We have a helper!

When Jesus went away he said he would send a helper. (John 16:7) He then said when that one arrived he would guide us into all truth. (John 16:13) One thing we should recognize from the Bible is the importance of identifying and protecting ourselves from the man of lawlessness. We should also try and identify this comforter whom Jesus said he would send. If we can not precisely identify him, we should learn what Jesus did teach us about him.

In John 16, Jesus made several statements giving us information about the helper he would send:

He spoke about this comforter, [or helper, or counselor,] as if he were a person; and Jesus said he must go away in order to send him to us. Jesus said that unless he did go away, the helper will not come [one translation renders it: he "can not come"]. (John 16:7)

He said he would send the helper from the Father, and called him the spirit of truth which proceeds from the Father. Jesus said that one would bear witness about him, and his early followers would in turn be helped by that comforter to bear witness about Jesus. Our helper has thus been around since those days of Jesus's early followers [two thousand years]. (John 15:26-27)

He said the helper would give the world convincing evidence concerning sin and concerning righteousness and concerning judgment: Concerning sin because many had no real faith in Jesus as the son of God; then concerning righteousness because Jesus was going away to the Father; and then concerning judgment because the ruler of this world [satan - Luke 4:5-8 ; John 12:31 ; 1 John 5:19] had already been judged. (John 16:8-11)

He said when that helper arrives, "the spirit of truth," he would guide us into all truth. He said the helper would not speak of his own impulse, but what things he hears he will speak, and he will declare the things coming. (John 16:13)

That one [the comforter or helper] will glorify Jesus. He will receive from what belongs to Jesus and declare it to us. All the things the Father has belong to Jesus, that is why Jesus said the helper will receive from what is his and declare it to us. In a little while they would behold Jesus no more, and then in a little while they would see him. (John 16:14-16)
He said the comforter would be with us forever. (John 14:15-17)
He said not to be concerned as to what to say when making a defense of the hope in us; for the comforter would help us know what to say. (Matthew 10:19-20)

Jesus likened his going away and sending the helper, and then his followers later seeing him again; he likened it to a woman being in child birth pains. They would be grieved, but then have joy. In that day he said: They would ask him no question at all. What ever they ask his Father in his name would be given them. Up until that time he said, they had not asked a single thing of his Father in his name. If they would just ask, he said, they would receive: "Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be made full." (John 16:17-24)

If this "helper" were only God's holy spirit, why would Jesus need to go away and then send him? The disciples had already been under the influence of holy spirit so as to be able to perform the assignments given them by Jesus. (Luke 9:1) What was to be different with this helper whom Jesus would send after he went away? Why did Jesus speak about him as if he were a person?

The man of lawlessness, who Jesus said would be revealed in the last days, is a composite man made up of the enemies of Christ along with their counterfeit religious organizations. (2 Thessalonians 2:2-3) This comforter Jesus said he would send then, who would guide his followers into all truth, might be a composite man comprised of all who are determined to follow the teachings of Jesus as contained in the Bible. Christ would intercede with his Father in behalf of these imperfect men, and give such ones a direct link to his Father's spirit for help. The words Jesus had spoken while with them would thus guide them into all truth, (John 16:13) and they would in turn help others understand. All such individuals would then become part of the manifestation of the comforter whom Jesus said he would send. It would seem Jesus is dispensing his spirit, [holy spirit given him by his Father Jehovah,] to help these ones glean truth from the Bible. Faith in Jesus is the link or channel to God's spirit. Just as Jesus has seen his Father do, so he does, and so he teaches us. (John 5:19 & 30) The comforter will remain with us forever in that Jesus has gladly accepted the responsibility of looking after faithful mankind forever, and his words remain with us forever. (Proverbs 8:31 ; Isaiah 9:6-7) Jesus's teachings from the Bible will provide direction for a very long time; likely forever. We are free to consider what these scriptures might mean in identifying the comforter sent by Jesus, but we must always remember that all any of us can know about this matter, [or any other spiritual matter] is what the Bible clearly teaches. [We do not want to become guilty of breaking the Bible rule against going beyond what the Bible teaches. (1 Corinthians 4:6)] The precise details of who our comforter is will become plain to us only as Jehovah teaches us, and/or as our hope in the paradise earth becomes a reality. (Psalms 37:29 ; Isaiah 65:21-25) For now, we live by faith. The reality of Jehovah rapidly approaches. All we can know clearly through our faith at this time is that we do have a comforter, or helper, sent by Jesus. (Acts 2:33) If we immerse ourselves in the teachings of Jesus, as recorded in the Bible, we can know through our faith we will do well. (John 12:50 ; John 17:3)

