Creekside Church || Wasilla, AK
12.03.23 || THE GIFT OF JESUS...WONDERFUL COUNSELOR
Weekly Sermon Notes
Locations & Times
Creekside Church || Wasilla, AK
2201 S Knik-Goose Bay Rd, Wasilla, AK 99654, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 11:00 AM
Online Connection Card...We Are Glad You Are Here!
Hello! We are glad you are here! If you would like to let us know you are here or if you would like more information about Creekside or have a prayer request or another questions, click the link below and fill out the online connection card...we would love to connect with you!!
https://creeksideak.churchcenter.com/people/forms/309333The Weekly...What You Need To Know!
If you would like to know what is going on around here, click on the link below and check out "The Weekly"...
https://creeksideak.com/creekside-weeklyOnline Giving
Give Online...Giving online is easy and secure. You can give through the Creekside app, on the website or right here by clicking on the link below. You can give a one-time gift or schedule a recurring gift through your bank account or debit/credit card. If you need help, please contact our office. Give In Person...You can give any time at Creekside. We have offering boxes on the wall adjacent to each door leading into the worship center. Mail A Check...Creekside Church2201 S. Knik-Goosebay Rd.Wasilla, AK 99654
https://creeksideak.com/give
The Gift of Jesus...Wonderful Counselor || Week 1
INTRO….
Christmas comes every year, same story, same characters, it can be a bit repetitive || how do we not allow ourselves to miss the importance of who Jesus is and what he has done this year? || I think it is to again tell the stories, to read the accounts, to really contemplate all that is ours because of Jesus’ birth || We are going to do that this year by studying a prophecy in Isaiah given to us about Jesus around 800 years before he was born. Isaiah listed some names of Jesus that I believe will encourage us and cause us to glorify God as we celebrate, embrace and experience him through these wonderful character traits… This series involves five sermons taken from Isaiah 9:2,6-7…Remarkably, Isaiah tells us about the birth of Jesus, the nature of Jesus, the death of Jesus and his eventual reign as the eternal King. Isaiah’s prophecy gave the people of God a hope they so desperately needed: he said that a Child would be born to fulfill the Covenant God had made with King David, and that this ‘child’ would bear the titles “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The Child was Jesus. While not a specific name in this text, verse 7 implies the reigning of a King…so week 5 (NYE) we will add another title to Jesus in this series, that He is the King of Kings…
Christmas comes every year, same story, same characters, it can be a bit repetitive || how do we not allow ourselves to miss the importance of who Jesus is and what he has done this year? || I think it is to again tell the stories, to read the accounts, to really contemplate all that is ours because of Jesus’ birth || We are going to do that this year by studying a prophecy in Isaiah given to us about Jesus around 800 years before he was born. Isaiah listed some names of Jesus that I believe will encourage us and cause us to glorify God as we celebrate, embrace and experience him through these wonderful character traits… This series involves five sermons taken from Isaiah 9:2,6-7…Remarkably, Isaiah tells us about the birth of Jesus, the nature of Jesus, the death of Jesus and his eventual reign as the eternal King. Isaiah’s prophecy gave the people of God a hope they so desperately needed: he said that a Child would be born to fulfill the Covenant God had made with King David, and that this ‘child’ would bear the titles “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” The Child was Jesus. While not a specific name in this text, verse 7 implies the reigning of a King…so week 5 (NYE) we will add another title to Jesus in this series, that He is the King of Kings…
ISAIAH 9:2,6-7
“2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
“2 The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone…6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful
Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace…7 Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.”
A CHILD AND A SON…
Isaiah lays out the names of this coming savior, this Messiah…but he starts off by saying that a CHILD IS BORN but he also says that a SON IS GIVEN. Why say twice what appears to be the same thing? Because the two are not the same thing. On that first Christmas about 2,000 years ago, the CHILD, but the SON was not born, for He always has been and always will be. The child was born, but the Son was given.
A Child is born/speaks of the Humanity of Jesus
A Son is given/speaks of the Divinity of Jesus.
A Child is born/speaks of Impotence, fragility.
A Son is given/speaks of Omnipotence, power.
