Day 48
Today’s reading: John 16:5-33
The Advocate
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The Advocate 〰️
Reflections
Jesus describes the Holy Spirit as an Advocate, Helper, Intermediary, and Advisor. While many assume this means the Holy Spirit advocates for us before God the Father or helps us for our own benefit—which is true in part—that is not the specific context in which Jesus calls Him our Advocate.
In this farewell speech, Jesus was preparing His disciples for the challenges they would face after His departure. He entrusted them (and by extension, us) with the responsibility of bearing witness to Him. Knowing the difficulties they would encounter, He reassured them of the Holy Spirit’s arrival. The Holy Spirit would not only empower them but also advocate on their behalf as they testified about Jesus. The first and most essential role of the Holy Spirit, as Jesus emphasized, is to testify about Him. If this is the Spirit’s priority, it should be ours as well.
Have you ever tried to convince someone who isn’t saved that their actions are immoral? How did that go? Likely, it was frustrating. They may have become defensive, even turning it into a conflict. That’s because convicting people of sin isn’t our job—it’s the work of the Holy Spirit. Our role is to bear witness to Jesus, while the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness, and judgment. When we faithfully testify, the Holy Spirit affirms our message in the hearts of those who hear and bears witness to our testimonies in diverse ways. This is what it truly means for the Holy Spirit to be our Helper and Advocate.
Study Questions
In what ways is the coming of the Holy Spirit more beneficial, and why did Jesus emphasize this to His disciples?
Who was Jesus addressing in this passage, and what is the significance of His words within this context? Why was His farewell discourse so important?
What specific roles of the Holy Spirit are described in this passage? How do they impact us today?
What does Jesus mean when He says He has overcome the world? How can we draw confidence and strength from this statement?
What did you learn about God’s nature, His ways and His will from today’s reading?
Highlight
“In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.” John 16:26-27 ESV
