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Isaiah 9:6
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Seven hundred years before Jesus brought eternal joy, the prophet Isaiah told us that the Messiah was on the way. These titles describe the Messiah’s character.

Wonderful Counselor: A counselor is one who gives words of wisdom and guidance. When we hear the words of a wonderful counselor, we want to take their advice. Mark wrote that “the people were amazed at [Jesus’] teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law” (Mark 1:22 NIV).

Mighty God: Jesus demonstrated the power of God throughout his time on earth. He not only forgave sins but demonstrated his power through visible miracles. After forgiving a paralyzed man’s sins and healing his body, “Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, ‘We have seen remarkable things today” (Luke 5:24-26 NIV).

Everlasting Father: Micah let us know that the One who was to be born in Bethlehem would be the eternal God (5:2). John makes this clear in his introduction of Jesus when he explains that the Word “was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning” (John 1:1-2 NIV). Paul declared that Jesus “is before all things” (Col. 1:17 NIV).

Prince of Peace: Because of our sin, man is at war with God. Our backs are turned on him, and our hearts are in opposition to him. But God loves us so much that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). When we trust in Christ’s death as the payment for our sin, “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1).

Wonderful Counselor! Mighty God! Everlasting Father! Prince of Peace!

Jesus is the One, the only One who can deliver true joy!

Lord Jesus, thank you for your life-giving words, your powerful works, your eternality, and for dying on the cross for my sins. I praise you, the great Giver of Joy! In your name. Amen.