I learned a new word this week.
I was studying John chapter 16 for our 20’s and 30’s group, and in looking at commentaries on the passage, the word “counselor” or “advocate” or “helper” (talking about the Holy Spirit) was described by the word “paraclete”.
When I pronounced it in the group, it came out sounding like “parakeet”.
But when our sweet Greek friend in the group, Soteri, pronounced it, it sounded like a beautiful musical chord. This makes sense, since its origin is Greek.
Its meaning is just as gorgeous as its correct pronunciation.
Counselor. Advocate. Helper. Intercessor. Comforter.
All of these words wrapped into one – the Holy Spirit.
In John 16, Jesus is talking to His disciples about Who will be taking His place after His death, resurrection and ascension back into Heaven to rejoin His Father. The “paraclete” would come and would offer everything that Jesus offered them while He was with them.
Counselor. Advocate. Helper. Intercessor. Comforter.
Jesus had been all of these things to His disciples in a very visible, tangible way. All of the things He offered them had the luxury of being seen, heard, felt from the outside in. His ministry worked from without to transform within.
But just like God and all of His mysterious, glorious ways, things would transcend what these people could imagine. And when Jesus returned to heaven, the Holy Spirit would come and continue the same work as Jesus, but this time from the inside out! Their transformed hearts would result in their outside lives never being the same. They would begin impacting the world around them because of the power within them!
Counselor. Advocate. Helper. Intercessor. Comforter.
Do we recognize the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives today as the work of Jesus Himself? Do we realize that when we listen and tap into the counsel, the advocacy, the help, the intercession, the comfort of the Holy Spirit, that we are experiencing the same thing that the disciples did in the company and ministry of Jesus?
Jesus told His friends that the “paraclete” would say only what He Himself would say. John 16:13-15 – But when he, the Spirit of truth,comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.
Jesus had already informed the disciples that every word He spoke came directly from God the Father. John 12:49-50 – I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.
Counselor. Advocate. Helper. Intercessor. Comforter.
Straight from the Father, thru the Son, and now played out through the Holy Spirit. All one God, but a ministry of three unique personalities giving us everything we need for “life and godliness”. 2 Peter 1:3 – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Enjoy the presence of your “paraclete” today. The very essence of God, of Jesus in the very really presence of the Holy Spirit within you.
Counselor. Advocate. Helper. Intercessor. Comforter.
Best. BFF. Ever.
