“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.”
John 14:15–17
Sitting in the Upper Room, our Lord comforts His disciples as they discuss the news that Jesus will soon be leaving. To reassure them, He promises the Holy Spirit—the third person of the Trinity. Why was this a comfort to them? How can it comfort us today? Jesus asks the FATHER to send the Holy Spirit to us. God has proven Himself to be a promise-keeper, so we can depend on it ( we actually see that promise being fulfilled in Acts 2 at Pentecost). What will the Spirit's role be? He will be an ADVOCATE. He will be our cheerleader, always there to keep us on the right path, speaking to the Father on our behalf. He also is the SPIRIT of TRUTH. The Spirit inspired the Word of God and also illumines it. For how long? FOREVER. Once received, he will not depart from us. We can grieve his Spirit, however, which is why we need to pray often asking for a fresh infilling of his Spirit. Where will he be? He ABIDES IN US. The world does not see Him because they do not know the Son. But we, as believers, have access to Him always. Though invisible, His presence in us is evident. Jesus had dwelt with them, but now the Holy Spirit would dwell in them, and us. What a comfort in knowing we are never alone, having access to the Father and His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit!
Renee Wilson
