Week 3 - Jesus: Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God

Sacred Insight: Application
How can you apply this scripture to your own life in accordance with God’s will?

Whenever I am really struggling with something, I make a phone call to the best counselor I know – my mom. I usually wait far too long to make the call and end up unloading a big ol’ pent-up burden of emotion and internal conflict on her in the process, but I never regret reaching out. She is one of the wisest and smartest people I know and I always walk away from our phone calls with, not only a perspective I hadn’t thought of before, but a feeling of being heard and cared for.

I think this is how our Heavenly Father longs for us to see him. As the first person we call upon when we need wise counsel. And it just so happens that two of the titles for Jesus in our scripture are Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God. That means that God not only wants us to see him as someone who cares about our day-to-day struggles and can guide us through them, but that he is mighty enough to do so. He is the Creator of the Universe and has all the authority on heaven and earth, so there’s no problem beyond his reach.

Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor

We’ve all had that person in our lives, who gives pithy, detached advice when what we really need is a solid listening ear, or carefully considered guidance. So, let’s start breaking down the first title for Jesus – Wonderful Counselor so that we can understand just how beautifully this title fits our Savior.

Jesus experienced life as a human – so he’s been where we’ve been
Jesus always has our best interests at heart
Jesus possesses ultimate wisdom

Have you thought about the fact that, although Jesus was fully God, he was also fully human? That means, that during those 33 years he spent on this planet, he experienced all the pain humans have felt over time -rejection, frustration, isolation, temptation and more.

Hebrews 4:15
15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.

We have a counselor who literally experienced human life and overcame it – yet he never succumbed to sin, he never faltered – is there any other counselor on earth who can say that? If anyone knows how to overcome this world, it’s him.

John 16:33
33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Jesus has our best interests at heart

One of the most beautiful things about our God is that he has two motivations for everything and anything – our absolute and greatest good, and God’s glory and will. So, when we come to the Lord, we can be assured that his answer is always perfect and, because God loves us more than anyone or anything, it follows that his will for us is always for our ultimate benefit.

A wisdom-filled counselor

When seeking advice and counsel, the first thing you’re going to look for is someone who possesses wisdom. Jesus didn’t just have a few friends who though he was smart. Jesus attracted thousands of people with an other-worldly wisdom that has endured through the ages. In fact, Christ embodied the very wisdom that the Creator of the Universe possesses.

1 Corinthians 1: 23-24
23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

Jesus possesses ultimate wisdom

Now here’s where the title Mighty God comes in. We hear language like this a lot throughout the Bible and it can begin to sound a little like church-speak… something inaccessible and grandiose that people say about God in language we don’t ordinarily use. But don’t overlook the significance of Mighty God – it is a hugely bold claim. Here, Isaiah is saying that this child born of a virgin wouldn’t just be a normal person – he would have all the power and authority of God. He would embody the God of Israel himself. Can you imagine the looks on people’s faces when they heard this? It must have been a little mind blowing to think that their long-awaited messiah was not only promised and coming, but would be God incarnate. He would be mighty indeed – infused with the very power and authority of the God they’d been sacrificing and bowing down to for centuries.

Matthew 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

As you read our scripture, take time to truly think about the two titles used in our scripture to define Jesus as Wonderful Counselor and Mighty God. Ponder their meanings and the writer’s intentions in helping us form the picture of Christ we know today.

If a claim surfaced that a beloved public figure was Mighty God, what would be your reaction? How can we believe that Jesus could be Mighty God, but someone else could not?

How is Jesus being called the Everlasting Father different from how Adam is sometimes called the “father of humanity”?

What do you think it means that eternal life starts now, not just after we die?

How might believing that your life has eternal meaning change the way you treat people today?

What are some “dividing walls” you see today at school, online, or in your community?

Live It Out:

Where do you need counsel in your life? This week, through prayer, meditation and the study of God’s Word, seek his heart and will for your life regarding the issues that trouble you most – whether an issue you struggle with personally, or on behalf of someone else.
Identify two “groups” at school, church, or online that usually don’t mix. Take one step to bridge that gap: Invite someone outside your normal friend group to hang out. Stand up for someone being excluded. Choose kindness toward someone you normally ignore or disagree with. Reflection Question: What felt uncomfortable about being a bridge—and what felt right?