Bible Text: John 14:15-21 | Preacher: Rev. Jenn Geddes | Devotional: Comforter, Advocate, Lover
In 1973 country star Dolly Parton decided to end a 7 year business partnership with friend and mentor Porter Wagoner. This was a particularly challenging break up because it was Porter who had introduced the world to Dolly on his television show in 1967. Like many singer-songwriters, Dolly opted to write a song about this heartbreaking decision. That song became one of her biggest hits and the best selling single of 1974. Later the song made a comeback in 1992 when it was produced by David Foster and covered by Whitney Houston for the film The Bodyguard. Now, there is no way you want to hear me try to sing the song, “I Will Always Love You” . The song is about a break up but instead of it being a song about revenge or anger it is about parting with respect. And it was named one of the top 10 best love songs of all time by Billboard Records. While I haven’t done a lot of research on this I’m pretty confident that love is the predominant theme in most songs. Often it is about lost love but sometimes it is about found love or love a job or love of family. Even most of our worship songs are about love for God.
Did you know that love is mentioned 57 times by Jesus in the Gospel of John alone? Jesus uses two Greek verbs throughout John to describe love, agapao and phileo. Phileo is often described as “brotherly love” or friendship. Agape love is the highest form of love, love between God and humanity and vice versa. Our passage this morning begins and ends with statements about love. Jesus begins in verse 15 with “If you love me you will keep my commandments” and ends verse 21 with “and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them.” In both of those instances Jesus is referring to agape love- a high love. This is not a sentimental love song kind of love but a love that is active, alive even. Today we continue to hear words from Jesus’ Farewell discourse. Last week it was about dwelling or feeling at home in God’s presence but also about doing the work to build that relationship. This morning Jesus builds on what that relationship will look like.
The word “keep” in this passage, as in “keep my commandments”, can refer to obeying or following. When we follow Jesus’ commandments we are actively engaging in a high love. It is also important that we understand that the commandments Jesus is referring to here is not really the 10 commandments rather it is the new commandment that Jesus gave to the disciples back in chapter 13: 34 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” I know not all of us like schmaltzy, honeyed, or sappy talk of love but this is not what Jesus is talking about. This is daily discipleship! Doing the impossible task of loving one another as Christ loved us.
But before we begin to feel discouraged because it is impossible to live this high love on a daily basis. Jesus assures the disciples that they will get a little help living this love. Jesus will ask God to send another Advocate, the Spirit of truth. Note that Jesus says another advocate, implying that he was the first advocate. As we heard last week the disciples are anxious that Jesus is leaving them and that they will be without him to guide and teach them. Here Jesus assures them that while he is leaving, they will not be left alone. And the astonishing thing is that the Spirit of truth will be able to accomplish more than what Jesus did in his ministry. Whereas Jesus could only be in the flesh at one place at one time, by the Spirit Jesus will be with all of his followers all the time.
This Spirit will help them become the leaders and revealers of God’s love that they are meant to be. This sentiment is also meant to give hope to anyone of us who have not had a one on one encounter with the historical Jesus. We, who have come millenniums after Jesus are not at a disadvantage because the Spirit continues to advocate, guide and comfort us.
Again knowing the Greek word used in this passage is helpful- and any of you who speak Greek know that I am butchering the language. Often when the Holy Spirit is referred to throughout the other Gospels they use the Greek term pneuma meaning breath or soul. But John and only John uses parakletos to describe the Spirit and that is often translated as advocate (as it is in the NRSV), or comforter, or encourager or helper. It can even mean defence lawyer. Instead of picking one of these definitions I think it is important that we understand all of them and how this plays into our understanding of agape love. The spirit advocates for us- gives voice when we are voiceless and pleads our case. The Spirit defends us and gives us the words to say in our defence. The Spirit comforts us-gives us sustenance when we struggle to support ourselves and others. The Spirit helps us overcome our ignorance. The Spirit encourages us- lifts us when we are discouraged. The Spirit pushes us to have the courage and confidence we need to express our faith. The Spirit helps us- gives us guidance when we are having trouble staying on track. The Spirit reminds us of what we have learned and leads us into truth. I dare say that, that is how Jesus also wants us to keep his commandment to love one another, to advocate, to comfort, to encourage to help. The three of us who are leading these devotionals have certainly felt your encouragement and the Spirit’s guidance as we bumble along. I know many of you are reaching out to those within our community without internet to ensure that they too can feel connected. You are bringing them comfort. There are numerous ways as we continue to worship and live in this manner in which we can be open to the Spirit and keep Christ’s commandments.
Craig Koester, New Testament Professor at Lutheran Seminary, says “Coming to faith is similar to falling in love. One cannot fall in love in the abstract. Love comes through an encounter with another person. The same is true of faith. If faith is a relationship with the Living God, with the living Jesus, then faith can only come through an encounter with them. And the Spirit is the one who makes this presence known for us.” Feel this presence even as we are physically separated. And know that Jesus promises to always love you. Amen