A Child is born/speaks of Earthly things
A Son is given/speaks of Heavenly things
A Child is born/speaks of the Son of Man
A Son is given/speaks of the Son of God
HEBREWS 1:1-4
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
We Need A Wonderful Counselor…
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the older I get, the more wisdom I need to navigate the complexities of my life. Things are challenging. The complexity of our culture, the conflict between what the world tells us we should pursue, what my heart tells me I should pursue and what Jesus actually wants me to pursue rarely are in unity || people are spiritual but not pursuing a relationship with Jesus || people are longing for meaning and purpose but never finding satisfaction in their pursuits || We all want answers, help in our lives, to navigate all of these complexities, and sometimes it just feels like we are left on our own to figure it out. But that is not true. We are not alone. We don’t have to figure it out on our own, in our own wisdom, Jesus is our wonderful counselor. And that is comforting to me.
Isaiah lays out the names of this coming savior, this Messiah…but he starts off by saying that a CHILD IS BORN but he also says that a SON IS GIVEN. Why say twice what appears to be the same thing? Because the two are not the same thing. On that first Christmas about 2,000 years ago, the CHILD, but the SON was not born, for He always has been and always will be. The child was born, but the Son was given.
A Child is born/speaks of the Humanity of Jesus
A Son is given/speaks of the Divinity of Jesus.
A Child is born/speaks of Impotence, fragility.
A Son is given/speaks of Omnipotence, power.
A Child is born/speaks of Earthly things
A Son is given/speaks of Heavenly things
A Child is born/speaks of the Son of Man
A Son is given/speaks of the Son of God
HEBREWS 1:1-4
"Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
We Need A Wonderful Counselor…
I don’t know about you, but I feel like the older I get, the more wisdom I need to navigate the complexities of my life. Things are challenging. The complexity of our culture, the conflict between what the world tells us we should pursue, what my heart tells me I should pursue and what Jesus actually wants me to pursue rarely are in unity || people are spiritual but not pursuing a relationship with Jesus || people are longing for meaning and purpose but never finding satisfaction in their pursuits || We all want answers, help in our lives, to navigate all of these complexities, and sometimes it just feels like we are left on our own to figure it out. But that is not true. We are not alone. We don’t have to figure it out on our own, in our own wisdom, Jesus is our wonderful counselor. And that is comforting to me.
DEFINING HIS FIRST NAME…WONDERFUL COUNSELOR…
Wonderful…
That Isaiah calls the Messiah the “Wonderful Counselor” indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage literally means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.” The word is much weightier than the way it’s used in normal conversation today—we say things are “wonderful” if they are pleasant, lovely, or the least bit likable.
- Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind.
- Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness in various ways when He was on the earth, beginning with His conception in the womb of a virgin (Matthew 1:23).
- He showed He is the “wonderful” One in His power to heal (Matthew 4:23)
- His amazing teaching (Mark 1:22)
- His perfect life (Hebrews 4:15), and
- His resurrection from the dead (Mark 16:6).
- Jesus taught many wonderful things that are counterintuitive to the human mind: “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). “Rejoice and be glad” in persecution (Matthew 5:11–12). “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
- Jesus’ kind of wonderful is awe-inspiring and superior to any other kind, for He is perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48)
Counselor…
The second part of the Messiah’s title is the word counselor. In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people… Jesus is a wise counselor. “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:25). He is able to advise His people thoroughly because He is qualified in ways no human counselor is.
Wonderful…
That Isaiah calls the Messiah the “Wonderful Counselor” indicates the kind of character this coming King has. The word wonderful in this passage literally means “incomprehensible.” The Messiah will cause us to be “full of wonder.” The word is much weightier than the way it’s used in normal conversation today—we say things are “wonderful” if they are pleasant, lovely, or the least bit likable.
- Jesus is wonderful in a way that is boggling to the mind.
- Jesus demonstrated His wonderfulness in various ways when He was on the earth, beginning with His conception in the womb of a virgin (Matthew 1:23).
- He showed He is the “wonderful” One in His power to heal (Matthew 4:23)
- His amazing teaching (Mark 1:22)
- His perfect life (Hebrews 4:15), and
- His resurrection from the dead (Mark 16:6).
