The opening verses of chapter 14 are ones I often use during funerals. But there is much more in this chapter of John than the comforting verses about our place in the Father’s house.
Jesus also talks about the Holy Spirit in this chapter. He tells the disciples that He will not leave them “as orphans” (verse 18) when He returns to the Father in heaven. Instead the Holy Spirit will come be with them “forever” (verses 16-17). What does He mean by “forever”?
In the Old Testament the Holy Spirit was not a permanent presence in the lives of those who loved God. At times the Holy Spirit filled someone for a specific purpose and time, and then He would leave them. However with the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost as described in the book of Acts, He is with each and every true follower of Jesus every moment of every day. He doesn’t come and go. Just like Jesus said – He is with us “forever.”
Jesus says the Holy Spirit will “abide” with and “be in” His followers (verse 17). Abide is the idea of taking up residence some place. That place is “in” us. Everywhere we go, the Holy Spirit goes because He is in us – abiding in us. Thus His power and guidance are always available to us.
Those who do not follow Jesus do not know the Holy Spirit and are not aware of His presence in this world (verse 17).
He is the “Spirit of truth” (verse 17), just as Jesus is “the truth” (verse 6). The Holy Spirit never leads in a way that is contrary to the truth Jesus spoke – to God’s word. Notice in verse 26 that Jesus tells us the Holy Spirit would help the disciples remember all Jesus had told them. Again the focus is on the Spirit’s role in affirming Jesus’ words – God’s word.
Twice in the chapter Jesus referred to the Holy Spirit as our “helper” (verses 16, 26). Some English translations use a different word: “advocate, comforter, counselor”. I love the image of the Holy Spirit helping those of us who love and follow Jesus. He helps us in many ways, not the least of which is to help us follow God’s word in our daily living.
The Greek word translated “helper” or “advocate” or “comforter” or “counselor” in our English Bibles is “parakleton” and pictures one who stands beside another to be their advocate, encourager, helper, adviser, comforter, etc. The idea is that He is with us at all times to do what needs to be done.
Notice that Jesus said the Father was actually giving the disciples “another helper” (verse 16). Jesus was the first helper and the Holy Spirit is the “another” helper. Just as Jesus had been with the disciples for three years, the Holy Spirit was now going to be with them for the rest of their lives. Similarly the Holy Spirit is with each person who belongs to Jesus and He is with them for as long as they live. Amen!
Finally in John 15:26 Jesus made it clear that the Holy Spirit would “testify” about Jesus. In other words, the Holy Spirit will always make Jesus the focus of His work among us. Some groups who talk a lot about the Holy Spirit make the focus of being filled with the Holy Spirit more about “tongues” and other things than they do about Jesus. The Bible teaches that the Spirit is always testifying about Jesus. In John 16:8-11 Jesus described the Spirit’s role in evangelism – namely convicting the lost of sin, their need for righteousness, and the reality of future judgment – all the time pointing them to Jesus. In John 16:14 Jesus pointedly stated that the Spirit “will glorify Me.”
Pastor Steve Hog
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