“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you.” John 14:16
Webster’s Dictionary defines the word “Advocate” as one who supports or promotes the interests of a cause or group. The Greek dictionary defines “Advocate” as the Holy Spirit who would lead the followers of Jesus to a deeper knowledge of the gospel truth and give them the divine strength needed to enable them.
Just before Jesus was to endure the crucifixion and then return to the Father, He tried to prepare His disciples by informing them of the things about to take place. As you can imagine, they were bewildered and confused, not being able to grasp all of what Jesus was saying to them, and in all of this was a deep sadness. They, by no means, wanted to see Jesus leave them and go anywhere, even if that meant back to the Father. They didn’t want to be orphaned.
In the short three and a half years they had spent with Jesus, they had grown to love Him and depend on Him, even if, in the moment, they didn’t understand everything he was trying to teach them. They just simply couldn’t imagine life without Him by their side guiding, teaching, loving, and comforting them.
They didn’t even understand His talk about an “Advocate” or “Comforter” who would be coming once He was gone. And, they certainly didn’t understand the part found in John 14:17 that says, “But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”
As we see in the book of Acts, all of this became clear to them as the Holy Spirit was poured out upon the disciples and the early church. They knew that this same Jesus, whom they had followed and grown to love and depend on, was now living on the inside of them through His Spirit. The Holy Spirt brought them peace, courage, boldness, great empowerment, and an understanding of God’s Word, and the Words of Jesus, that they had never known before.
Today, you and I have access to the same Advocate they did then. And, He is ready to fill, empower, and teach us everything the Father wants us to know. Today, ask Him to fill you, through and through, or afresh and anew, and let Him advocate for you.