It's hard to imagine how the disciples were feeling in the days between Jesus' ascension and the arrival of the Holy Spirit. They had spent years following Jesus and getting close to him, watched him die and rise from the dead, only to have him taken from them and ascend into heaven. But Jesus' departure from earth made way for the arrival of another, the Holy Spirit.
As we approach Pentecost, the coming of the Holy Spirit is at the forefront of our thoughts. Christians all over the world are praying to know the Holy Spirit's presence but how much do we know about the Spirit himself?
Who is the Holy Spirit?
Many of us experience confusion when trying to comprehend or explain the Holy Spirit. Analogies like that of the shamrock or water in different states which are used to make understanding the Spirit more accessible, often end up misrepresenting it and misleading us.
In some ways, knowing what the Spirit isn't is an important step in the process of improving our awareness of what it is. The Holy Spirit is not a feeling or a form of God as a number of analogies suggest. Thinking of the Holy Spirit in such ways undermines him, and causes us to think about him in a way that reduces his power and importance.
When Jesus spoke to the disciples about the coming of the Holy Spirit, he said: "And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you for ever". The Greek word for another, as used in this context, is allos. Allos translates to "another of the same kind". When we study Jesus' language in reference to the Holy Spirit, we can see why analogies which group the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit as different forms don't allow us to grasp the full picture. How Jesus spoke about the Holy Spirit reveals that they are just like each other. We should think of the Holy Spirit as the third person in the Trinity, a distinct and divine personhood. The Holy Spirit is God, just as the Father and the Son are but he isn't the Father or the Son in another form.
What does the Holy Spirit do?
In addition to Jesus' referral to the Holy Spirit as another just like him, he also describes the Spirit as an advocate. The Greek word for advocate, paraclete, is defined as "one who is called to one's side and aid". Just as the disciples physically had Jesus as their teacher and guide to follow and learn from as he ministered during his earthly life. In his place on earth, the Holy Spirit is our guide (John 16:13), physically present with us as we journey through life. But the Holy Spirit is not simply a presence, he's our comforter and counsellor. While the Bible is a resource that we can study to learn about what Jesus instructed, the Holy Spirit is a source which reminds us of his commands and teachings. He equips us with the tools (fruits of the Spirit, Galatians 5:13-25) to act virtuously and instils in us spiritual gifts (1 Corinthians 12). Often, the way we talk about the Spirit can suggest that we only experience him temporarily, or at intervals but Jesus told his disciples that the Spirit would be with them forever. He remains with us.
For the disciples, the thought of no longer having Jesus physically with them was one that troubled and puzzled them (John 14:1-5). Jesus reassured them with his promise of the Holy Spirit. From this promise, along with the subsequent arrival of the Holy Spirit, the disciples were able to draw comfort and so do we. Knowing the way without Jesus here to physically follow would be impossible without the Holy Spirit. But with the Spirit as our aid and advocate, we are able to determine the truth because he upholds the same principles that Jesus did during his earthly ministry (John 16:14).
