Introduction
There are numerous approaches to celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of my favorites is to revisit Old Testament prophecies. Perhaps my favorite of these favorites is Isaiah 9:6. This is a key passage informed Israel (and us) that Messiah will be called “Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” In other words, Isaiahidentifies Jesus as this divine guide, biblical counselor, whose wisdom and guidance bringspeace, supplying hope for every believer and resources for every leader who offers supernatural counsel for guilt, grief, and life’s challenges. So, let’s consider each of these designators.
Wonderful
I cannot improve on the explanation given by the online blog, God Questions, so I will quote it. That Isaiah calls the Messiah the “Wonderful Counselor” indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage literally means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.” The word is much weightier than the way it’s used in normal conversation today—we say things are “wonderful” if they are pleasant, lovely, or the least bit likable. Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind. The same word for “wonderful” is used in Judges 13:18 when Manoah, Samson’s father, asked the LORD (in a theophany) what His name was. The angel of the LORD responded, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” In other words, “Why do you ask my name, since it is beyond your understanding?” (https://www.gotquestions.org/Everlasting-Father.html)
Counselor
Though the phrase is not commonly used from the pulpit these days the hypostatic union is a fancy theological term coined in the Athanasian Creed to describe the union of the human and divine natures of Christ. It is used to explain that Jesus Christ as one person with two distinct, complete natures: fully divine and fully human, united without confusion or separation. Hence, there is not other human being who can match the wisdom of the counsel of Jesus Christ.
Mighty God
Jesus said, “I and the Father are one. I am the way, the truth, and the life. I am the Good Shepherd.” According to the Apostle John, Jesus was the creator (John 3:1). So, think of the power that created the universe. He is also the sustainer of all things (Heb. 1:3, Col 1:17). So, the next time you need help with the impossible, turn to Jesus who had the power to do the impossible. Think of the plagues, the divided sea, and the 180,000 Assyrains who woke up dead (2 Kings 19:35)—remember, Jesus and the Father are one.
Everlasting Father
Jesus as the Everlasting Father highlights His eternality as well as the fact that He the Father of all believers who live forever. He is the “Father of Eternity” or “Author of Eternity,” being one with the God the Father. His infinite, fatherly role as Creator, Protector, and the one who grants everlasting life.
Pince of Peace
Peace amid trouble, that is Jesus. Whether it is a storm on the sea (Lk 8:22-25), grief at the grave (John 11:1-44), or the rescue at Dunkirk (May 26-June 4, 1940). He is the divine ruler who establishes spiritual harmony, not just the absence of conflict, by reconciling humanity to God byHis sacrifice and thereby offering inner wholeness, shalom, and ultimately bringing lasting peace to the world (1 Thes 5:3; Rev. 6-19, 20:1-6)
Christmas Day
So, on Christmas day before you open those presents, gather the children’s attention and read the account (Lk 2:1-20). Then point to the tree and note the various ornaments turning them into symbols. The round balls represent the fact that Jesus came to bring the truth of God to the whole world. The lights remind us that we are to be the light of the world because He has brought us light. The golden tensile that raps the tree symbolizes His kingship of the world. In other words, reframe the cultural into instruments to communicate the Lordship of Jesus who is Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and the Prince if Peace.
If the children are all very young, sing together, “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” If children at nine or older, sing together, several Christmas Carols finishing with Hark the Herald Angels Sing. It incorporates lines that echo Isaiah 9:6.
Have a very merry (joyful) Christmas!