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.
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.
