My Korean name is “SeungRi” which means “victory.” My sister’s name is “Jilee,” meaning “truth.” When they named us, their prayer was simple and bold: “May truth prevail.”
Names carry meaning. A name sums up a person’s character. It declares who the person is. So when the Messiah’s birth was foretold, his identity was revealed through his name: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Starting today, and throughout Advent, we will explore who Jesus is through these names.
Wonderful Counselor
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. In Isaiah 9:6 the closest meaning of this phrase “wonderful counselor” is supernatural heart-changer. What does that mean? Hebrews 3 gives us insight. In verse 13, the writer exhorts, “Encourage each other daily.” Here, the word translated “encourage” is from the Greek word, παρακαλέω (parakaleō). As Tim Keller points out, the closest New Testament concept of parakaleo is “counseling” – not casual encouragement, but deep, ongoing, heart-shaping counsel. “Counsel each other daily,” he says.
Have you ever felt, “Why do I change so slowly?” Have you ever felt discouraged by your chronic struggles or long-standing hangups? Dr. Martin Llyod-Jones gives a powerful illustration. Imagine a city held captive under a cruel king for generations. A new, good king comes and sets the people free. Their legal status changes instantly—they are free. But they continue to live like slaves. They still fear the old captors. They still respond to the old voices. Their status changed, but their mindset did not. What is the cure for this? They must be reminded again and again who they are now.
In the same way, God set Israel free from Egypt with his mighty acts. But in the wildness, Israel had to learn how to live as free people – God’s people. Their legal status was “set free,” but their hearts still operated like slaves. So God gave them a new way of life, the Ten Commandments. And God led them daily by the pillar of cloud and fire. Daily they needed God’s counseling. Daily they needed to be reminded who they are.
The Bible says our spiritual life is a journey through the wilderness. And just like Israel, we need daily counseling and daily guidance. Because in the wilderness of life, filled with its challenges and temptations, our hearts so easily become hardened, dry, cynical, bitter, even rebellious. We desperately need the Wonderful Counselor, the supernature heart-changer.
To Martha, To Mary
Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor. One of the clearest pictures of this is in John 11, at the funeral of Lazarus. When Jesus arrived, he was greeted by Lazarus’ sisters – first by Martha, then by Mary. Both sisters said the exact same words to him: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother wouldn’t have died.” (vv. 21, 32) Martha said it. Mary said it. The words were identical. The grief was the same. The loss was the same. But Jesus responded to each of them so differently, because he knew what their hearts and knew their deepest needs. To Martha, Jesus challenged her faith and declared truth. “I am the resurrection and the life.” He spoke firmly. He strengthened her. He pulled her out of despair and called her into hope. He gave her the ministry of truth. To Mary, Jesus said nothing. He simply wept. He entered her sorrow. He let her grief draw him into tears. He gave her the ministry of presence.
Some of us, by nature, are “truth-tellers.” We see problems, analyze them, and explain solutions. But truth without tenderness often feels harsh or cold. People shut down. They don’t’ feel heard. Some of us are “weeper.” We feel deeply with those who are hurting. We sit with them. We comfort. But without truth, without guidance, people may not grow. Pain is shared, but little healing or growth happens.
We need both – truth and compassion, challenge and comfort. Every parent knows this. If we only speak truth to our children, we become judgmental and harsh, and they grow angry or distant. But if we only sympathize and never correct, they become undisciplined and lost. We need both truth and love. Jesus, our Wonderful Counselor, embodies both perfectly.
Truth and Love
One of the best examples we see in the Bible is the story of the woman caught in adultery in John 8. The Pharisees wanted to stone her. Jesus said to them, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” (John 8:7 MSG) One by one, they all left. Then, Jesus turned to her and said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and sin no more.” (v. 11)
Notice the order. If Jesus held only to truth, he would say: “Stop sinning, then I won’t condemn you.” If he held only to compassion, he would say: “No one’s perfect. You’re fine. Don’t worry about it.” But he does neither. He says, “I don’t condemn you. Now go and sin no more.”
She was guilty, but he did not condemn her. How is that possible? Because He was going to take the condemnation. It is as if he says to her: “Sister, you are not being stoned today because I will be. I will take the stones, I will take the nails, I will take the crown of thorns. I will take what you deserve, so you can receive what I deserve.” On the cross, Jesus paid the price for our sin. He upheld God’s justice – truth. And on the cross, he extended God’s mercy – love. On the cross, perfect truth and perfect compassion were perfectly intermingled. This is why Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor.
Master Plan
Our life truly is a journey through the wilderness – a desert that cannot sustain the soul. Without the daily ministry of Jesus – his truth and his compassion – our hearts will slowly and surely harden. But when we receive his daily counseling, he restores us, strengthens us, transforms us.
As I close, I want to share C. S. Lewis’ beautiful illustration:
This is God’s master plan for us in Christ. His goal is not merely our happiness, but our holiness. Not simply to improve us here and there, patch a leak, fix a crack, but to transform us into the likeness of Christ.“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; … but presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably … The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of… you thought you were being made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”
So come to Jesus and receive his counseling daily. Let him speak truth into your confusion. Let him pour compassion into your sorrow. Let him be your Wonderful Counselor – your supernatural heart-changer. And then, by his grace and truth, let us become his voice to one another – counseling, encouraging, and guiding one another – so that together we may arrive the Promised Land safe and sound. Amen.
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