I have to be honest and tell you that when I sat down to write this sermon I was stumped.  See, I can get that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor and even a Mighty God.  But how in the heck can he be our Everlasting Father?  Isn’t God the Father, our Father?

So, I went to my wife, who I can always count on to have an answer for me, something to make me think, or at the very least an opinion. And I asked her – “How can Jesus be our Everlasting Father?”  Her very helpful response?  “You’re on your own on this one, honey!”

So back to the drawing board.

It is confusing. We look at our theme text in Isaiah and we find that first he tells us that “unto us a Son is given” (that would be Jesus) and then in the next moment he describes this child as our “Everlasting Father.”  It’s a dilemma. 

The truth is, it is easy to get sidetracked when we talk about Jesus as the "everlasting father." How can the Son be the Father? As soon as you ask that question you step into the minefield that we theologians like to call the doctrine of the Trinity.

And once we start talking about the Trinity, we have to start making those very confusing distinctions that can make our heads spin – that the Father is not the Son, the Son is not the Spirit, and the Spirit is not the Father . . . but they are all one God! 

It’s what I once heard described a long time ago as “Christian algebra,” definitely more confusing than regular algebra! But, whereas admittedly this is an important doctrine of our Christian theology, and it is true that Jesus Christ was the incarnation – or the physical embodiment – of God the Father, I really don’t think that this is what Isaiah’s prophecy was getting at!

It is instructive to remember that in the culture of the Old Testament, the father was the hub, the central authority and strength for the entire family. The father was THE authority.

This understanding was so pervasive that the Hebrew language (and I find this very interesting) has no general word for “family.” Instead it speaks of the “father’s house” or the “father’s household.” The father was the center of the family and community life and was responsible for everything.

And the fact is, in Isaiah’s time, some 700 years before the birth of this child in the manger, the people of Israel were looking hard for a Messiah, one who would be for them just such a father – but in this case an “Everlasting Father.”

… A ruler who would reign over them, protect them and provide for them; one who would care for them, have compassion on them even in their poverty and their afflictions; one who would be gracious, merciful and forgiving. 

They were looking for a Messiah who would love them, lead them, and redeem them in much the same way an earthly father would – and one whose love would endure forever!

What we have here in Isaiah, is the promised gift of a Messiah who will be that everlasting father for his people, for you and for me: an enduring, compassionate provider and protector who will be the perfect combination of the eternal qualities of God with the human compassion of an earthly father! 

Think of the perfect father …not one father, but the best parts of all the fathers you know.  What attributes would they have?  I would expect you might list some like: protector, provider, care giver, compassionate, gracious, merciful, forgiving, loving, redeem … forever! 

And if you were listening just a moment ago, you’ll notice that those are exactly the qualities that those in Isaiah’s time were looking for in their perfect father too.  And guess what?  Those are exactly the attributes of our Savior.

Like the perfect father, He provides the words for tough situations; He provides the guidance we need for tough decisions; He provides the comfort we need in times of heartbreak…

… He provides opportunities for us to make a real difference in life; He provides people who will stand alongside us and teach us; He intercedes for us; He gives us strength when we feel we can't go on.

Now having said that I know that when I mention the term “father” it triggers a vast array of thoughts and emotions. For some of us, our fathers are or were great. We likely use a more affectionate term for them like dad. And when we think about our dad it brings a smile to our face and warmth in our heart.

Jesus often used the term “Abba” which means “daddy” when referring to his father in Heaven. Although I have never called my Dad daddy, he is my father in all the best connotations of the word.  He was a wonderful role model: intelligent, wise, funny, honest as the day is long.  I know I am richly blessed.

But that’s not everyone’s experience. Other fathers are a mixed bag. There are some things we love and admire about them and others that trouble and disturb us.  

For still others, thinking about our father brings pain, hurt, anger and any number of negative emotions. We could never call the man who is our father, dad or daddy. He may have been abusive or demeaning.

