The Helper

“I will ask the Father and He will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth…” John 14 v 16,17

Red letters light up the Bible as Jesus says goodbye to his beloved disciples in the book of John, chapters 14 -16. Sitting around a table, sharing their last supper together, He comforts them. He reminds them to trust in God and His plan. He promises that He will return for them and that they will be together forever. The disciples can’t believe their ears. Sorrow fills their hearts. They had left everything and known nothing but Jesus for the past three years. In shock and despair they can’t recall anything they learned from their beloved Rabbi. Confused and troubled, they take turns trying to convince Jesus that they don’t know enough, they haven’t seen enough, and they definitely can’t do His work without Him. The image of ‘The Last Supper’ etched into our minds by Leonardo da Vinci is the scene of this heart-wrenching farewell.

Jesus’s heart filled with compassion, purpose, and love reassures them. He promises not to leave them as orphans (John 14 v 18). He guarantees that His Father will send them a Helper who will be with them forever.

This same Helper, the Holy Spirit, is promised to you and me who follow Christ today. He dwells with and in us (14v17). Through Him we see Jesus (14v19). He teaches us all things and helps us remember it too(14v26). He is the peace that Jesus leaves with us (14v27).

Sometimes, Christian, we forget this. We long to walk, talk, and be with Jesus. The truth is He is doing all these things with you even now. Yes, He will return one day to redeem this world and take us to Himself. But we do not wait in despair or sadness or even in His absence. He has come and made His home with each of us through the Holy Spirit (14v23).

Today, I challenge you to pick up your Bible and read the gospel of John, chapters 14 through 16. I promise that it will bring joy and courage to you no matter the circumstance.