Wonderful Counselor

"For unto us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."
Isaiah 9:6

When I was picking this series back in August to write, I had no idea what I wanted to come from this. I knew that I loved the famous text from Isaiah that prophesied the coming of Jesus and I knew that I wanted to unpack the names we have for the Lord. However, as I've begun to write this series I am encouraged by all the scripture and stories of Jesus that points back to the words of Isaiah that we resonate on every advent season. 
When I think of a Wonderful Counselor, the story of Lazarus comes to my mind. In this story, we see Jesus as a confidant, as a friend, and as a shoulder to cry on. If you read the NIV version of the Bible, the story of Jesus with the sisters of Lazarus is titled "Jesus comforts the sisters of Lazarus". 
In a time that has plagued us with so much loss, so much change, and so much uncertainty: the word comfort can become unfamiliar to us. I think it's healthy to remind ourselves that we are living in an unprecedented time. I know that we want to convince ourselves that we're "out of the dark", but we're not. We are living through a dark and scary time in history. The changes we've had to adapt to, the feelings we've gone through, the drastic increase of anxiety and depression: this isn't normal. 
In the story of Lazarus, Jesus asks Mary where Lazarus was laid and after she shows Him where the body is, Jesus weeps. But it's what comes after that resonates closely to me: "Then the Jews said: 'See how he loved him!'" I like this particular part of the story because it reminds me that Jesus' compassion on us is clear.
Jesus weeps alongside us. Jesus is moved by our troubled souls and takes time to mourn and weep with us. How precious of a Savior.
Greater than the gift we receive is the gift we get to give. 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 says "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
The Gift of a Wonderful Counselor is a gift that we get to share with the world. 
The comfort we resonate with in Jesus is a comfort that is foreign to this world. It is a comfort that can calm a soul walking through the darkest of valleys, through the most troublesome moments of their lives, and that cannot only comfort that soul but provide a joy and a peace that is beyond understanding. 
This week of Advent, may we remind ourselves of the gift of a Wonderful Counselor. 
May we remind ourselves that the Wonderful Counselor is one that weeps with His people. 
May we remind ourselves that the Wonderful Counselor is one that is known for His compassion.
May we remind ourselves that the Wonderful Counselor gives comfort so that we may also give.
Thank you God for fulfilling your promise of a Wonderful Counselor.