Three Words
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15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments. 16 And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you.
19 “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. 21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.”
22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?”
23 Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. 24 He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father’s who sent Me.
25 “These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
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Helper
Personal
Holy Spirit
During his 3 years in ministry on earth, Jesus had been the disciples’ helper, guide, counsellor, and comforter. Then Jesus promised during the Last Supper discourse that as soon as he returns to the Father in heaven, ‘I will ask the Father and he will give another helper another comforter to be with you forever.’
What did he mean by another helper? Was he talking about another ‘leader of the pack?’ What did those disciples think when they heard Jesus say ‘I will give another helper, another comforter to be with you forever?’
By focusing on three words in John 14:16 we will learn why the disciples were greatly comforted by Jesus’s promise (and us too).
The Three words are [1] Another [2] Helper [3] Forever
Three Words: Another, Helper, Forever
Another
Let me illustrate this by teaching you a bit of Greek and by looking at 3 bibles!
1 bible another bible, Heteros bible (similar but different bible)
1 bible another bible, Allos bible – (exactly the same bible).
When Jesus says I will send another helper he said ‘allos helper’ meaning exactly the same as Jesus. This Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth is the Spirit of Jesus - Allos paracletos.
Helper
What exactly does helper/comforter do? The Greek word is parakletos
We haven’t really got a modern English word for this Greek word (parakletos). So we say helper, advocate, comforter, guide, counsellor.
[Illustration] Bayeux Tapestry. Embroidered Battle of Hastings from the 11th Centuary. One section says Bishop Odo ‘comforts his troupes.’ When you look what he is doing, the Bishop is behind the frontline brandishing a club, alongside them, urgin them into battle. That’s comforting!
It’s an old meaning of the word comforter.
Paraclete can be broken into two:
Para = beside and
Klete to be called.
Someone you call alongside you to be with you in battle. Not someone to soothe you and say have a hug but someone who will come alongside you and prod you and say this is a battle, we can go forward together, the paraclete the Holy Spirit gives us power, strength and courage when the going gets tough.
It is interesting that this is the same ‘drawing alongside’ that Jesus invites us to in Matthew 11:28-30,
‘Come all you weary…. Take my yoke and learn from me….My yoke is easy…burden is light.’
We are not expected to do all this on our own we have the helper parakletos. Allos parakletos is exactly the same as the Christ who said yoke up, tie in, be LinkedIn with me.
Kelvin’s story of surviving a car accident on Honister Pass, Lake District included repeatedly saying the name of Jesus. Song of Songs 1:3, ‘Thy name is as ointment poured forth’ (KJV). He was yoked to Jesus, he had the helper, the parakletos present with him, called alongside giving strength and courage. That same Holy Spirit that is available to us in our tough times, our battles, (not just our battles but also to share in our joys and our victories).
Forever
Last word, ‘Forever.’ Remember this relationship with our Lord Jesus is for time and eternity.
In Matthew 11:30, Jesus says you will find ‘rest for your souls.’ Our souls are the only part of this earthly frame that will survive death. We will receive a resurrection body (according to 1 Corinthians 15). It is important to acknowledge in our spiritual and physical battles that we are a ‘forever people,’ eternity is set on our hearts Ecclesiastes 3:7 for those who believe in Jesus (John 14:1).
Story of Shiela – ‘What should I do when I am dying?’
‘Your name is ointment’ (NKJV) Song of Songs 1:3
Do you feel alone in your battles/struggles? We have a helper, the Holy Spirit, one and the same as Jesus,
‘Allos parakletos.’
Let us ask the Lord (Yokedin) to help, guide, counsel and comfort us. He is our ever-present help, come let us worship and adore him.
He will Hold me Fast
When I fear my faith will fail, Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail, He will hold me fastI could never keep my hold, Through life's fearful path
For my love is often cold, He must hold me fastHe will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fastThose He saves are His delight, Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight, He will hold me fastHe'll not let my soul be lost, His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost, He will hold me fastHe will hold me fast, He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so, He will hold me fast
Songwriters: Ada Habershon and Matthew Sherman Merker
Three Words Another. Helper. Forever
