Mark Tabata’s Weekday Devotionals: Wednesday May 14 2025
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John 14:16-17-And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—. 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you.
The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit is the “Helper.” The old King James Version uses the word “Comforter.” The word means something much deeper than what we mean with the word “comfort” in our day and age. Barclay explains:
“But Jesus does not leave us to struggle with the Christian life alone. He would send us another Helper. The Greek word is paraklētos, which is really untranslatable. The Authorized Version renders it Comforter, which, although hallowed by time and usage, is not a good translation. Moffatt translates it as Helper. It is only when we examine this word paraklētos in detail that we catch something of the riches of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit. It really means someone who is called in; but it is the reason why the person is called in which gives the word its distinctive associations. The Greeks used the word in a wide variety of ways. A paraklētos might be a person called in to give witness in a law court in someone’s favour, or an advocate called in to plead the cause of someone under a charge which would issue in a serious penalty; an expert called in to give advice in some difficult situation, or a person called in when, for example, a company of soldiers were depressed and dispirited to put new courage into their minds and hearts. Always a paraklētos is someone called in to help in time of trouble or need. Comforter was once a perfectly good translation. It actually goes back to John Wyclif, the first person to use it in his translation made in the fourteenth century. But in his day it meant much more than it means now. The word comes from the Latin fortis, which means brave; and a comforter was someone who enabled some dispirited creature to be brave. Nowadays comfort has to do almost solely with sorrow; and a comforter is someone who sympathizes with us when we are sad. Beyond a doubt the Holy Spirit does that, but to limit his work to that function is sadly to belittle him. We often talk of being able to cope with things. That is precisely the work of the Holy Spirit. He takes away our inadequacies and enables us to cope with life. The Holy Spirit substitutes victorious for defeated living. So what Jesus is saying is: ‘I am setting you a hard task, and I am sending you out on a very difficult engagement. But I am going to send you someone, the paraklētos, who will guide you as to what to do and enable you to do it.’” (Williams Barclay, The Gospel of John, Volume Two (The New Daily Study Bible), 193-195 (Kindle Edition): Edinburgh, England)
While there was a special sense in which the Holy Spirit “helped” the Apostles (like guiding them into all truth, and bringing to their remembrance all that Jesus taught them-see John 14:26; 16:13), there are ways that He helps the Christian in his everyday life and walk.
Romans 8:12-13-Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.
Romans 8:26-Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Know that whatever challenges you face today, the Holy Spirit of God will go before you and with you.
Father, we thank You for the Holy Spirit. May He plead our case, give us the guidance we need when are uncertain and facing difficult trials, and encourage and strengthen us when we are depressed and ready to give up. Thank You for being so good. We praise You. Amen.
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