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As Jesus was giving His disciples some instructions before His departure from earth and return to heaven, one of the things He tells them, "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you." (John 14:16-18) The word "Helper" is also "Advocate and Comforter" which means, "someone who is called in alongside to help." We see this also revealed in this way, "My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous." (1 John 2:1) As we can see, the scripture unfolds a beautiful truth, that is, believers have two advocates. We have Jesus Christ, the Son, at the Father's right hand, and we have the Holy Spirit on earth. Having two such helpers, advocates, how could we ever lose a case?

So, let us look at these verses a little closer, "the Father, and He will give you another Helper, "that He may abide with you forever."." We need to understand the importance of the word "another." It actually indicates a person. In a way, Jesus is saying, "I'm a person who has been your Helper. However, I am going away and when I go, another person will come to be your helper. Do not be heartbroken because the one coming in My place will never leave you." Jesus also tells them, "for He dwells with you and will be in you." In other words, "this advocate, comforter, helper, is not only going to be with us, but He is going to live in us. What a most wonderful promise. The Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit will come and set up His residence in every believer.

Finally, Jesus says, "I will come to you." This is very important. Jesus tells His disciples that He is coming back to them in the Holy Spirit. While He was on earth in His body, Jesus could only be in one place at one time and could only talk to one person at a time in one conversation. He was limited by time and space. Now, when He comes back to His people in the Holy Spirit He is completely free
from the limitations of time and space. Now, for instance, through the Holy Spirit He can be in Australia, talking to a believer and at the same time, He can be in the United States anointing a
preacher or even somewhere in the deserts or the jungles of Africa, strengthening or healing a
missionary. He is not limited. He has come back, and is no longer subject to the limitations of time
or space.

Continuing in His instructions to His disciples Jesus tells them, "But now I go away to Him who sent Me, and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you." (John 16:5-7) Jesus is saying, "As long as I am with you, in person on earth, the Holy Spirit has to stay in heaven. But if I go away, then, the Holy Spirit will come and take my place." In other words, there will be a exchange of divine persons. He also tells them, "It is to your advantage that I go away." This is quite a statement. Jesus is saying we are better off with Him in heaven and the Holy Spirit on earth than we would be with Jesus on earth and the Holy Spirit in heaven. Few people realize that. Many time believers will say, "If only I could have lived in the days when Jesus was on earth" or "I wish Jesus were still here on earth., but Jesus says, "you are better off if I go."

Finally, the Day of Pentecost came where the disciples were filled with the very Helper, Comforter, Advocate, that Jesus promised, the Holy Spirit. The results of this experience is evident. First, they understood the plan of God and the ministry of Jesus far better than they had ever understood it while Jesus was on earth. The fact is, they had been very slow and limited in their understanding while Jesus was with them, but, the moment the Holy Spirit came, they had a totally different comprehension of the ministry and the message of Jesus. Second, they became extremely bold. Even after the resurrection, they still hid away behind locked doors for fear of the Jews. (John 20:19) They were not willing to stand up to preach and proclaim the truth. However, the moment the Holy Spirit came, that all changed. (Acts 2:14-38) Third, they had supernatural confirmations. The moment the Holy Spirit came, miracles began to take place. (Acts 3:1-10) It was just like Jesus being back with them in person.

The reality is, Jesus is still with us, "The Lord is the Spirit..." (2 Corinthians 3:17) as the Holy Spirit. It is to our advantage that the Holy Spirit has come, so that we believers can continue the ministry that Jesus began here on earth for His glory, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20) " And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” (Mark 16:17-18) "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father." (John 14:12)  

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all...