Church of God, Carmichael, CA
D. O. Teasley, May 15, 1903
[Original Page Numbers]
PART I.—THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit As A Comforter
COMFORTER is the most tender and affectionate title given to the Holy Spirit. When Jesus was nearing the close of His incarnation, He looked with tender pity on His few disciples and began to speak words of cheer and comfort to them. Said He, "In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." John 16:33. Even the tender love of a mother for her child could not compare with the tender compassion manifested by Jesus for His disciples, who were soon to be bereaved of their teacher, guide, and spiritual father. After announcing to them that He must soon leave, and exhorting them to love one another, he proceeds in the fourteenth chapter of John to comfort them.
He first tries to comfort their sorrowing hearts by saying, "Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know." John 14:1.4. At this juncture "Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?" John 14:5. This sounds very much like the earnest plea of an innocent child who is about to be left alone: but Jesus comforted him and dismissed his perplexity by saying, "I am the way, the truth, and the life." John 14:6.
But Jesus had yet a more inspiring comfort for them. The words, "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek me: and as I said unto the Jews, Whither I go, ye can not come" (John 13:33), had made their hearts sorrowful; but Jesus quickly healed the wound by adding, "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." John 14:1 .
The word "comfortless" in the above text is from the original word "orphanous," which literally means orphans. Wilson, Rotherham, and Murdock all agree in translating it this way. Jesus, like some other Hebrew teachers, called His followers His children; hence when He left them they were orphans, but He promised not to let them remain so. [88]
While Jesus was with them He had been their help and comfort, but now that He was going away He said unto them, "If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever." John 14:15, 16. The Greek word for comforter is "parakaleo," which means, to call for, invite to come, send for; to call upon, exhort, admonish, persuade; to animate, encourage, comfort, console. Green. The Paraclete, or Comforter, was not only to comfort, cheer, animate, and encourage the sorrowing disciples, but was to remain here on earth to represent the Son of God and call for, invite, and persuade sinners to come to Christ.
Jesus is once called a paraclete. "If any man sin, we have an advocate"—paraclete. In this text it means an intercessor, helper, succorer, or advocate. Jesus also intimates that He was their comforter when He said to His disciples, "I will send you ANOTHER Comforter." Jesus had been the comfort and help of His disciples while with them, but now that He was going to leave them He promised them "another Paraclete." The Paraclete was not only to abide with, comfort, and succor the apostles, but His stay was to be age lasting. Thank God! the blessed Paraclete, the Holy Comforter, has come, and abides with us, that we should not be orphans, left alone in this dark world of sin and sorrow; but should have the comforting abiding presence of one who loves and cares for us.
Reader, would you have your life filled with the deepest cheer and comfort possible to the human heart? Then seek and obtain the indwelling of the Paraclete. How blessed to know that when we feel a sense of loneliness or a pang of sorrow we may have the ever present help of the Holy Spirit. Comforter, to the child of God, is the sweetest and most endearing title of the Holy Spirit. To me it is dearer than all earthly titles. [89]