“And [Peter] broke down and wept” (Mark 14:72).

Jesus told Peter he would do it—deny Him three times. That’s probably what hurt the most when the rooster let out its second crow: Jesus had called it and knew his black heart better than he knew himself. Like a proud rooster, Peter kept insisting he would never fall away even if the other disciples did. “If I have to die with you, I will not deny you,” Peter insisted.

Peter would likely never have recognized the gravity of his sin if Jesus had not told him in advance he would do it. But it’s in this scene we can see ourselves if we’re willing to get truly honest. The conversation is iconic to Peter; it goes basically like this and perhaps we can relate:

“Jesus, I love you so much I would never deny you.”

Jesus replies, “You don’t know, yet, but you’re not better than the rest of your brothers.”

“Oh! No, I assure you I’m better.”

“Before the morning comes, I’ll show you how your life mocks me, how your sin puts me on the cross…but not to condemn you. This new awareness of who you are will ultimately bring you true life.”

Sure enough, while the other disciples scatter as Jesus predicts, Peter follows close behind Jesus. If you’ve been studying Mark, you might have noticed with us that it’s those who stay late, who remain close when the crowds disperse, that get the deeper lessons Jesus has to teach. Peter remaining in close proximity to Jesus in this scene brings the deepest lesson Peter will ever learn. It’s not in being perfect, loyal, and devoted that we bear fruit for the Kingdom of God, but rather in our sin and in keeping with repentance where God is glorified.

Luke’s version of this story tells us that when Peter denied Jesus the third time, Jesus turns to look at Peter and makes eye contact. In this phrase, “turning” can be used to indicate turning your back on someone but, as we see here, Jesus turns toward Peter, not away from him. Jesus, in the midst of His own trial, is deeply invested in Peter’s suffering as he becomes aware of his sin. Jesus turns to be with Peter and expresses His love and full affection toward him as their eyes meet. Of course, Peter broke down and wept.

Our tendency is to try to carry our burdens on our own, and when we fail to do so, counseling is often where we go for help. A counselor provides a safe space where we can share our deepest secrets, unload our heaviest burdens. A counselor is someone who will look at the darkest places of our soul and accept us as we are; someone who desires our well-being; someone who knows us well enough to call us out and walk us through the process of changing and becoming better, healthier.

Jesus does all of these things but infinitely more. He didn’t live a perfect life to show us how it’s done so we could follow Him in attempting this same perfection. He came and lived a perfect life for us because we simply cannot.

He did what we could never do because He wants to be with us just as we are.

While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Just like Peter who walked beside Him for three awe-filled years, we are still capable of committing sins we never thought we were capable of. Even in His last hours, Jesus turned toward us in our sin.

Herein lies the key to change—the wonder of His counseling:

The efficacy of counseling is directly proportional to the vulnerability we allow within that relationship. Change happens as we get dreadfully real about who we truly are. There was no one more vulnerable than the God-man, Jesus, stripped down to nakedness, hung before crowds of jeering men before breathing His last. This is the simple yet excruciating vulnerability our Wonderful Counselor requires of us. And then…

He does the work.

He did the work of salvation in living and dying and rising again. And He does the work no earthly counselor can do. He does the sanctifying work of changing us when we come naked in our sin before Him.

When I kept it all inside,

my bones turned to powder,

my words became daylong groans.

The pressure never let up;

all the juices of my life dried up.

Then I let it all out;

I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to GOD."

Suddenly the pressure was gone—

my guilt dissolved,

my sin disappeared.

Psalm 32:3-5

Totally exposed, under His glorious gaze, our sins are dissolved and we become changed. We are no less apt to sin in our fleshly bodies. However, whatever sins we once covered up in shame, when we bring them to Him—each time we break down and weep under His gaze of concern—our guilt is dissolved. Our sin disappears. With every stripped-down, vulnerable encounter with our Wonderful Counselor we are changed forever for His glory. It doesn’t get more wonderful than that.

And He shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.