- Jesus taught many wonderful things that are counterintuitive to the human mind: “Blessed are those who mourn” (Matthew 5:4). “Rejoice and be glad” in persecution (Matthew 5:11–12). “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you” (Luke 6:27).
- Jesus’ kind of wonderful is awe-inspiring and superior to any other kind, for He is perfect in every way (Matthew 5:48)
Counselor…
The second part of the Messiah’s title is the word counselor. In ancient Israel, a counselor was portrayed as a wise king, such as Solomon, giving guidance to his people… Jesus is a wise counselor. “He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person” (John 2:25). He is able to advise His people thoroughly because He is qualified in ways no human counselor is.
WHO IS THIS WONDERFUL COUNSELOR AND WHAT ARE HIS THOUGHTS TOWARDS ME?
Psalm 139
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
1 O Lord, you have searched me and known me!
2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
3 You search out my path and my lying down
and are acquainted with all my ways.
4 Even before a word is on my tongue,
behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.
5 You hem me in, behind and before,
and lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;
it is high; I cannot attain it.
7 Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there!
If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
9 If I take the wings of the morning
and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
10 even there your hand shall lead me,
and your right hand shall hold me.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,
and the light about me be night,”
12 even the darkness is not dark to you;
the night is bright as the day,
for darkness is as light with you.
13 For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand.
I awake, and I am still with you.
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart!
Try me and know my thoughts!
24 And see if there be any grievous way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting!
1. JESUS…THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR KNOWS YOU AND KNOWS WHAT YOU NEED BEFORE YOU ASK
—JESUS IS OMNISCIENT…
[Psalm 139:1-5,13-18]
You have...
- searched me
- known me
- You are discerning
- are acquainted
- You have formed me
- knitted me
- I am not hidden from him
- I am intricately woven
- Your eyes saw my unformed body…
1] He Made you…let that sink in for a minute
2] He Knows you…your deepest secrets, longings, desires, fears, pains (that can be a little unsettling)
3] He Knows exactly what you need in your life right now…
—JESUS IS OMNISCIENT…
[Psalm 139:1-5,13-18]
You have...
- searched me
- known me
- You are discerning
- are acquainted
- You have formed me
- knitted me
- I am not hidden from him
- I am intricately woven
- Your eyes saw my unformed body…
1] He Made you…let that sink in for a minute
2] He Knows you…your deepest secrets, longings, desires, fears, pains (that can be a little unsettling)
3] He Knows exactly what you need in your life right now…
2. JESUS…THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR IS ALWAYS PRESENT AND IS ALWAYS AVAILABLE…
—JESUS IS OMNIPRESENT…
[Psalm 139:7-10]
- In the midst of our situation, Jesus is always present and always available to help us, give us guidance and direction (Holy Spirit)
- People fail us…Jesus never will
- People leave us…Jesus never will
- People don’t always have the capacity to deal with all of our needs when we need them…Jesus always has capacity at exactly the right time we need him
- Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action
[Hebrews 4:15–16]
“15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Jesus’ position as our Wonderful Counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems and guide us in the right direction
[Proverbs 3:5-6]
“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
—JESUS IS OMNIPRESENT…
[Psalm 139:7-10]
- In the midst of our situation, Jesus is always present and always available to help us, give us guidance and direction (Holy Spirit)
- People fail us…Jesus never will
- People leave us…Jesus never will
- People don’t always have the capacity to deal with all of our needs when we need them…Jesus always has capacity at exactly the right time we need him
- Jesus always knows what we are going through, and He always knows the right course of action
[Hebrews 4:15–16]
“15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
- Jesus’ position as our Wonderful Counselor means we can trust Him to listen to our problems and guide us in the right direction
[Proverbs 3:5-6]
“5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways
acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”
3. JESUS…THE WONDERFUL COUNSELOR IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO HELP US
—JESUS IS OMNIPOTENT
[HEBREWS 1:1-4]
“1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs…”
- We just spent a few weeks learning about the supremacy of Jesus…part of that was his mighty power…
- Listen to how John describes Jesus in his gospel
[JOHN 1:1-5, 9-18]
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. || 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
—> I want to clarify what his power is able to do…
1] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to FORGIVE you of your sins (our greatest need)
2] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to HEAL you (physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually...in his timing and in his will)
3] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to give you PEACE (even if he doesn’t remove the pain, the hard situation, the debilitating illness, the broken relationships…you can experience his peace in the midst of it)
4] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus did everything to make that possible…crucified, risen, seated at the right hand of the Father
- We can be certain He has our best interests at heart because He loves us
[1 John 4:19]
“19 We love because he first loved us”
- And His love is so wide and deep (and wonderful) that we cannot fully understand it
[Romans 5:8]
“God demonstrated His love for us that while we were still sinner, Christ died for us…”
—JESUS IS OMNIPOTENT
[HEBREWS 1:1-4]
“1 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4 having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs…”
- We just spent a few weeks learning about the supremacy of Jesus…part of that was his mighty power…
- Listen to how John describes Jesus in his gospel
[JOHN 1:1-5, 9-18]
"1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. || 9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. 11 He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. 14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.”
