Jesus Promises a Helper

IN OUR LESSON, JESUS was preparing his disciples for his departure, although they still did not seem to be able to grasp that prospect. Jesus had told them, “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.”—John 14:1-3, English Standard Version

The disciples wondered, Where he was going? What was he going to do? How long would he be gone? Who would guide them in his absence? Who would help them along day by day? To calm their concerns Jesus promised another Helper, “the Spirit of truth.”—vs. 17

As their discussion furthered, Jesus emphasized to his disciples the importance of keeping his commands. “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. … 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. 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. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. 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.”—John 14:21-26, NKJV

Now the identity of the Helper is clear. It is the Holy Spirit, which works in our hearts and minds to understand Scripture, to remember Jesus’ commands, and to work within us “both to will and to do” God’s good pleasure. (Phil. 2:13) We live on a higher plane of enlightenment because of the Helper’s influence upon us. Our lives are blessed indeed because of the Holy Spirit’s presence.

This Helper was given at the appropriate time in the divine plan—on the Day of Pentecost. Miraculous manifestations of the Spirit’s presence were provided and boosted the faith of the disciples. Peter, in the first great public witness of the Christian church, attributed the conferring of the Holy Spirit to Jesus, now resurrected from the dead.

“This Jesus God has raised up,” Peter said, “of which we are all witnesses. Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. … Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ. Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said to them, Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:32-38, NKJV) May we treasure the gift of the Holy Spirit—our Helper from the Heavenly Father.