THE KING’S BUSINESS
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eral unbelief in Him. The word trans lated “Comforter” is “Paracletos,” and some would have us bring this word over into the English, rendering it “Paraclete.” Possibly this would be a good thing to do; for it is a difficult word to translate, it means so much. It means one called along side of another to take his part. It is. the same word that is translated “Advocate” in 1 John 2:1. It means far more than “Comforter,” it means “Comforter” but plus a good deal beside. It means an ever present friend, always at hand to help in any emergency that may arise, and supply all need, whether it be need of comfort, or counsel, or strength, or whatever the need may be. This “P a r a c l e te " would proceed from the Father, but Jesus would send Him. He is called “the Spirit of Truth” because it is His work to reveal the truth, and it is only through His teach- nig that any one ever comes to know the truth. All “truth” is from Him, but it is His especial work to bear witness of Jesus, who is “the Truth” (ch. 14:6). It is only through the testimony of the Holy Spirit to Jesus, who is the Truth, that any one ever comes to know the Jesus. No amount of listening to the testimony of men, no amount even of reading of the Scriptures, though it is their work to testify of Christ, will ever bring u s , to a living, saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of Truth Himself must take the truth, either heard in the testimony of others, or read in the Scriptures, and interpret it to our hearts, and illumine our hearts to under stand it, if we are really to know Jesus. Because “the Spirit of Truth” does testify to them concerning Jesus, they in turn must testify to others (cf. Acts 1 : 8 ). They would be qualified for such testimony, not only because the Spirit testified to them, but also because they had been with Jesus “from the beginning” and were thus eye witnesses of what He did and was, and had heard exactly what He said and what He claimed to be. Ch. 16:7. “Nevertheless, ('omit ,) I tell you the truth, (;) it is expedient for you
that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you: (;) but if I depart (go), I will send Him unto you." Their sorrow over the departure of the Lord Jesus was altogether needless. It was for their welfare that He was going, it was profitable for them for Jesus to go, for another Divine Friend was coming tQ take His place, a Friend who could be much nearer, and more constantly near, to them than Jesus could be during the days of His flesh. How clearly t h e p er so n a l it y of t h e H o ly S p ir it comes out in all this. Can we conceive of Jesus saying it was profitable for Him to go, if the One who was to come and take His place was not a person, but only an impersonal influ ence or power, no matter how benefipial that influence or power might be. The statement that the Lord makes in this verse is one of the most remarkable state ments that ever fell from His lips, and we should ponder it well, that it was good for the disciples, and good for us that Jesus is not here bodily, because another person just as Divine and closer than He could possibly be to us in the flesh, is here. How wonderful is the privilege of “the fellow ship of the Holy Spirit,” this Friend who wa^ coming, the “Paraclete,” the One called to stand beside” us, this constant helper, counsellor, guide, friend, who was coming to take the place of the Lord Jesus. He was not merely to be a “Para- clete,” but “another Paraclete,” i.e., One coming in the stead of Jesus. This Divine Friend who was coming would not only be “with” them as Jesus had been, but He would “dwell in” them (cf. ch. 14:16, 17). A Christian need never be lonely. If we will only bear in mind this fact, that.this ever present Friend is always with us, that this best of all Companions dwells in us, loneliness will never be known again. Today this promise of Christ has been ful filled, the Comforter has come, He is here, He is with me this moment. Is He with you? He is in me this moment. Is He in you? vs. 8-11. “And when He is come (And
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