Paraklētos
John 14:16-17 While we may not truly understand His role in our lives as believers, the Holy Spirit nonetheless continues to sanctify us and convict us of our sins.
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.”
John 14:16-17 NASB1995
At the end of Last Supper in Chapter 14 of the gospel of John, Jesus calmed the fears of His disciples by explaining a number of things to them. As usual, there was confusion over what He was saying. For example, near the beginning of the chapter He notes that they know the way where He is going, yet Thomas asks “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” (John 14:5) The question from Thomas is answered with the immortal words captured in John 14:6 “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
Jesus also alludes to His oneness with His Father, with Philip responding with a confused “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us” (John 14:8). Jesus responds to Philip, saying “Have I been so long with you, and yet you have not come to know Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; how can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?” (John 14:9)
All but the most clueless of the disciples should have realized by this time that Jesus was going to die, although they were probably in a state of denial about His fate. Having spent so much time with the Lord, they may have prayed to the Father that He would spare the life of their Teacher. Jesus, knowing full well that the disciples will still need direction and teaching after His ascension, then offers today’s verses as a hint of what is to come — the Holy Spirit.
I’m sure both Barb and I have done a word study on “Helper” or “Advocate” (the English translation varies), but it’s always worth going over this again. The Ancient Greek word is παράκλητος (paraklētos), defined in the Strong’s Greek Lexicon as:
summoned, called to one's side, esp. called to one's aid
one who pleads another's cause before a judge, a pleader, counsel for defense, legal assistant, an advocate
one who pleads another's cause with one, an intercessor
of Christ in his exaltation at God's right hand, pleading with God the Father for the pardon of our sins
in the widest sense, a helper, succourer, aider, assistant
of the Holy Spirit destined to take the place of Christ with the apostles (after his ascension to the Father), to lead them to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth, and give them divine strength needed to enable them to undergo trials and persecutions on behalf of the divine kingdom
It is this last definition (highlight is mine) that is the most important. The disciples (soon to be known as apostles after Ascension Day, 40 days after the resurrection of Jesus) would not understand that their paraklētos was not a physical manifestation of God similar to Jesus, although Jesus tells them plainly that “the world cannot see Him”. Reading these verses, I can only imagine the total confusion of the disciples as to what/who this “helper” was going to be!
Jesus, in His last time of instruction to the disciples, goes on in John 14:18-29 to try to explain what exactly the Holy Spirit will be. Just before He says His last farewell to the disciples, Jesus says in John 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.”
As followers of Christ, we have also been given the assistance of the Holy Spirit. While we may not truly understand His role in our lives as believers, the Holy Spirit nonetheless continues to sanctify us and convict us of our sins. He also works upon unbelievers (and those, like Barb and I, who strayed from the faith for many years) to lead them to repentance and salvation.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for sending the Holy Spirit to be my Helper and be with me in all difficulties I may face in my earthly life. Thank You that He is with me and in me, always leading and guiding me in Your Truth. Help me to daily listen to His voice and submit to His directions. I pray this in the holy name of Jesus, AMEN.