Why was Jesus called our “Wonderful Counselor?” How does He provide counsel around our deepest hurts? In this blog, we explore the transformative power of Christ’s counsel and how it’s available to you.

“Wonderful Counselor”

There’s much we could examine in this verse, the phrase I want to lift out is “Wonderful, Counselor.”

This will not be an exhaustive look into this truth because we could camp in Proverbs alone to discover the breadth of His counsel or the Sermon on the Mount to discover the depth. However, there are three life-giving arenas from the “Wonderful Counselor” we can identify. Our Wonderful Counselor gifts us with counsel around our:

1. Guilt

2. Grief

3. Grudges

Christ is our Wonderful Counselor, and He is coming again one day. He came as a tiny baby only to eventually die on a cross to set us free from guilt, grief, and grudges. He set us free to have that capacity through Christ. We can forgive those who’ve wounded and disappointed us. We can be set free and free others in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As Scripture teaches, all have sinned and fallen short of the Glory of God. We’ve all crossed boundaries, but we’re also made in the Image of God. We’re not designed for sin and its effects. However, until Christ returns to restore to God’s original intention, we have a Wonderful counselor to surround us amid our struggles. Let’s explore how He does that.

How Is Jesus our Wonderful Counselor?

1) Guilt

At the base of your brain is the pituitary gland. It is responsible for regulating many of your hormones. When a person feels guilty over something they’ve done, their pituitary gland is working and can be manipulated into shame. When it’s regulating this hormone over a period, it suppresses your immune system. Sin is literally causing you to feel ill.

However, there is an antidote.

God gave us wonderful counsel through the person of Jesus Christ. Like sheep who’ve gone astray, we, too, know when we’ve crossed a boundary. Scripture declares that if we confess our sin, which means coming into agreement with God that we’ve crossed a boundary, He will be faithful in forgiveness. We have the opportunity to be cleansed of unrighteousness.

While other religions and worldly mentalities say, “Try harder” or “do better,” Christianity offers a framework for forgiveness. Our Wonderful Counselor gives us insight into how the captive is set free. He shows us how to have a flourishing life through Christ’s death, burial, resurrection, and ascension. He gave us the opportunity to find new life.

2) Grief

We live in a fallen world that lends itself to the fallenness of our human condition. Despite our efforts and desires to avoid grief, it’s inevitable that we will encounter grief in this world.

Even in tears of weeping uncontrollably and the deep throes of grief, we can feel an unexplainable presence. One of the Greek words for the Holy Spirit is paraclete, which means to come alongside to help. Many Bibles translate the Holy Spirit as the comforter. When we’re in seasons of deep pain, hurt, and sadness, we can still know a comfort that transcends logic through the presence of the living God.

As painful as grief can be, we must recognize that the ability to grieve is a gift of God’s grace. When Jesus’ friend Lazarus dies, we see the shortest verse in Scripture: Jesus wept. Jesus is demonstrating the language of grief, and He’s exhibiting the sadness of death.

We are wired to grieve, and paraclete comes alongside us to meet us in those moments. Because God became flesh through Jesus, we can know that our Wonderful Counselor has experienced the heartaches of this world too. He understands what we’re going through, and it’s because of that, that the Wonderful Counselor can minister to us.

3) Grudges

In our life, stumbling blocks aren’t probable, they’re a certainty. Jesus even said, “The love of many will grow cold in the last days.” He was illustrating that many people would grow offended by one another. The reality is that people are human, and at times other humans will let you down. They will disappoint, hurt, and even betray you. Jesus also experienced all of these things.

However, as our Wonderful Counsellor, He gave us specific advice about forgiveness. In God’s mercy, He gave us Jesus so our debt would be washed and forgiven. It’s because of that mercy that we don’t get what we deserve. The Wonderful Counsellor shared that we’re to also extend mercy to others just as we’ve received God’s mercy.

Even in the Lord’s prayer, Jesus’ outline instructs us to ask God to “forgive us our debts…”. However, it was so important that Jesus actually said it twice. He goes on to say, “As we also forgive our debtors.” In the same way we are forgiven, we are called to forgive others just as the Father forgave us.

As we celebrate the birth of our Savior, we’re reminded that unforgiveness is unforgivable.

Unforgiveness is the only sin that eats its own container. It’s the same as eating rat poison and waiting for the rat to die because of what it’s doing to your soul. Our Wonderful Counselor wants to set you free from that. He has shown us to forgive the person who betrayed us just as we have received His mercy to extend to others.

Final Encouragement

As we reflect on the profound truths of Isaiah 9:6 and the role of Jesus as our Wonderful Counselor, let us embrace the hope and guidance He offers in every aspect of our lives. Whether we grapple with guilt, grief, or grudges, our Savior is always present, offering His wisdom, comfort, and forgiveness. Remember, in Christ, we find the ultimate liberation from all that binds us, inviting us into a life of grace and peace.

As you journey through your days, may you continually discover the depths of His love and counsel, knowing that in Him, we find the strength to overcome and the grace to forgive. Let this Christmas season be a reminder of the transformative power that came into the world as a child and lives on through us. Embrace His counsel, share His love, and walk in the peace of the Prince of Peace.

TL;DR

1. This blog explores the significance of Jesus as our 'Wonderful Counselor,' as described in Isaiah 9:6.

2. It delves into how Christ provides guidance and comfort in dealing with guilt, grief, and grudges, emphasizing His role in offering forgiveness and understanding.

3. The post highlights the unique counsel of Christ and how it empowers us to live a life of freedom and peace, reminding us of the hope and transformation He brings, especially during the Christmas season.

Related Reading

How to Meet With Jesus by William Merriman

The Christmas Story Prologue by Bro. Chris Carter

A Light in the Darkness by Rev. Jacky Gatliff