“And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.” (John 14:16-17 KJV)
Jesus promised to ask the Father to send a Comforter — another Comforter — different than himself. A Comforter who would remain forever with his followers. And note that Jesus promised: “he shall give you another Comforter . . .” This is a two-fold promise from the Savior. The Lord didn’t just promise to ask the Father. Jesus also promised that the Father would give what he asked for.
Jesus went on to identify this other Comforter. He is the “Spirit of Truth.” The world will not — cannot — receive this other Comforter for two reasons. First, “the world cannot receive him, because the world does not see him.” The Comforter from God cannot be seen with the human, physical eye. Second, “the world cannot receive him because the world does know him.” The Comforter from God cannot be known except through a relationship with God.
Then, Jesus assured his followers that despite the world’s unbelief, they already knew this Comforter from God. Jesus said, “Because he dwells with you and shall be in you.”
O what comfort, to know the Spirit of Truth! O what comfort, to have him present with us! O what comfort, to know that we can have him in us . . . never to leave us comfortless!
Dear Father, thank you for the Comforter you have sent to us. Empower us with the faith the world doesn’t have. Grant that we may see what the world cannot see. Let us experience what the world cannot receive. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today in the Comforter — the Holy Spirit of Truth,