completely reliable. You can go to him with full confidence that he will give you only good counsel for whatever situation you face in life. How do we know that Jesus is reliable? Two things: his counsel is wise, and his guidance is sure.

   A. His counsel is wise
      – Isaiah 11:2

First of all, his counsel is wise. Listen to what Isaiah 11:2 says about him:

“The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2)

What Isaiah prophesied in the Old Testament we find fulfilled in the New. After Jesus was born into our world, we read in Luke 2 that he “grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40) A few verses later he is age twelve and we find him “in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers.” (Luke 2:46-47) And then, after Jesus grew to be a man, we read in Matthew 13 that: “Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?’ they asked.” (Matthew 13:54) Colossians 2:3 says that in him “are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” (Colossians 2:3)

So where did Jesus get this miraculous, wonderful wisdom? Well, Isaiah 11:2 already answered that question for us. “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.” (Isaiah 11:2) Jesus’ wisdom came from the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the wisest man who ever lived because his wisdom was divine. As the Son of God filled with the Spirit of God, Jesus alone has the wisdom to help you with your struggles in life.

   B. His guidance is sure
      – Psalm 23:1-3

Not only is his counsel wise, but his guidance is sure. Jesus called himself “the Good Shepherd,” referring back to Psalm 23 where we read:

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.” (Psalm 23:1-3)

When you trust Jesus as your Wonderful Counselor, you will receive the sure guidance of the Good Shepherd. Are you in need? He has promised to meet all your needs according to his riches. Are you tired? He will give you rest. Are you anxious? He will lead you beside the still waters; he will restore your soul. Are you unsure what path to take? He guides you in paths of righteousness for his own name’s sake.

You know, there are a lot of people out there offering guidance for all aspects of your life. Some are pretty good and may help you in certain areas. Others are well-intentioned but fall short of the goal. And then there are those who really don’t care about you and are just out to make a quick buck. You have to be careful.

Don’t you just love those commercials with the fast-talking disclaimers at the end? After giving you counsel on what medicine to use or what prescription to take, some guy comes on at the end and says: “Examples shown are for demonstration purposes only. Results are not typical and not guaranteed. Consult your physician before taking. Side effects could include dizziness, blindness or in extreme circumstances death.”

Okay that might be a little extreme, so let me give you a real-life example. I once read a medical book where after 170 pages of the author establishing his credentials and presenting his research, he ended the book with this disclaimer tucked away in the back. And I quote:

Any claims made about specific illnesses, diseases, and causes of health problems in this book are purely speculative, hypothetical, and are not meant to be authoritative in any setting … Nothing in this book is to be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease … [The author] makes no claim to be an expert in any aspect of medicine … Additionally, [the author] makes no claim that any statement in this book is correct.

Wow! You’ve got to love the lawyers who helped craft that statement.

With Jesus you never have to worry about fast talk, small print, or hidden disclaimers. Jesus is a reliable guide for all of life. He will only guide you in paths that are good for you. His counsel is wise, and his guidance is sure.

III. Jesus is available

Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor first of all because he is approachable, secondly because he is reliable, and thirdly, because he is available. You could have the greatest counselor in the world, but if the counselor is not available, then he is of no help to you. You know those old signs on the door: “The doctor is in.” Well, if the doctor is out when you need him, then you are out of luck. The third reason Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor is because he is wonderfully available to you at all times.

   A. He is always with you by the Holy Spirit
      – John 14:16-17

First of all, he is always with you by the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was getting ready to leave this earth, he told his disciples:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16-17)

Jesus said the Father would give “another Counselor,” and that word “another” in the Greek means not “a different type” but rather “another of the same kind.” The Holy Spirit is the same kind of Counselor as Jesus because the Holy Spirit like Jesus is God. In fact, the Holy Spirit is even called “the Spirit of Christ,” because God is one God in three persons – Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through the Holy Spirit both the Father and Son come to dwell within the believer.

When Jesus was here on earth his availability was limited to his disciples or to the group of people he was with at any particular time. But by returning to heaven and sending the Holy Spirit, Jesus made himself available to all believers in all places at all times. With Jesus the doctor is always in, because he is always with you and in you by the Holy Spirit.

   B. He will never leave you nor forsake you
      – Matthew 28:20

And not only is he always with you, he will never leave you nor forsake you. Jesus said in Matthew 28:20:

“Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)

This “always-with-you-availability” by the Holy Spirit is not a special limited-time offer. There is no trial period. It has no expiration date. Jesus is available to you by the Holy Spirit today, tomorrow and forever. He is always with you by the Holy Spirit, and he will never leave you nor forsake you. He is the Wonderful Counselor.

CONCLUSION: As we close out the message this morning, let me leave you with three brief application points for you to put into practice.

1) Come to Jesus with all of your struggles and all of your sin. With Jesus there is no need to hide and no reason to pretend. Don’t try to carry the burden all by yourself. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor because he is approachable. You can bring all your worries and cares to him.

2) Listen to Jesus through the Word of God. So many people do not take advantage of Jesus’ wise counsel as revealed in Scripture. The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom and guidance for your life. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor because he is reliable. You can trust his counsel as revealed in His Word.

3) Walk with Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Jesus will make his word clear to you as you walk with him through the Holy Spirit. Don’t just look to Jesus on Sundays. Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor because he is available. Walk with him through the Holy Spirit every day this Christmas season and throughout the year and for the rest of your life.

© Ray Fowler

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