Words of Life: An Enduring LegacySample

Legacy: we don’t make it on our own.

I was standing by the side of the road, in the dark, in the cold, in the rain, completely unable to proceed to my destination. My car had broken down and I didn’t have a spare tire. I knew where I wanted to go, but I wasn’t going anywhere. You’ll imagine my relief when, in the distance, I saw the orange flashing lights of the recovery truck. I nearly hugged the man who stepped out of it, resplendent in his fluorescent jacket, who’d come to get me going again!

As we move through the ‘Farewell Discourse’, the disciples’ anxiety about being left to continue Jesus’ legacy by themselves is palpable, yet, in these verses, Jesus introduces an idea that repeats throughout John chapters 14–17: you don’t have to make it on your own. Jesus promises them that he’ll send them assistance. The word used in Greek is paraclete, and it’s translated into English in several different ways throughout these passages: advocate, counsellor, comforter, helper. Each of these words helps us to build a picture of what the coming of the Holy Spirit will do. This is a reassurance that back-up is on the way and that the work the disciples are called to will not be accomplished merely by their own endeavours.

Jesus’ promise to the first disciples echoes in us, too. We don’t need to feel the burden of the ministry to which Jesus calls each of us: the Spirit helps us to carry it. Similarly, we should not feel pride at what might appear to be our accomplishments, for they’ve only been achieved by the work of the Spirit. And the good news is, when we feel stuck, confused, anxious, or uncertain, unable to move to where we know we need to be, it’s the Spirit that gets us going again.

Where do I need the Holy Spirit to get me going again? Which parts of my life require the Spirit to advocate, counsel, comfort, or help?