Who Is This Jesus? Lesson 4

Wonderful Counselor

• The title "Wonderful Counselor" suggests wisdom and guidance beyond human understanding. It implies that the Messiah will provide divine counsel and direction. In the New Testament, Jesus is often depicted as a teacher and guide, offering wisdom through His parables and teachings. This title reflects His role in providing spiritual guidance and insight.
• Isaiah 9:6
  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Matthew 7:28-29
  When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.

Mighty God

• This title affirms the deity of the Messiah, identifying Him as God Himself. It aligns with the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, where Jesus is recognized as fully God. The term "Mighty" conveys strength and power, attributes of God seen throughout the Old Testament. This title underscores the belief in Jesus' divine authority and power. Jesus is called God. The father is also called God. God the father called the son God.
• Isaiah 9:6
  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Hebrews 1:6-8
  And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says, “Let all God’s angels worship him.” In speaking of the angels he says, “He makes his angels spirits, and his servants flames of fire.” But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom.

Everlasting Father

• This title can be understood as the Messiah's eternal nature and His role as a fatherly figure to His people. It does not imply that the Son is the Father in the Trinitarian sense, but rather highlights His care, protection, and eternal existence. Everlasting Father refers to the eternal nature of Jesus. He was from the beginning of time. Jesus is the source of all things. All things were created by him. He always existed. He is not God the father. The two are different.
• Isaiah 9:6
  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• 1 Corinthians 8:6
  Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.
• Micah 5:2
  “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”
• John 8:56-58
  Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.” “You are not yet fifty years old,” they said to him, “and you have seen Abraham! “Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I am!”
• John 17:24
  “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.

Prince of Peace

• The title "Prince of Peace" signifies the Messiah's role in bringing peace to the world. It reflects the peace that Jesus offers through reconciliation with God. 
• Isaiah 9:6
  For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
• Romans 5:1
  Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,
• John 14:27 
  Peace, I leave with you, my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Door

• In this declaration, Jesus identifies Himself as the exclusive means of access to spiritual safety and eternal life. The imagery of a gate or door is significant in the context of ancient Near Eastern shepherding practices, where a shepherd would often serve as the literal gate to a sheepfold, lying across the entrance to protect the sheep. This metaphor emphasizes Jesus' role as the protector and mediator between God and humanity. The concept of Jesus as the sole entry point aligns with His other "I am" statements, such as "I am the way, the truth, and the life," underscoring His unique and divine authority.
• John 10:6-9
  Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.
• John 14:6
  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Good Shepperd

• In this declaration, Jesus identifies Himself as the "good shepherd," a title rich with Old Testament imagery. Shepherds were common in ancient Israel, and the role was often used metaphorically for leaders and kings. God condemns the false shepherds of Israel and promises to be the true shepherd for His people. Jesus fulfills this prophecy, presenting Himself as the divine shepherd who genuinely cares for His flock. The term "good" (Greek: kalos) implies nobility and moral excellence, distinguishing Jesus from mere hired hands or false leaders.
• John 10:11
  I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Chief Shepperd

• The term "Chief Shepherd" refers to Jesus Christ, highlighting His role as the ultimate leader and caretaker of His flock, the Church. This imagery of shepherding is deeply rooted in biblical tradition, with leaders like Moses and David also being shepherds. Chief in this context refers to Jesus as the main leader of the church.
• 1 Peter 5:4
  And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

True Vine

• By declaring Himself the "true vine," Jesus identifies Himself as the genuine source of spiritual life and sustenance, contrasting with Israel, often depicted as a vine in the Old Testament. The imagery of the vine was familiar in Jewish culture, symbolizing God's chosen people. Jesus positions Himself as the fulfillment and embodiment of what Israel was meant to be a fruitful, life-giving presence in the world.
• John 15:1
  “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.

I am the vine and you are the branches

• This metaphor of the vine and branches is deeply rooted in the agricultural context of ancient Israel, where vineyards were common. The vine represents Jesus, and the branches symbolize His followers. In the Old Testament, Israel is often depicted as a vine or vineyard.
• John 15:5
  “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

The first born of creation

• The term "firstborn" here is not about chronological birth order but rather signifies pre-eminence and authority. In ancient cultures, the firstborn son held a place of honor, supremacy, pre-eminence, dominion and authority and inheritance rights. Biblically, this term is used to denote supremacy and priority. God says He will make David the "firstborn, the highest of the kings of the earth." David was not the first child of Jessie. In the context of Colossians, it underscores Christ's authority over all creation, affirming His role in creation itself. This phrase also refutes early heresies that attempted to diminish Christ's divine nature, asserting instead His eternal existence and sovereign rule over the universe. Some also teach that Jesus was born of a wife God has in heaven. Jesus is the ruler and originator of creation.
• Colossians 1:16-18
  The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
• Psalm 89:27
  And I will appoint him to be my firstborn, the most exalted of the kings of the earth.
• Revelation 3:14
  “To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation.

The holy child Jesus

• The term "holy servant" emphasizes Jesus' role as the Messiah and His sinless nature. Holiness and servanthood are central to His mission and identity. The words holy and perfect are used interactable in the bible. Jesus possesses the divine quality of holiness or complete perfection. This divine quality of holiness is sinlessness. It is perfect holiness. He is the only person to have lived in the flesh and did not sin. He was tried and tempted but he did not sin.
• Acts 4:27
  Indeed, Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.
• Matthew 4:1-3
  Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. After fasting forty days and forty nights, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”
• Hebrews 4:14-15
  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are yet he did not sin.

The holiness of Christians

• Man is holy, and he is called to live a life of holiness or perfection. This life of holiness or perfection is not sinlessness. We will sin in life. But we are called to live a life that reflects God in our lives.
• Ecclesiastes 7:20
  Indeed, there is no one on earth who is righteous, no one who does what is right and never sins.
• Romans 3:23
  For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
• Matthew 5:48
  Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
• Hebrews 12:14
  Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
• 1 Peter 1:15-16
  But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, / for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”
• Leviticus 19:2
  “Speak to the whole congregation of Israel and tell them: Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.

Working on and walking in holiness

• Christian holiness is a work in progress. It is a life that we live daily, where we are instructed to remove the old man of sin, and replace it with the new man that reflects Jesus. Because he is holy, we are to reflect holiness in our lives. This holiness is also translated as blameless or above reproach. Elders are also called upon to be blameless. Abraham was called to walk blameless before God.
• Genesis 17:1
  When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, “I am God Almighty. Walk before Me and be blameless. (NIV)
• Genesis 17:1
  And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect. (KJ)
• 1 Timothy 3:2
  A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, of good behavior, hospitable, able to teach
• 1 Timothy 3:2
  Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach
• Philippians 3:12-15
  Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. / Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, / I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:7
  For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness.
• 2 Corinthians 7:1
  Therefore, beloved, since we have these promises, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that defiles body and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
• Hebrews 12:14
  Pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness, without which no one will see the Lord
• Colossians 1:28
  We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.