“If you love me, obey my commandments.”

When he makes this statement, it was a big evening for Jesus.  It’s his formal farewell to his disciples, his friends.  And his friends are freaking out! They are scared. How does Jesus decide to comfort them? He promises the Holy Spirit - the great comforter. The one who would guide, teach, encourage, empower, and mediate on behalf of the believer. Ultimately he was giving them the comforting presence of himself - Jesus.

The provision of Jesus that will bring about this relationship is declared to be the indwelling Spirit (vv. 15–17)

Holy Spirit has two new names: 

1. the Paraclete (NIV Counselor, v. 16)
2. the Spirit of truth

Paraclete (Gk. parakletos) is unique to John (elsewhere 14:26; 15:26; 16:7; 1 John 2:1) and expresses the Spirit’s strengthening, equipping role. 

A parakletos was a judicial advocate (cf. Matt. 10:16–20) and here Jesus says that Christians alone can enjoy his aid (John 14:17).

How does this help your relationship?

When you obey and love Jesus, you (and only the one who believes and acts) gets the Holy Spirit!

What does your relationship need…

• Strength for tough times...you get that
• Truth...you get that
• Encouragement...you get that
• Guidance...you get that
• Empowerment to treat others like Jesus...you get that
• The comforting presence of Jesus...you get that

“The Christian’s life in all its aspects—intellectual and ethical, devotional and relational, upsurging in worship and outgoing in witness—is supernatural; only the Spirit can initiate and sustain it. So apart from him, not only will there be no lively believers and no lively congregations, there will be no believers and no congregations at all.” – J. I. Packer