Sermon - 6th Sunday of Easter - Year

John 14:15-21

                                                             An Advocate 

“I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”

In scripture, there are no such things as “throw away lines,” but there are some verses which ought to be somewhat more familiar and kept close at heart.  I can’t begin to tell you the joy which came into my life Friday as I was texting one of our regular worship attendees.  We were attending to a totally separate matter, and she sent me a text saying, “My alarm just went off!  It is 10:10!”  Do you remember that sermon?  Two weeks back?  It called attention to John 10:10?  Jesus says, “I have come that they may have life.  And have it abundantly.”

Well there is another one today.  And while I hope it doesn’t replace 10:10, I think it may be even more helpful as you make your way through these particular days.  “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.” 

Jesus says to his disciples – “I will ask the Father.”  And Jesus announces that the Father will “give” us “another Advocate.”  And this advocate will be with you forever.  Forever!

This, my brothers and sisters, is a verse worth remembering – and repeating often.

I always like to check folk’s memory of such essential verses.  Last week we pointed out that most of us grew up thinking of “mansions” rather than the “dwelling places” in our current English translation of the promise “In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places”.  This week, you may remember that in the King James version, the translation speaks of this gift from God as “the Comforter.”  “Comforter” is the more common translation.  Even the Darby uses “Comforter.”  If you read to your children from the dynamic translation – Contemporary English Version – you are likely to remember the name for the one who is to come to us is “Holy Spirit.”  This isn’t without merit.  Verse 17 seems to refer to this same, promised one.  And here the descriptive title is “Spirit of truth,” with “Spirit” being capitalized – suggesting a proper name.

We are also only two weeks away from Pentecost – so the promise in these verses is surely a foreshadowing of the day when the spirit of the Lord descends upon Jesus’ followers.

All of these various translations capture the essential information that what is being promised is that aspect of God, referred to in our trinitarian language as the “Third Person of the Trinity.” This is what is being promised and is being received by those who live in Jesus’ commandments.  “What’s in a name?”  not much, in many instances.  Nor in this case, except for how the name communicates to us what it is that God is doing when God comes to us in this way.  And here, the name could prove to be very important.

Let’s start with Holy Spirit.  This is the reference with which we are most familiar.  This way of speaking of the Third Person of the Trinity allows us to catch one of the prime traits – God is able to be with us wherever we are.  “Spirits” can pass through walls and manifest themselves in any setting.  Spirits can listen in without being detected and manipulate things without being noticed.

In most instances, I am very satisfied with the King James Version’s references to “Comforter.”  God is the predominate calming influence in my life.  Whenever I get stressed, I turn to God in prayer.  When there are things too enormous for me to manage, I throw the pile into God’s lap.  When I curl up into a tight little ball, it is God’s arms which hold me tight.

We need a comforter these days.  We need one really bad.  And we need a comforter who can pass through walls of social distancing and manifest itself in the anxious corners of our life.  Let us give thanks to God for this comforter.

This latest way of referring to God’s presence in our lives goes beyond simply being with us and standing by our side.  When translators arrive at “Advocate,” they remind us that God is not merely reactive but also proactive.  God does not merely see our distress; God pushes back against it.  God is our advocate; God is the one who stands up for us and acts on our behalf.  An advocate guides us through difficult times and remains with us when we face life-altering decisions.  We are surely aided by the God is such an Advocate at this time in our lives.

Note that Jesus refers to this gift from God as “another Advocate”.  This translation helps us to remember how the other persons of the Trinity also step into roles which defend us an protect us.  Did not God the Creator push back the darkness and create the lights in the heavens?  Did not God the Saviour take on our form and endure our suffering?  God is our advocate.  And in John 14:15 we get Jesus’ clear acknowledgement that this is a role and action which will embody who God is into all eternity.

We need a God who will stand with us and advocate for us as we confront the pandemic of COVID-19.  We need a God who will step in front of us when those with little regard for public health and our health engage in dangerous behaviors.  We need a God whose speaking will strengthen our voices when we call for an immediate and total end to blaming and name-calling.  We need a God who has given and will continue to give knowledge and skill and determination to those working in labs and research centers.  We need an Advocate.

We have not been left orphaned.  We have been adopted as God’s children.  And our loving Father sent his Son to show us the way.  God is now sending among us another – an advocate – who will speak for us when are overwhelmed and who will defend us when we are under assault. 

Jesus says to his disciples:  “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever.”

Amen.