Another Helper

John 14:16-31

As we read a few days ago, Jesus has told the disciples that He is leaving, and they are afraid. They have spent so much time with Him and trust Him as their Savior, so can you imagine their fear and confusion?

In verse 16, Jesus promises to send them “another helper.” Another means that the Helper will be like something they currently have, which means that the Helper will be like Jesus. The Greek word Helper is paraclete, which means advocate, counselor, mediator, or to “come alongside.” Like Jesus, the Holy Spirit would advocate for and come alongside the disciples, and He assured them that He would not leave them as orphans (v.18). Jesus told them that the Holy Spirit would teach them and remind them of what He had said (v.26) and that He will be with them forever.

Through the Holy Spirit, the disciples and all who believe in Jesus can have a relationship with God.

Through the Spirit, we have a Comforter and Helper and are never alone.

Out of this relationship with God through the Spirit, Jesus tells His disciples that if they love Him, they will keep His commands (v.21). Jesus continuously points the glory back to the Father by reminding them that it is not His words or will, but the Father in heaven’s. Do you love Jesus? Do you love Him by keeping His commands? Sometimes, keeping the commands of Jesus can feel like a chore, but how can you shift your mindset to keep them out of love?

Jesus ends this section by calling us back to the beginning of the chapter: “Let not your hearts be troubled” (v.1 & 27). Although Jesus knew that His time had come to leave and return to the Father, He promised that the Helper would come and that they could have real peace as they rested in Him. He knew that the cross was coming, but He went there willingly, giving Satan no power over Him (v.30). Jesus chose to go to the cross to save us and rose again to provide us with access to relationship with Him through the Holy Spirit. The Spirit will teach you and remind you of what Jesus said, and He will advocate for and comfort you every day of your life. He is always with us; we can have true peace in this knowledge.

What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life?

Have you had a moment where the Holy Spirit taught you or reminded you of something that Jesus said?

Do you keep the commands of Jesus out of love or obligation?