◄ What Does John 14:16 Mean? ►

For well over three years, the Lord Jesus had moved in and out among His disciples, living alongside His little band of followers every moment of the day, and throughout the darkness of each long night.

The first thing mentioned in this important chapter is the simple fact that the worlds came into being through the Word of God and that everything created, both visible and invisible, was made by His mighty power. 

As the incarnate Word of God, the Lord Jesus is Immanuel, God with us. He is the second Person of the Holy Trinity, clothed in a human body of flesh and blood, and living in close, intimate communion with each of His beloved band of followers.

Jesus was the image of the invisible God Who was to return to the Father in heaven. He had told His disciples earlier that He would send another Comforter to be with them forever.

As the stark truth (that Jesus was indeed leaving them to return to the Father in heaven) was starting to penetrate the incredulous minds of the disciples, the Lord Jesus once again introduced the Person of the Spirit of Truth. He promised that the Holy Spirit, the Helper: "Would be with you forever, the Spirit of truth Whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him."

Jesus had just reminded His followers that whoever has seen Him has seen the Father, and so once again He told them, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever."

The authority of Christ's prayer to the Father, rests on the authority of His position as Incarnate Deity, and the other Helper Whom the Father would send would be the Spirit of Truth - the third Person of the Holy Trinity - Who would be with them forever and eventually would permanently indwell each one.

The Holy Spirit of God, Who was sent at Pentecost, was to be this other Helper. He was to be the 'Paraclete' - the 'Advocate' - the One Whom the Father would send to be alongside Christ's little band of frightened followers every moment of the day and throughout the darkness of each long night.

And for the past 2000 years, the Holy Spirit is to all who have trusted Christ as Saviour, what Christ Himself had been to His little band of faithful followers: our Helper and Advocate, our Comforter and our Paraclete. And He is with us forever and abides within our hearts forevermore.

Thank You, Father, that You sent the Holy Spirit to be my Helper, to come alongside me in every difficult situation that I may have to face in this life. Thank You that He is with me and in me, to lead and to guide me. Help me to listen to His voice and submit to His directions, day by day. In Jesus' name I pray, AMEN.