Question: How can Jesus be Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace, Son of God, and the second person of the Trinity all at the same time?
Answer: This question is based on Isaiah 9, which links all these names to Jesus:
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. Isaiah 9:6
The prophet Isaiah was writing about a future child that was coming into the world, and he says, “his name shall be called…” It is possible that he is referring to different people’s names—like Santa Claus, Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol), or George Bailey (It’s a Wonderful Life). That would be confusing. How could one person—a son—be four different people at the same time?
But the names by which Jesus is to be called are what we would call “titles,” rather than different people’s names. So, for example, Queen Elizabeth II has various titles such as Her Royal Highness, Duchess of Edinburgh, and Her Majesty the Queen. These names for Jesus are not the names of different people, they are different titles for the same person that reflect His activity and authority.
Jesus is “Wonderful Counselor.” Isaiah tells us that a Son is given to us, Jesus Christ, and He is a wonder of a counselor! He is the counselor from God’s right hand. He is God’s special counsel, and everything He says is the very counsel of God.
Jesus is “Mighty God.” Isaiah is telling us that a Son has been given to us, Jesus Christ, and that this baby, born in a manger, is none other than almighty God. Look through the pages of the Gospels and you will see that He forgave sins (Luke 5:20), claimed to be one with the Father (John 10:30), and raised the dead (John 11:43). He was crucified for blasphemy (claiming to be God). And on the third day, He was raised from the dead, vindicating His claims (Acts 3:15).
Jesus is “Everlasting Father.” Isaiah is not saying that Jesus is God the Father. He is talking about Jesus, in relation to Adam, our first father. Adam is the father of us all, but he sinned, and his sin brought death to all humanity. Jesus is the father of a new kind of humanity. He obeyed God perfectly and His obedience brings eternal life to all those who believe in Him. “For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:21-22).
Jesus is “Prince of Peace.” We live in a world that is not the way it is supposed to be. In the Old Testament we find a great word for the way things are supposed to be—Shalom! How are things in a Shalom world? Husbands and wives would be faithful to one another. People in public office would tell the truth. All people would be united in truth and love. You could travel in any city without fear. Isaiah is telling us that the hope of the world lies in a child who will be born, a Son, Jesus Christ, who will have peace, make peace, and bring peace to a world in conflict. This has not happened yet, but it has begun in the church, and it will be brought to completion when Christ returns.
Jesus is one person with many titles. Isaiah 9:6 contains only a few of them. Here are some more that you will recognize: the Lamb of God (John 1:29), the Messiah (John 1:41), Lord and Savior (Philippians 3:20), the Lion of the tribe of Judah (Revelation 5:5), the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). I could go on, but the point is that in the Bible Jesus has many titles, and these titles tell us about His authority and activity.
I hope and pray that this will encourage you as you read the Bible this Christmas,
Pastor Tim