The comforter is of course God's spirit as well. If you are a lover of righteousness, and have an inner person of the heart that you talk with inside yourself all the time, that is likely a manifestation of the comforter Jesus sent. Talking with that comforter is not a formal prayer to our Father, but is a conversation you have with yourself as you weigh out and contemplate your decisions. That present spirit will not speak to you. That is what the Bible is for. The spirit can then help you reason out a wise choice as you call to mind Bible principles that weigh on the matter under consideration. It is God's spirit which brings the Bible to life for you. (Hebrews 4:12)

Thus Jesus said about the comforter, that he would bring back to our mind all the things Jesus told us. (John 14:26) He there calls that comforter the holy spirit which the Father would send in his name. It would appear then, what Jesus intended us to understand is that we would be able to utilize Jehovah's spirit directly through our faith in Jesus. The first way that spirit would help us would be to help us call to mind the teachings of Jesus: That would in turn mean we first must have read/studied what Jesus taught; in order to be able to be helped to recall it. Learn what the Bible teaches! The comforter can also help us recognize the Bible teachings as truth, and thus to separate ourselves from those who consider it foolishness; (1 Corinthians 1:18) openly asserting it is foolishness or doing so by promoting their own writings. As we develop solid faith, the comforter Jesus sent will help us understand the deep things of God from the Bible, and thus reveal to us what is to happen. (John 16:12-13) The comforter, what ever exactly he might be, thus forms the basis for how Christians are organized under our Father. Each person understands the Bible, and based on that understanding of truth can build a personal relationship with Jehovah; through their faith in Christ Jesus. It is an awesome privilege and a sobering responsibility! We will all stand or fall based on our personal faith in Christ: Who is God's perfect provision to restore peace to creation and to give us back the life Adam stole away from us. (Acts 4:12) The terrible conditions of these last days [the great tribulation] is forcing people to confront this issue.

Our lives very literally depend on our having this comforter, as he is the source of our life. Jesus said our faith would produce from our "inmost part" a stream of life-giving water. (John 7:38) That stream no doubt means life to us; and to any who will listen to the truth Jesus brought. In John 6:53; 58; and 63, Jesus said he was the bread of life and we should feed on him; that he was the true bread from heaven; and that it is the spirit that is life giving. In this discourse, Jesus taught that spiritually speaking, learning what he taught is just as important for life as eating food is. (John 6:35-69) What Jesus taught will literally sustain our life as our faith enables us to draw upon Jehovah's spirit: Jesus teachings becoming "a river of life from our inmost part." It will be our faith that heals us. (Mark 5:34)

Until such time as God chooses to make it more clear, [likely by the opening of new scrolls,] we don't know anything more about the comforter [or helper] than what the Bible says about him. That is enough! We all prefer everything clearly defined for us, just as Jesus early followers did. (John 16:29-33) In an effort to understand more clearly, some will assert this comforter is holy spirit in the form of a person. Others that the helper would be Jesus who would return in bodily form. Some might imagine it more logical to think of him as a composite of all those individuals who sincerely try to learn what Jesus taught, apply it in their own lives, and teach others what they learn: As they are then acted upon by God's spirit as a composite "man of comfort." Be cautious! If we latch onto any of such beliefs, and then assert it is Bible truth, and it then turns out we are wrong; we make ourselves guilty of having broken the rule against going "beyond the things written" in the Bible. (1 Corinthians 4:6) Simply rest in the joy and hope [and knowledge through faith] that we do have a helper. If there were a need for us to understand exactly how that one is being manifest, Jehovah would have told us in the Bible. It will be revealed! What we can clearly know is that we do have a helper, and that by learning what the Bible says we give that helper influence over our lives. By learning what the Bible teaches, we may provide the conduit for that helper to influence our lives in ways we can't even imagine. These are exciting times to be alive!

We must be very careful though, to base our hope only on the teachings of the Bible and not the dreams and interpretations of well meaning [but often confused] men. Only the Bible is spiritual food to define truth. Know the truth of the Bible and the truth will set you free: Free of the influence of those who would embolden themselves to put forth their own teachings as spiritual food: (John 8:32) Free of all the lies taught by men.

Use browser "Back Arrow" or "Alt+Left_Arrow" keys to previous page.   |   Home Page