“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever…I will not leave you as orphans; I am coming to you.” (John 14:16; 18)
One of the possible translations of the Greek word paraclete (translated “counselor” above) is “partner.”
A partnership is the idea that two or more people are engaged in the same activity with each one adding value to the undertaking. Some of the greatest advances in human history have come from partnerships: The Wright Brothers, Watson and Crick (study of DNA), Page and Brin (invented the Internet) Ben and Jerry, and Batman and Robin. On a more serious note, there’s a partnership you might not have considered: Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
While Jesus was on the earth, he did nothing apart from the power of the Holy Spirit. Consider just a sampling: He was conceived by the Holy Spirit in Mary’s womb; his divinity was confirmed to Mary when Elizabeth was filled with the Spirit; at his dedication, Simeon and Anna confirmed his divinity by the Holy Spirit…and I’m still in the first couple of chapters of the gospels.
John reminds us: “For the one whom God sent speaks God’s words, since he gives the Spirit without measure.” (John 3:34) Jesus knew that living the Christian life and walking in spiritual power to minister to others was impossible without a partnership with the Holy Spirit.
That’s why he told his disciples when he was leaving for heaven: “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another “partner” to be with you forever… Jesus wants us to partner with the Holy Spirit just like he did while he was a man.
I hope you’ll join us on Sunday as we discuss how!
