December 15, 2022
And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6b
Our heavenly Father sent His Son into the world to launch the ultimate rescue operation. He entered ‘enemy territory’ as a little baby who grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), was baptized to fulfill all righteousness (Matthew 3:15), rose above temptation by the power of God’s Word, saying to Satan, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:4,7,10), pursued a ministry of healing and preaching while training His disciples to learn and live by His words, suffered rejection and the cruelest of deaths on a cross, arose from the dead, and issued the great commission, prefaced by:
“All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
When was the Son formally presented with all authority? For details of the setting and ceremony of this moving event, see Revelation 4&5. Just before this heavenly ceremony Jesus said to [Mary], “Do not cling to Me, for I have not yet ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ‘I am ascending to My Father and your Father, and to My God and your God.’” (John 20:17)
Jesus was back that same day and entered through closed doors to greet His disciples. The Prince of Peace said, “Peace be with you.” (v.19) This time He was not in a hurry to leave. Eight days later, He said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing.” (v.27)
The ultimate rescue operation is still underway. Do we believe that we are in enemy territory, commissioned to carry on this rescue operation? Do we believe that our Commander in Chief is worthy of every descriptive word in our opening verse?
When worldly pursuits or problems seem to captivate or close in upon me, I need to ask myself: Do I believe that the Everlasting Father gave His Son, the Prince of Peace, to rescue me? Do I heed the wonderful counsel of the Wonderful Counselor?
Jesus said: “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4