Reflecting on the Names of Jesus

“He will be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace” (ISAIAH 9:6).

WONDERFUL COUNSELLOR: Our own judgement is often impaired by our emotions. While human counsellors, as helpful as they can be, are also limited. They don’t know the hidden places in our hearts; they don’t know the depths of our pain. How comforting to know that God Himself is available as our counsellor—One who knows our innermost thoughts and feelings, our circumstances, and what truly is best for us.

MIGHTY GOD: So often in our suffering we face situations for which we truly need an Almighty God. We face problems that are way beyond the scope of human help. We face needs that can’t be met by even the most loving friend. We need a powerful and mighty Lord, Saviour and Companion who can do the impossible. For everything for which we need a God, His might and power are sufficient.

EVERLASTING FATHER: Through this name God was communicating the amazing truth that Jesus is God in all His fullness. And God’s nature and heart is that of an Everlasting Father. He will not push you away. He will listen, love, care and provide. He can heal and comfort with more love than any of us can fathom. Go to your eternal Father in confidence in the wonderful name of His Son.

PRINCE OF PEACE: Jesus doesn’t just give peace; He is peace. As a royal Prince, peace is the hallmark of His reign. The Apostle Paul also describes peace in this way: “Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful” (COLOSSIANS 3:15) We can submit to Christ’s peace, like servants before their master. Rather than letting our fears and anxieties rule our hearts, we can choose peace—for Christ, who has secured us as part of His kingdom, is our Ruler.

8 In the second month of the second year after their arrival at the house of God in Jerusalem, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak and the rest of the people (the priests and the Levites and all who had returned from the captivity to Jerusalem) began the work. They appointed Levites twenty years old and older to supervise the building of the house of the Lord. 9 Joshua and his sons and brothers and Kadmiel and his sons (descendants of Hodaviah) and the sons of Henadad and their sons and brothers—all Levites—joined together in supervising those working on the house of God.

10 When the builders laid the foundation of the temple of the Lord, the priests in their vestments and with trumpets, and the Levites (the sons of Asaph) with cymbals, took their places to praise the Lord, as prescribed by David king of Israel. 11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord: ‘He is good; his love towards Israel endures for ever.’

And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.