Lent - Day Thirty-Five - The Promised Holy Spirit

Lent Devotions from Concordia University 2024

26 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 14:26

As the last days of Jesus’ earthly ministry approach, imagine for a moment what this journey is about to be like for Jesus’ disciples. They have spent the last three years of their lives following Jesus. They have seen miracle after miracle with their own eyes. They have sat at his feet to take in all of his teachings. They have broken bread with him, eating meal after meal together. They walked where he walked, and followed wherever his voice led them. Now that is all going to drastically change.

He is leaving, but he promises that he will not leave them as orphans. He promises that the Father will be with them, and that he will be in them. He promises to give them another helper, another advocate… the Holy Spirit.

We did not walk the Jerusalem roads with Jesus, but his promise is for us as well. While we may often feel quite alone, Jesus promises that he has not left us as orphans. He dwells in us. We, too, have been given the helper, the Holy Spirit. This Spirit is at work in us to create and sustain faith. The Holy Spirit continues to work in us while we wait for our Lord’s return. This Holy Spirit is sent to teach us all things and recall for us all that our Lord has taught. The Spirit teaches us our Lord’s commands, cultivates a love for those commands, and produces a desire to keep them. The Holy Spirit nurtures us to love our Lord and treasure his word. We have an advocate who stands before the Father on our behalf. We have a helper who works faith and the fruit of faith in us. Thanks be to God.

Prayer: 

Holy Spirit, 

                 I am thankful for Your presence in my life. Draw me ever closer to my Lord and Savior. Direct me according to His will. Comfort me in all temptation and defend me from all error. Amen.

Reading Further - John 14:15-31

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 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.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?” 23 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. 24 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.

25 “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 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. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.

Friends' Favorites - You'll Get Your Quilt

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them]. However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

John 16:6-7 The Amplified Bible

The story goes like this: After Sunday School, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. 

The daughter replied confidently, "Don't be scared; you'll get your quilt."
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later that day, the Mom stopped the Sunday School teacher and asked the Scripture reference for the day's lesson. He said "John 16:6-7."

Quilt - Comforter - it's all the same to a child. I laughed because I have had some very similar lessons with regard to children and their interpretation of what they heard and what was actually said (and some adults, too!).

But aren't we just like that sometimes? We think we know what God said, but we miss something in the interpretation or substitute what we think means the same thing. We think "Close enough" or "Good enough."  However, God is a very specific communicator. He says exactly what He means. He establishes His Word.

In verses 13-15 of this same chapter in the Amplified Bible, Jesus assures us that the Comforter - the Holy Spirit  -  when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

So, do we want a quilt - just something to cover ourselves - or do we want the Comforter? Pay attention...

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our ears and our hearts to fully hear and understand what You would say to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen

* Don't Be Scared; You'll Get Your Quilt

But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts [taken complete possession of them]. However, I am telling you nothing but the truth when I say it is profitable (good, expedient, advantageous) for you that I go away. Because if I do not go away, the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Advocate, Intercessor, Strengthener, Standby) will not come to you [into close fellowship with you]; but if I go away, I will send Him to you [to be in close fellowship with you].

John 16:6-7 The Amplified Bible

The story goes like this: After Sunday School, a Mom asked her very young daughter what the lesson was about. 

The daughter replied confidently, "Don't be scared; you'll get your quilt."
Needless to say, the Mom was perplexed. Later that day, the Mom stopped the Sunday School teacher and asked the Scripture reference for the day's lesson. He said "John 16:6-7."

Quilt - Comforter - it's all the same to a child. I laughed because I have had some very similar lessons with regard to children and their interpretation of what they heard and what was actually said (and some adults, too!).

But aren't we just like that sometimes? We think we know what God said, but we miss something in the interpretation, or substitute what we think means the same thing. We think "Close enough" or "Good enough,"  However, God is a very specific communicator. He says exactly what He means. He establishes His Word.

In verses 13-15 of this same chapter in the Amplified Bible, Jesus assures us that the Comforter - the Holy Spirit  -  when He, the Spirit of Truth (the Truth-giving Spirit) comes, He will guide you into all the Truth (the whole, full Truth). For He will not speak His own message [on His own authority]; but He will tell whatever He hears [from the Father; He will give the message that has been given to Him], and He will announce and declare to you the things that are to come [that will happen in the future]. He will honor and glorify Me, because He will take of (receive, draw upon) what is Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you. Everything that the Father has is Mine. That is what I meant when I said that He [the Spirit] will take the things that are Mine and will reveal (declare, disclose, transmit) it to you.

So, do we want a quilt - just something to cover ourselves - or do we want the Comforter? Pay attention...

Prayer:

Father,

           Open our ears and our hearts to fully hear and understand what You would say to us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen