Week Six - John 14:15–31 | The Spirit of Presence, Truth and Comfort

Welcome to the 2025 Lenten Devotional

John 14:15–31 | The Spirit of Presence, Truth and Comfort

Artwork: Christ Taking Leave of the Apostles by Duccio

🌬️ The Spirit of Presence, Truth and Comfort

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate…”

As we step into John 14, we reach a turning point in our exploration of the Spirit. This is the first time Jesus directly introduces the Holy Spirit not just as a vague idea or passing mention—but as someone specific. Someone who will come. Someone who will remain. Someone who will do something.

But to fully understand the weight of this, we need to remember the setting.

📖 The Farewell Discourse: Preparing for Absence

Jesus is preparing His disciples for a moment they cannot yet understand—His departure. This begins what is known as the Farewell Discourse (John 13/14–17), where Jesus offers comfort, guidance, and assurance before His arrest.

In this moment of uncertainty, Jesus makes a promise:

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” (John 14:16)

This phrase—another Advocate—carries so much meaning. If there is another, then it means there has already been one. Jesus Himself was the first.

So what will this Advocate be like?

The answer is simple: Just like Jesus.
If we want to know what the Spirit does, we only need to look at Jesus.

🔥 What’s in a Name? Advocate. Helper. Comforter.

The Greek word here is Paraklētos—one who comes alongside, a helper, an encourager, an advocate.

Not a loud, theatrical presence…
Not someone who shows up only when it’s convenient…
But someone who walks with you. Guides. Supports. Equips. Comforts.

And Jesus promises that this Advocate will be with you forever.
Just as the Spirit descended and remained on Jesus (John 1), now the Spirit will remain with His followers.

This is not the temporary Spirit of the Old Testament.
This is the abiding presence of God.

✨ Truth, Abiding, and Knowing

“This is the Spirit of truth… You know him because he abides with you, and he will be in you.” (John 14:17)

Truth is a major theme in John’s Gospel—truth as revelation, not merely facts. To live in truth is to live in alignment with God’s reality—a reality shaped by love, justice, mercy, and grace.

And here again we see the word “abide.”
We’ve seen it before—it’s the word we’ll come back to again in John 15 and 16 tomorrow.

To abide is to dwell, to stay connected, to make a home.

💡 Think of the Tabernacle—the place where God’s presence once dwelled.
Now, through the Spirit, that presence dwells in us.

Not in the temple.
Not in Jesus alone.

But in us, the continuation of His mission and His presence on earth.

🫂 “I Will Not Leave You Orphaned”

“Because I live, you also will live.” (John 14:19)

Jesus speaks of a new kind of relationship—one of mutual indwelling.

Just as the Father is in Jesus, and Jesus in the Father…
Now Jesus is in us, and we are in Him.

This is how deep the connection goes.
This is the foundation of Jesus’s mission: everything flows from His relationship with God.
And now, through the Spirit, we are drawn into that relationship too.

📚 Teaching and Reminding

“The Holy Spirit… will teach you everything and remind you of all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26)

The Spirit doesn’t just comfort. The Spirit teaches. The Spirit reminds.

Not with flash or fire, but with wisdom and presence.

How many times do we forget the words of Jesus?

The Spirit gently whispers them back.

How often are we unsure what to do next?

The Spirit guides, nudges, prompts.

The Spirit is not just a source of power—but a presence of peace.

🕊️ Lenten Reflection: Living with the Advocate

The Advocate is not a concept.
The Spirit is not reserved for ecstatic moments.

The Holy Spirit is with you. In you. Walking beside you.

And that means we are not alone.

We are not left to figure this out by ourselves.
We are not abandoned.

As we walk this Lenten road, maybe that’s what we most need to hear.

✅ Reflection Questions:

What does it mean to you that the Spirit is another Advocate, just like Jesus?
Where in your life are you in need of the Spirit’s comfort, truth, or guidance?
Are there moments when you’ve felt the Spirit teaching or reminding you of Jesus’s words?

🙏 Closing Prayer:

Spirit of Truth, You are the One who walks with us, who remains with us, who teaches and reminds us.
Thank You that we are not alone. In moments of fear, be our peace. In confusion, be our guide.
May we learn to recognise Your presence, and respond in love and obedience.
Amen.

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