He may have pulled out and abandoned us, or was the type of person we could never please. It is a sad fact, but many bear the scars, sometimes grievous scars, from the person who is our earthy father.

Now here’s the rub. Emotions run deep and they trigger a whole lot of stuff in our lives. Some of us hearing the title Everlasting Father in the context of Isaiah, will instinctively credit the Messiah with wonderful, positive attributes and feelings that are rooted in our positive relationship with our human fathers.

And the flip side is also true. Irresponsible human fathers can make it difficult to relate to Christ as Everlasting Father. I know that. Some of you may be uncomfortable with this morning’s subject and all I can do is ask you please hang in with me.

Because you see, there is hope. The Hebrew word that Isaiah uses for “everlasting” can be translated literally as “beyond the vanishing point.”  Beyond the vanishing point! 

In other words, while earthly fathers are imperfect and make mistakes, many fall short of being model parents, and others are just absent altogether, the one who comes to us as an everlasting father is with us way beyond the point where everything and everyone else in the world vanishes, never to be seen again. 

Does your father vanish when you just need some encouragement or support?  Jesus, our Everlasting Father, doesn’t.  Does your father vanish when you are in a tough jam or your heart is broken or when you just want to be loved?  Jesus, our Everlasting Father, doesn’t.

Jesus, our Messiah, will never leave us … he will love us ALWAYS! Do you understand that?  I mean really get it?  How great is it to be ALWAYS loved and cared for? 

Now that doesn’t mean that we don’t disappoint – that our decisions and choices sometimes leave something to be desired. BUT … although Jesus might not condone our actions, NOTHING can stop him from loving us. That’s what EVERLASTING means.

 Max Lucado says this beautifully in his book, “In the Grip of Grace”; referring to our New Testament passage in Romans where Paul writes: “If God is for us, who can be against us.”  

To which Lucado writes, “Jesus is for you.  Your parents may have forgotten you, your teachers may have neglected you, your siblings may be ashamed of you; but within the reach of your prayers is the one who died for our sins.  Jesus Christ!”  Jesus is for you!

And this same Jesus came to us first as a babe in Bethlehem and then never stopped loving us; who never says good-bye to us, who never leaves our side, who never breaks that relationship, but always and ever maintains and nurtures that relationship . . . forever.  

What an incredible gift God gives us in this one who will be called “Everlasting Father!”  Last week, you’ll remember how we were talking about how the best Christmas gifts and the things we really want and really need all rolled up into one? 

Well, what a Christmas present this is. For what do we need, what do we want more than anything else than to be loved beyond measure and cared for beyond understanding and beyond life itself, even unto eternity! 

Quoting Max Lucado again: 

“One of the sweetest reasons Jesus saved you is because he is fond of you.  He likes having you around.  He thinks you are the best thing to come down the pike in quite awhile . . . If Jesus had a refrigerator, your picture would be on it.  If he had a wallet, your photo would be in it.  He sends you flowers every spring and a sunrise every morning.  Whenever you want to talk, he’ll listen.  He can live anywhere in the universe, and he chose your heart.”

Lucado goes on to say. “Face it friend.  He’s crazy about you.”

What a Merry Christmas, indeed!

Now, in our Old Testament reading this morning, we are given the promise of one who will “gather his flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those who have young.” 

 This child, God’s great gift, the one who is born in Bethlehem, who grew to become teacher, redeemer and friend, this is the one who shall be called “Everlasting Father,” and he is for you and for me. 

In his everlasting love, within his everlasting arms, within his Father-heart, he will truly bring us, as the song goes, “goodness and light . . . he will bring us goodness and light,” and through him we will find safety, rest, and comfort.

How can Jesus be our Everlasting Father?  How can he not be!  Jesus is everything that I can imagine the perfect father would be – and more. 

I am thankful for one such as him that I can count on as my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, and now even my Everlasting Father.  Praise God for this incredible, enduring gift!

AMEN!