“The Holy Paraclete”
Text: John 14:23-31
6-8-2025
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Translating things from a foreign language can be rather tricky at times. That’s because quite often a foreign word makes little or no sense in English if you translate it literally. So, we assign to it a word that conveys the general idea of how it’s used in the mother language. For example, you’ve probably heard the German word “dummkopf” before. Hopefully it was not used as an adjective to describe you. That’s because dumm = dumb and kopf = head so literally translated it means “dumb head.” That may sting a little, but not nearly as bad as someone calling you stupid, idiotic, or thickheaded. And yet, those 3 are probably the most common translations for the word dummkopf. Together they convey the general idea behind the German word.
Well, we have a similar problem with a Greek word that St. John uses in our Gospel reading. In verse 26 Jesus promises that although He is leaving, the Father will send the Holy Spirit. In the original Greek, the additional word for the Holy Spirit is “Parakletos.” In fact, we used an English transliteration of that word in our sermon hymn when we sang about the “Paraclete.” That’s not a word we use in our day-to-day language. So, what does it mean? Para = to come alongside, and kletos = to call. You put them together and literally translated a Paraclete is someone who is “called to come alongside you.” Boy, that helped a lot, huh? Well, that’s why modern translators have struggled to come up with a concise English word to convey the root meaning. In our text, the ESV uses the word “Helper.” Other translations have: Comforter, Advocate, Counselor, and Intercessor. Even though all those words are closely related, they each bring a little different aspect to the concept of the Holy Paraclete. So which one is the best translation? Actually, a combination of them all would be a more accurate rendition of the Greek word Parakletos.
Okay, but why is that important for us today on Pentecost Sunday? Well, this is the day we celebrate the promise of Jesus being fulfilled concerning the sending of the Holy Spirit. In our second reading you heard that familiar account of how the Holy Spirit manifested Himself as He descended upon the disciples. Rather dramatic, to say the least. There was the sound of a loud rushing wind and visible tongues of fire hovering over their heads. And then, the Holy Spirit gave those disciples the ability to speak in languages they had never learned before.
Sadly, this last part is all that some Christians focus on in this text. They insist that speaking in tongues is an ongoing and necessary evidence of the Holy Spirit’s presence, even though there is no Biblical basis for that. Funny how they never insist on the tongues of fire to continue appearing. Maybe it’s because you can’t fake that part of the Spirit’s presentation on Pentecost. Others will have sermons today on how the Holy Spirit took that visible fire and then spiritually set the hearts of the disciples ablaze. In a sense that’s true because the Holy Spirit does inspire our evangelism work. But if we stop there and limit our understanding of the Holy Spirit to just this work, then we miss the whole purpose of Jesus calling Him the “Paraclete.”
Just a minutes ago I said something that needs clarifying because it gets right at the heart of what we’re talking about. I said, “this is the day we celebrate the promise of Jesus being fulfilled concerning the sending of the Holy Spirit.” I intended that to be a double entendre. Yes, on this specific Sunday we recognize the Holy Spirit being sent in a dramatic way to those disciples 2,000 years ago. But in reality, we celebrate the Holy Spirit being sent to us as our Paraclete every Sunday! Sometimes, His work is seen in a dramatic, visible fashion. Whenever we are privileged to witness a Baptism, that is the sending of the Holy Spirit—the Holy Paraclete. What we tend to overlook though, is how the Holy Spirit does His work as the Paraclete in the not so dramatic times.
Let’s review what I said earlier about the literal definition of that word Paraclete: “someone who is called alongside you.” Called alongside you to help, guide, comfort, counsel, and protect. Visualize that for just a moment and I think you’ll begin to get the spiritual implications of that word. In fact, the Bible gives us a perfect illustration of a Paraclete in action. Remember after the death and resurrection of Jesus there were the two disciples who were walking along on the road to Emmaus? They were confused, scared, and despondent about the crucifixion of Christ. And to add to their consternation was the news that the tomb was found empty on Easter morning. As they walked down the road, suddenly Someone came alongside them and joined the conversation. It was the risen Lord Jesus, but they did not immediately recognize Him. And as Jesus walked alongside them He cleared up their confusion, dispelled their doubts, and strengthened their faith by reminding them that the Scriptures had prophesied all this in advance.
Actually, that is a perfect illustration of the word Paraclete because this work that Jesus began is what the Holy Spirit now continues. Did you catch that in the second half of verse 26? Jesus said, “He will teach you all things and bring to remembrance all that I have said to you.” No, the Holy Spirit doesn’t appear in visible form to walk alongside and teach you God’s truth like Jesus did. Or does He? It’s too bad we don’t have time to read the whole 14th chapter of John’s Gospel because it has lots more to tell us about the Holy Spirit. But just before our text for today, in verses 16-17 Jesus says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper {Parakletos}, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.” How is the Holy IN you? Well, in your Baptism you received the gift of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul tells us that we are the His holy temple. And in this way, He is always with us as our Paraclete, coming alongside us.
Now follow me here. If the Holy Spirit dwells within us then when He uses us as His instruments, He is indeed walking alongside us in a visible form. It is a mere human being who stands before you in this pulpit, but it’s the Holy Spirit who is working through me to come alongside and teach you His truth. Likewise, when we study God’s Word in Bible Class. I personally cannot convince you of anything. But the Holy Spirit can and does! Through the lips of a human, He or convicts us of our sins and at the same time invites us to repent. And through this unworthy servant, the Holy Paraclete “comes alongside” you with those glorious words of Absolution, assuring you of forgiveness for Jesus’ sake.
Don’t think for a minute that His work of coming alongside us is confined to what we do in this building. And don’t think it’s confined to the Pastoral ministry. When you are out in the world and you offer good, Godly counsel to someone who is struggling, that is the Holy Spirit coming alongside them through you. When you perform acts of mercy, helping people here in our community or on the other side of the world, that is the Holy Spirit coming alongside them through you. When you offer comfort and support to someone who is grieving, that is the Holy Spirit coming alongside them through you. When you speak those words of assurance concerning salvation, the resurrection of the dead, and the confident hope of eternal life for all believers, that is the Holy Spirit coming alongside them through you. When you share the good news of Jeus with unbelieving sinners, that is the Holy Spirit coming alongside them through you. In all these ways He is functioning as our Paraclete.
To be sure, the Holy Spirit is the one who works in the hearts of others, but He always uses His Means of Grace to accomplish it: The written and spoken Word of God, Baptism, and the Lord’s Supper. And He uses human beings as His instruments to deliver those Means of Grace. That’s only possible because of that fulfilled promise of Jesus to send the Holy Spirit who would dwell within you and me. That’s really what we celebrate on Pentecost Sunday. Not just the Holy Spirit descending on the disciples in a dramatic fashion. But we celebrate that same sending of the Holy Spirit into the hearts and lives of all believers, day by day.
Christian friends, your Holy Paraclete is most certainly here alongside you for your benefit. As we confess in the 3rd Article of the Creed, He “calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies the whole Christian church on earth, and keeps it with Jesus Christ in the one true faith.” He convicts us of our sin but He also “daily and richly forgives all my sins and the sins of all believers.” He’s with you wherever you go. He is within you and beside you to Help, Comfort, Counsel, Teach, and Protect you. That is your Holy Paraclete at work in you and for you. So, on this day and every day, may we give thanks to God for sending us His ever present and ever active Holy Spirit. Amen.
Soli Deo Gloria!