TODAY'S SPECIAL: John 15:18-16:4
TO CHEW ON: "'But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.'" John 15:26.
Here Jesus predicts that practically everyone will hate His followers. The world will hate them just as it hated Him (John 15:18-25). Fellow Hebrews will hate them, throwing them out of the synagogue and killing them, believing that by doing this they are serving God (John 16:2-4).
Sandwiched between these grim predictions is a comforting one: "'But the Helper comes whom I will send to you…'"
Helper - parakletos comes from para - beside and kaleo - to call—meaning called to one's side. "The word signifies an intercessor, comforter, helper, advocate, counselor. In non-biblical literature parakletos had the technical meaning of an attorney who appears in court in another's behalf" - Dick Mills, Word Wealth article - New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, p. 1472.
Bible writers mention the Holy Spirit's help in many places. Below are several. In each one the Spirit's way of helping is a little different:
- In John 14:16 we have the Helper that abides (lives) with us forever.
- In John 14:26 the Helper is a teacher and the One who helps us recall what we have learned.
- In John 15:26—our focus verse—the Helper testifies of Jesus. In this promise, placed between two predictions of persecution, is also the implication that the Holy Spirit will help Jesus' followers with strength to endure the world's hostilities.
- In John 16:7,8 the Helper convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment.
- In John 16:13 He is called the Spirit of truth who guides us into truth and a knowledge of the future as He speaks what He hears from the Ones who know—the Son and the Father (John 16:15,15).
- Finally, in Acts 9:31, author Luke connects the early Christians' Spirit-comforted lifestyle with church growth.
What a comfort for us to know that this Comforter/Helper is still available to us. Let's step out in faith as Jesus' modern disciples, knowing that He is beside us and in us, like a wise, knowledgeable lawyer, ready to help when we need Him.
PRAYER: Dear Jesus, thank You for sending Comforter, Helper Holy Spirit. Help me to know His presence in a practical way through the different situations of my life. Amen.
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Unless otherwise noted all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
