Wonderful Counselor

I don’t listen to classical music often, but during the holidays I always listen to Handel’s Messiah. I love how he uses text from the Old Testament to foretell the life of Jesus. There are certain Bible verses that trigger the music in my mind every time I read them. One of these is Isaiah 9:6:

Note that the verse begins, “For unto US a child is born, unto US a son is given.” Jesus wasn’t just born unto Mary and Joseph; He was born unto all mankind, unto you and unto me. Hallelujah! Our blog posts this month will center on this verse, and how Isaiah’s prophecy is true for us today.

I will focus on Jesus as “Wonderful Counselor.” Or is it “Wonderful, Counselor”? The King James Version (and Handel) use a comma between the words, but the NIV version does not. We think of the word “wonderful” meaning “extremely good,” and it often does mean that. But it can also mean “causing wonder or astonishment; miraculous.” The double meaning of “wonderful” makes it an especially appropriate word for Isaiah to use in foretelling the birth of our Savior. Jesus was and is completely good, never sinning in word or deed. His conception itself was miraculous, causing astonishment to Mary and Joseph before He was even born. His life, His death, and His resurrection were so surprisingly amazing that we cannot fully fathom what He has done. Wonderful, indeed!

Jesus as “counselor” is more personal. When my daughter was a toddler, she taught me an important lesson. Potty training was not going particularly well. She loved the little potty we kept handy in the playroom. She put her toy food in it and stirred it up to “make soup.” We tried bribery—two M&Ms for every successful potty visit. She loved this also, and quickly learned that she could dribble a bit every five minutes and eat enough M&Ms to make her throw up. One day, after an accident while she was sitting on my lap that left us both soaked, I told my daughter I was out of ideas and asked her what we should do to make this work better. Very seriously, she looked me in the eye and said, “I think we should ask Jesus for help.”

Of course, we immediately did just that. Why had it not occurred to me to pray about this? Does Jesus even care about potty training problems? Of course He does!

During His lifetime, Jesus sought individual connections with people He met. His compassionate love for humankind, coupled with His infinite wisdom and intimate knowledge of each individual, make Him the perfect counselor. He helps us to see the truth of our lives, ugly as they may be. But He’s not willing to leave us there, confused, and wondering how to get out of the messes we find ourselves in.

Think of the woman at the well. Jesus met her where she was, both literally and figuratively. He did not shun her, as many did, but helped her to understand what she was missing in life, and how to obtain it. Wouldn’t it be WONDERFUL to meet with Jesus and have Him counsel us about our lives?  

We may long for the day when we can be physically in the presence of Jesus, but in the meantime, He can still be our counselor. When we earnestly tell Jesus our concerns, and desire to follow God’s will in dealing with those concerns, Jesus will find a way to counsel us. Have you ever read a scripture and suddenly understood it in a new way that applied to your life right then, even though you’d read it countless times before? Or perhaps you heard a sermon that spoke directly to a need of your heart. Maybe you confided in a trusted friend who was inspired to give you godly advice. Even a feeling of peace about a decision you’ve been praying for could indicate Jesus giving wise direction in your life. Often, this counsel comes from the gift of the Holy Spirit which Jesus has given to each one of His beloved followers.

As we find ourselves scurrying around and occasionally overwhelmed in this busy and festive season, let us take time to confide in the Wonderful Counselor we have been blessed with.