The Apostles' Creed - Pt. 23

 

[Jesus said] “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.” Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” Jesus answered 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. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me. These things I have spoken to you while I am still 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 that I have said to you.” (John 14:18-26 ESV).

 

Sharing a last meal with his disciples just hours before his betrayal and death, Jesus drops a bombshell. He tells his disciples that he will soon be leaving them. Jesus assures his followers, though, that he will give them an “advocate to help” and counsel and comfort them. The original Greek word here for “advocate” (parakletos) refers to someone like a lawyer who provides counsel in legal matters. Our Bibles today translate this word using “advocate,” “counselor,” “comforter,” and other terms. When we say, with the Apostles’ Creed, “I believe in the Holy Spirit,” we are taking comfort that the Spirit is our advocate and counselor.

 

There are those times in our lives when it seems impossible to know what to do. Not only do we have someone who will accompany us through these difficulties, we also have the presence of God to guide us with His wisdom and strength. This promise of the Holy Spirit offers us great comfort. We are not alone. Jesus has sent the Holy Spirit to counsel and comfort us, leading us into truth. The Holy Spirit is sent by the Father and the Son to live in us, helping us to face the future with absolute confidence.

 

When you find yourself in a crisis, remember who has been given to you for just such a time. Even when there doesn’t seem to be any means of escape from the trial and difficulty, the Holy Spirit is walking in and with us to show us our future. He is the Comforter and Counselor bringing perfect peace and deliverance. That is our confession in the part of the Apostles’ Creed.