And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him because he lives with you now and later will be in you. John 14:16-17 NLT
Imagine it. It’s dark – the last night Jesus will be with His disciples before His death. They don’t realize it, but He does. He is pouring information and love into them, preparing them for all that is to come. They can’t accept the fact that He will leave, let alone believe it will be good for them. Jesus tells them He is going away to prepare a home for them; that He will come back and get them. He tells them the world will reject them, but their love would eventually win. And He tells them He is asking the Father to send Someone else to be with and in them.
He knows that when they get past the pain, they will find the Holy Spirit to be exactly who they need. He will never leave them. He is the Holy Spirit and He will lead them into all truth. Not everyone can have this gift. The world isn’t looking for Him and is totally unable to recognize the Holy Spirit. But Jesus encourages them with the fact that the Holy Spirit is already with them and soon will be in them.
The word Jesus used to describe Jesus is parakletos. It is translated in several different ways because there is no one English word that covers all the meanings. In a small comparison, we know that the various names to designate a mom, mother, mommy, or mama each convey certain shades of meaning. In a far deeper and more significant way, each name that applies to the Holy Spirit brings new understanding. The Holy Spirit is called the Advocate. He is for you; He is on your side. He sees everything you can be and works within you to help you become God’s vision for you. He is constantly working for your best. He is the Comforter. In this painful, often confusing world, He is within you to speak the uplifting, comforting, and strengthening words you need to hear at just the right time. He is the Counselor. Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus would be the Wonderful Counselor, and the Holy Spirit delivers His loving wisdom to our hearts. He delivers the right counsel to each individual to meet the needs of our souls. He’s very practical. He tells us what to do and what not to do. He leads and advises us and reminds us of who we are. The Holy Spirit is called the Helper. When Jesus was here, He helped every person with whom He came into contact. But because He was in human form, Jesus could not meet everyone’s needs. Now the Holy Spirit helps all of us in all the ways Jesus did: spiritually, mentally, physically, and relationally. He is the Gift from Jesus who will be with us forever.
- Holy Spirit, You are the gift from Jesus to me. You are in me and will be with me forever. Today I choose again to open my heart and mind to receive all You want to do for me. I need Your wisdom, comfort, and counsel today.