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In John 14:16-17 (ESV) Jesus tells his disciples that his Heavenly Father will send them “another Helper, to be with you forever… You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”
The word Helper is capitalized. This is none other than the Holy Spirit; we’re given that specific detail in verse 26.
The title “Helper” is notoriously hard to translate from Greek into English. In Greek it’s Parakletos—and it’s a title Jesus gives to the Holy Spirit only in this Gospel. Note the different words that these Bible translations use. The ESV and the NKJ translate it as “Helper.” The NIV and CSB as “Counselor.” The NET, NLT and NRSV as “Advocate.” The GNV and KJV as “Comforter.”
People who give their lives to studying these issues say that there is no perfect one-to-one translation of Parakletos into English. In reality, the Holy Spirit—our Parakletos—is doing all of these things!
Over the next few devotionals we’ll explore a few of them in a bit more depth. But for now let me just say this. If you are a disciple of Jesus, the Holy Spirit is within you, helping you for your good and God’s glory!
Not only did God come to us in Jesus, but he continues to be with us in the person of the Holy Spirit. This, my brothers and sisters, is a God who is unrelentingly committed to his people. He is helping us AND counseling us AND advocating for us AND comforting us.
Are you open to the ways God is working in and through you? If so, that’s amazing. If not, it’s time to start paying closer attention.
The Holy Spirit is within you, helping you for your good and God’s glory.
“Holy Spirit, tune me to your frequency.”
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