Handel’s “Messiah” was written in 1741 as an Easter oratorio; however, two of it’s pieces are more closely associated with Christmas music: “For Unto Us a Child is Born” and “Hallelujah”. The former memorializes Isaiah’s prophecy about the birth of Jesus Christ and the names by which he will be called, or the roles he will play:
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9:6).
For Unto Us a Child is Born, Part 1
Wonderful Counsellor
Note: Most translations of the Bible agree that the coma should not be placed between ‘wonderful’ and ‘counsellor’ as it is in the King James Version of the Bible.
In my chosen profession, having a mentor is essential. The complexities of the field require observing, spending time with, and getting feedback and advice from someone who has gone before.
Over the years, I have been formally mentored by about a dozen individuals. In return, I have mentored dozens of individuals myself.
A mentor is defined as “a trusted counselor or guide.”1
Here is what I have learned about mentorship: If I want to become a successful hospital executive, there are certain experiences I need to have, certain skills I need to develop, certain knowledge I need to acquire, certain mistakes I need to make, and certain wisdom I need to gain.
So, the process of being mentored, if truly embraced, will move us out of our comfort zone, stretch us, and help us reach our potential.
Sometimes the mentee dislikes the advice or experiences they are given either because what is required is too hard or because they don’t see the purpose in it. The most successful mentees are those who put their trust in their mentor, realizing that the mentor knows how to get them to where they want to be.
Sometimes the mentee creates their own problems by forgetting given counsel or by forging into unfamiliar territory without the mentor. Sometimes mentees find trouble and sometimes it finds them. And yet, either way, a true mentor is still available to help recover whatever situation befalls the mentee, to repair whatever damage has been done, and to guide them back to the intended path.
As a mentee, I am grateful for those who have led me and walked with me. As a mentor, my reward is seeing the success of those I have helped.
Likewise, on this earth, I don’t think we were intended to live life without a “trusted counselor or guide”.
Many of us most often think of God as our Father–someone who has given us life and someone who provides for us; that is a healthy, doctrinally accurate and meaningful view of God. However, sometimes I think we unintentionally over-emphasize other fatherly characteristics when we think of God as someone who gives us rules and disciplines us when we break those rules.
To that end, as I have pondered my relationship with God, it has sometimes been helpful for me to see Him as a mentor.
The purpose of this life is to become like God. Therefore, if I want to become like God, there are certain experiences I need to have, certain skills I need to develop, certain knowledge I need to acquire, certain mistakes I need to make, and certain wisdom I need to gain.
This earth-life, if truly embraced, is intended to move us out of our comfort zone, to stretch us, to learn to put off the natural man, and to help us reach our potential–to become as God is.
Sometimes we dislike the guidance or experiences we are given either because they are too hard or because we don’t see the purpose in them. Those who best fulfill the purpose of this life, are those who put their trust in God, realizing that He, as a mentor, knows how to get us to where we want to be.
Often we humans create our own problems by forgetting the counsel given by Him or by forging into unfamiliar territory without God. Sometimes we find trouble and sometimes it finds us. And yet, God provides the way to help recover whatever situation befalls us, to repair whatever damage has been done, and to guide us back to our intended path.
This is one reason why “unto us a child [was] born, unto us a son [was] given”—so we would have a trusted counselor and guide during our mortal journey.
I am grateful that Jesus Christ, in one of His many roles, leads me and walks with me as my mentor, as my “wonderful counsellor.”
1 see “Mentor”, Merriam-Webster online dictionary.
Author’s note: On Christmas Eve 2021, I read a Facebook post from Elder Jeffrey R. Holland where he recounted a personal Christmas experience that changed his perspective of Christmas. In part, he shared this self-rebuke, “…Put your theology where your Christmas carols are” (read his full post here). I decided to take some time and think through the messages of some of these carols. I rediscovered that the truths these Christmas hymns teach can help us understand the “good tidings of great joy” (Luke 2:10) spoken of by the angel to the shepherds on the night of the Savior’s birth.
Lead Photo by Lanju Fotografie on Unsplash
Discover more from Razing the Rameumptom
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.