Page 12 - January 2022 - Truth & Tidings

n John 13-17, the stairs to the upper the Holy Spirit and Christ are distinct
room lead us from the Lord’s Sup- (the Spirit never became incarnate), the
Iper in the dining room (recorded Lord Jesus is drawing alongside the dis-
in the synoptic Gospels) to a classroom ciples while instructing them in John 14.
(recorded here in John) where the Lord Furthermore, the word “comforter” is
Jesus announces His hour of departure used of the Lord Jesus as our “advocate”
“out of this world” (13:1). His startled (1Jn 2:1). In John 14:17, they learn that the
1
pupils, having had their feet washed by Holy Spirit dwells “with” them and “in”
Him, are perplexed at His going away. But them, providing reassurance to His “little
they need not be troubled, for the Spirit children” (13:33) that they would not be
of God who moved upon the face of the left orphans, because of the promise that
waters in creation and in a virgin’s womb “we will come unto him” (v23). This is
at the incarnation is going to move again proof of the care and fellowship of the
in the evangelisation of the world “so trinity for God’s people.
loved” by God. However, the truth of the Spirit’s dwell-
Comfort in Trouble ing in the Church corporately and the
As the teacher unfolds His divine cur- believer individually was not fully ap-
riculum, Thomas asks, “How can we preciated by the disciples until Pentecost.
know the way?” (14:5). Jesus had just told It was a clear answer to the OT hope of
them where He was going (“the Father’s men like Solomon, who pondered, “But
house”) and the way to get there (“I will will God indeed dwell on the earth?” (1Ki
come again”), but they had forgotten that 8:27). No earthly structure could contain
all the time they had known Him and seen God, yet He promises to dwell with men
Him they were also seeing His Father. in a unique manifestation of His presence.
Jesus answers emphatically, “I am the Its consummation is “that where I am
way” (v6), that they might grasp by faith there ye may be also” (Joh 14:3). In verse
this Father-Son union. Jesus must ascend 23, Christ balances the teaching of comfort
to His Father before requesting that His in trouble with individual responsibility
Father give them “another comforter” to obey: “If a man love me, he will keep
(v16). The word “another” means another my words: and my Father will love him,
of the same kind, a divine person who and we will come unto him, and make
holds equality with the Father and the our abode with him.” This Comforter is
Son. In God’s glorious purpose, nothing more than a “spiritual soother,” for He
less will do as a perfect substitute for will enable them to do “greater works”
Christ than deity Himself. than their present teacher (v12).
The title “comforter” is the Greek Communicating All Things
parakletos. The beauty of the paraclete is The title “Spirit of truth” occurs three
his position and occupation. Learning times (14:17; 15:26; 16:13) and lifts the
to drive, you need a paraclete, one who minds of the disciples to even higher
instructs you, who sits alongside you as ground than the comfort of God’s pres-
your encourager. While the functions of ence. The Lord Jesus, who claimed, “I am
¹ All Scripture quotations in this article are from … the truth” (14:6), is going away, and
the KJV. the fear of being bereft of the truth is real.

12 TRUTH kTidings January 2022