Pentecost – Preparing for the Coming of the Comforter/Advocate

What is it you really need? How we answer this question is disturbingly revealing about us. It indicates what we recognise as most necessary, as most essential. Whilst our initial meeting points with God are our perceived needs, we also know that God, as our creator and redeemer, is the one who most truly diagnoses us. And what is given to us by Christ Jesus in his Spirit is that which is most basic and profound to us: Himself.

16 ‘I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17 This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. You know Him, because He abides with you, and He will be in you’. [John 14:16-17] 

In some of the final words of Jesus’ earthly life, we are let in on Jesus’ desire that the Father give us what is most essential to us. These days we don’t really talk about advocates – except maybe in legal circles. But other words are ‘helper’, ‘defender’, comforter’, ‘supporter’. This is one who stands by your side, argues your case in front of others and has your back. This is someone unreservedly for you. Notice that Jesus says the Spirit is ‘another’ advocate – because Jesus Himself is the first. The Spirit, not bound by the physical limitations of Jesus of Nazareth, who could only be in one place and one time, is therefore one who is sent to us to continue the ministry of Jesus – God with us.

What we need most is God personally present to us. 

Source: Thy Kingdom Come