Jesus’ announcement must have stunned the disciples. “I am going away.” (John 14:1-3) Going away? How can He be leaving?
For three and a half years they followed Jesus. They saw the miracles. They listened to the teachings. They felt His comfort and His challenge. At every critical time He was there.
Now, He would be gone. And then He said that it would be good for them if he was gone. The word is powerful: expedient, profitable, advantageous. They were certainly confused by His words. “It is good?!” More specifically He said, “But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.”
To understand how Jesus’ leaving could be good we will spend this blog and the next understanding Jesus’ promise in three sections of this larger sermon (John 14-16).
The promise derives from an amazing Greek word: ‘Para Kaleo’ or “Paraclete.” This word combines two Greek words: para = beside and Kaleo = call. He is the one called alongside us.
Perhaps it would be easy to understand the Holy Spirit by remembering teaching your children to ride a back. You put your hand firmly on the seat behind them and ran alongside, prepared to run allowing them to feel your presence. You were there.
Or think about the power of your presence when a sound scared your small child in the night. They called your name, and you went. The power of your presence brought them comfort. You were called alongside them.
Before delving deeply in the word for paraclete notice five truths about Him from Jesus’ words in the three passages in Jesus’ sermon in John.
John 14:16-18 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever—17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.
John 14:25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
John 16:7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.
Understanding His Nature
- He is sent from the Father (John 14:16)
He is! The Spirit is spoken of four times in this sermon each time with the personal title, Him. He is the personal Spirit sent specifically from the Father at the request of the Son. Jesus has requested the Holy Spirit to come into your life. The exact answer to Jesus’ prayer is present now in your life.
- He is another (John 14:16) (Allos)
Many believers have wished for the presence of Jesus. We would long to walk with Him. As Jesus prepared to leave them, He promised that they would have another comforter just like him.
The Greek language has a beautiful way to picture this. There are two vastly different ways to speak of “another.” The word “heteros” speaks of another of a completely different nature. It is another, but unlike the original.
Jesus’ word is actually, “allos.” It speaks of another of like manner. Jesus promises another comforter just like Him. The Holy Spirit is a substitute of like manner as Jesus. Jesus was the first. The Holy spirit will be like Him in every way.
- He is the Truth (John 14:17, 26)
The Spirit will always lead us to truth. Human leaders can fail us. We all will fail. But He will illuminate us in truth. He will bring us revelation, teaching us truth.
- The world will not understand Him (John 14:17)
The world cannot understand the work of the Spirit. The world did not comprehend the ministry of Jesus and cannot comprehend the Spirit’s work. The natural man does not comprehend spiritual truth.
We cannot grasp His truth in our human weakness. We can only accept the truth of His work as revealed in Scripture.
- He will not leave us as orphans (John 14:18)
He will not leave us alone. He cannot! We will not be orphans. The Spirit did not come until Jesus departed. But once Jesus left, following the Ascension, the Spirit came upon humankind.
Prior to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension the disciples could be with Him only in one moment in time and only in one place. Now, because the Spirit has come, we can always know the divine presence of Jesus and in all places. Every believer can know His presence. We cannot be alone.
Understanding His Name – The Titles (John 14:16, 14:26, 16:7)
The name Paraclete has a powerful, rich meaning. He is called alongside us. The translations and meanings of this name are rich. This rich word has various meanings. Each tells us as of a personal God present with us. The word has five meanings:
- The Paraclete is our Advocate (Intercessor)
This word speaks of His work as our defense attorney. He is the one who represents another. He pleads our case before God. You can trust that He is actively defending you before God.
- The Paraclete is our Counselor.
He is someone who stands beside us. He knows the mind of God and brings advise to us. His profession is to give us advice from the mind and heart of God. You can trust Him to lead you.
- The Paraclete is our Comforter.
A comforter comes along to relieve another of mental distress. The world robs us of our peace, inflicting heartache and hurt. The Spirit comes alongside us to bring us comfort.
- The Paraclete is our Strengthener.
The Spirit of God comes to us to bring us strength. He works in us, causing us to grow and become ever stronger. He enables us to endure and resist the attacks. Through His work the early church became stronger, and the gospel spread. He is still at work today.
- The Paraclete is our Helper.
In every way you can call on Him. Four times the Spirit is referred to as helper. He stands alongside us to help us.
So how do we respond to the Holy Spirit as our Paraclete? I offer three challenges.
- Know Him….by Experience. Do not read about Him alone. Do not be satisfied with learning truths. You need Him.
- Trust Him. Jesus said we will NEVER be alone! He will not leave you. Believe for His presence right now in your life.
- Lean on Him…He is called to walk alongside you. He is there in every aspect of your life right now.