—> I want to clarify what his power is able to do…
1] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to FORGIVE you of your sins (our greatest need)
2] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to HEAL you (physically, emotionally, relationally, spiritually...in his timing and in his will)
3] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus is powerful enough to give you PEACE (even if he doesn’t remove the pain, the hard situation, the debilitating illness, the broken relationships…you can experience his peace in the midst of it)
4] As the Wonderful Counselor, Jesus did everything to make that possible…crucified, risen, seated at the right hand of the Father
- We can be certain He has our best interests at heart because He loves us
[1 John 4:19]
“19 We love because he first loved us”
- And His love is so wide and deep (and wonderful) that we cannot fully understand it
[Romans 5:8]
“God demonstrated His love for us that while we were still sinner, Christ died for us…”
KEY THOUGHT…
Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor...
- Knows Everything (about everything, including me and
- Is Always Present (never leaves us alone to figure it out on our own)
- Is Powerful Enough to handle and fix and heal every broken, scary, painful situation in my life (out of his great love for us)
...So we can Run to Him, Trust Him and Follow Him!
Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor...
- Knows Everything (about everything, including me and
- Is Always Present (never leaves us alone to figure it out on our own)
- Is Powerful Enough to handle and fix and heal every broken, scary, painful situation in my life (out of his great love for us)
...So we can Run to Him, Trust Him and Follow Him!
APPLY…
[Psalm 139:23-24]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
- Do you feel ‘unknown’, invisible, on your own, alone? Jesus knows you. Jesus made you. Jesus loves you. Jesus is with you.
- Do you need direction, wisdom, help with a decision in your life today? Jesus knows everything about everything. He can guide and direct you, give you wisdom, counsel you…
- Do you need healing in your life? Physical, emotional/relational, spiritual (saved)…Jesus is powerful enough to heal you (his timing, his will), there is no situation that is too big or out of his reach
[Psalm 139:23-24]
“Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! 24 And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”
- Do you feel ‘unknown’, invisible, on your own, alone? Jesus knows you. Jesus made you. Jesus loves you. Jesus is with you.
- Do you need direction, wisdom, help with a decision in your life today? Jesus knows everything about everything. He can guide and direct you, give you wisdom, counsel you…
- Do you need healing in your life? Physical, emotional/relational, spiritual (saved)…Jesus is powerful enough to heal you (his timing, his will), there is no situation that is too big or out of his reach
Quote…An anonymous author made this striking comparison about the greatness of Jesus:
"Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Hayden, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.”
"Socrates taught for 40 years, Plato for 50, Aristotle for 40, and Jesus for only 3. Yet the influence of Christ's 3-year ministry infinitely transcends the impact left by the combined 130 years of teaching from these men who were among the greatest philosophers of all antiquity. Jesus painted no pictures; yet some of the finest paintings of Raphael, Michelangelo, and Leonardo da Vinci received their inspiration from Him. Jesus wrote no poetry; but Dante, Milton, and scores of the world's greatest poets were inspired by Him. Jesus composed no music; still Hayden, Handel, Beethoven, Bach, and Mendelssohn reached their highest perfection of melody in the hymns, symphonies, and oratorios they composed in His praise. Every sphere of human greatness has been enriched by this humble Carpenter of Nazareth.”