In that same period of the Upper Room discourse that Jesus had with the disciples as recorded
for us in John, Jesus explains to His disciples that He's going away in order that He may
send to them another Paraclete. Often when we use the term Paraclete, we're thinking
that we're referring simply to the Holy Spirit. No, the Holy Spirit is not 'the' Paraclete—
the Holy Spirit is 'the other' Paraclete. The original Paraclete is Christ Himself as we
looked at — as His being the consolation of Israel. The old English translations of it
in the New Testament speak of the Holy Spirit as the Comforter. And we think that the purpose
of the Holy Spirit's coming into the life of the church is to bring consolation to those
who are in pain and suffering and who need to be consoled. Well, He does that, but that's
not the primary meaning of the term comforter as it was used in the old English. The old
English translation of the Paraclete was the English word comforter, based on the original
meaning of comfort, meaning 'with strength.' So it's not solace so much that is in view
as it is power and strength.
The paraclete was the name given to the family attorney in the ancient world. And if you
had a difficult problem that you were facing you would summon the paraclete. Parakletos
means one who is called to stand alongside of you. And Jesus tells His disciples that
'you are going to be dragged into prisons, and you are going to be hated and despised.
But when you're delivered up to these councils, don't be worried, don't be afraid. Because
I will send the Comforter, the Paraclete, to give you the strength, to stand beside you,
that you may be faithful in times of crisis.'
Remember that He also instructed His disciples after, that He was going to leave them, He
said 'you are to go to Jerusalem and tarry there. Wait for a while because you shall
receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.' And again Jesus says to them
'I won't let you alone. I will be with you even though I'm going away in one sense,
in another way I'm going to be with you until the ends of the earth.' The last question
the disciples ask Jesus before the ascension was 'Lord, will you now restore the kingdom
to Israel?' What did Jesus say? He said 'it's none of your business when I'm
going to restore the kingdom of Israel, but your responsibility is this: you shall be
My witnesses, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you.'
And so one the most important reasons for Jesus' ascension to the right hand was that
Pentecost would take place — that the Father and the Son would pour out the Holy Spirit
upon the church. And the purpose of that outpouring of the Holy Spirit was to empower the church
for its earthly mission, to empower the church for ministry. Again, to witness for Christ
in a corrupt world requires strength greater than our own.