A modern adaptation of C.H. Spurgeon’s sermon delivered on January 21, 1855
“But the Comforter, which is the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.” – John 14:26
The elderly Simeon called Jesus the consolation of Israel, and indeed He was. Before Jesus actually appeared, people looked forward to His coming like someone watching for the morning star that promises the dawn. When Jesus walked the earth, He must have been an incredible source of comfort to those lucky enough to be His companions. We can imagine how quickly the disciples would run to Jesus with their problems, and how His voice alone would calm their fears.
Like children with a father, they brought Him every need, every complaint, every sorrow, and every struggle. And Jesus, like a skilled doctor, had the perfect remedy for every pain and the right medicine for every problem. What a blessing it must have been to live alongside Jesus! Even sorrows then must have felt like blessings in disguise, since they gave people a reason to seek Jesus for help. Some of us might wish we had been born in that time, when we could have rested our tired heads on Jesus’s shoulder and heard His kind voice saying, “Come to me if you’re tired.”
But Jesus had to leave. Important prophecies needed to be fulfilled and crucial purposes accomplished. He had to die to take away our sins. He had to rest in the grave for a while to make death less frightening for those who would follow Him. He had to rise again so that we who will die believing in Him might also rise in glorious bodies. And He had to ascend to heaven to claim His victory, to defeat the forces of evil, and to show His power.
“It’s necessary for me to go,” Jesus said, “because if I don’t go, the Comforter won’t come.” Jesus had to leave. The disciples had to weep. His followers would be left without their comforter. But listen to Jesus’s kind words: “I won’t leave you alone like orphans. I will ask the Father to send you another Comforter, who will stay with you forever.”
Despite His enormous mission – a mission so huge it might have consumed anyone else’s attention completely – Jesus didn’t abandon His small flock of followers. Before leaving, He gave them words of comfort, like a Good Samaritan tending to wounds. He promised: “I’ll send you another Comforter – someone who will be what I’ve been to you, and even more. This Comforter will console you when you’re sad, clear up your doubts, support you in hard times, and act in my place on earth, doing what I would have done if I had stayed.”
Now, before we talk about the Holy Spirit as the Comforter, let’s look at this word more carefully. The original Greek word has several meanings. Sometimes it means “teacher” or “instructor.” Often it means “advocate.” But most commonly, it means “comforter,” which is what we’ll focus on today.
Let’s look at three main points:
- Who is the Comforter?
- What is the comfort He gives?
- Who receives this comfort?
First: The Comforter
Let me describe what makes the Holy Spirit such a perfect Comforter. First, He is incredibly loving. When we’re hurting and someone who doesn’t really know or care about us tries to help, their words just bounce off like rain on marble. But when someone who deeply loves us offers comfort, their words are like music to our ears. They know exactly how to reach our hearts.
The Holy Spirit loves you more than you can imagine. Try to measure heaven’s size, weigh all the mountains, count every drop in the ocean, or number all the grains of sand on every beach – and still you wouldn’t come close to measuring how much the Holy Spirit loves you. He has loved you for ages past, loves you now, and will love you forever.
He’s also completely faithful. Nothing hurts more than having a friend desert you when times get tough. But the Holy Spirit never does this – He stays faithful forever. You might be sick and unable to go to church, but He’ll visit you in your sickness. You might face overwhelming problems, wave after wave of trouble, but He remains faithful. You might sin and feel unworthy, but that doesn’t change His love. He knew all your faults before you were born and loved you anyway.
The Holy Spirit never gets tired of comforting you. Sometimes when we try to comfort others, we get frustrated because their problems keep shifting or they resist our help. But the Holy Spirit never gives up. Even when we run from comfort or refuse help, He persistently pursues us with His consolation.
He’s also infinitely wise in how He comforts. Human comforters often misunderstand the problem and give wrong advice. But the Holy Spirit perfectly understands what’s wrong and knows exactly how to help. He never makes mistakes in His comfort.
His comfort is completely safe. Some kinds of comfort are dangerous – like telling people to drown their sorrows in entertainment or pleasure. The devil sometimes offers false comfort too, telling people they’re fine when they’re not. But the Holy Spirit’s comfort is always true and safe.
He comforts actively – not just with words, but with real help. He prays for us, gives us promises, and provides grace. And He never fails in His mission to comfort – when He sets out to console someone, He always succeeds.
Best of all, He’s always present. You never have to send for Him or wait for Him to arrive. He’s always right there when you need Him.
Second: The Comfort
Some people misunderstand how the Holy Spirit works. They think He gives new revelations or messages. But that’s not how He comforts us. Instead, He reminds us of truths we already have – especially truths about Jesus. He helps us understand and remember what God has already said.
The Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts: “Remember, someone died for you. Look at Jesus on the cross. See His wounds, His sacrifice. That proves you’re secure and loved. God loves you eternally, and even this trouble you’re facing is for your good. Every hardship is helping you grow. God disciplines those He loves, just like a good parent.”
Sometimes the Holy Spirit pulls back the curtain a bit and lets us glimpse the glory of heaven. That’s when believers can say, “Let troubles flood in like a tidal wave – I know I’m heading home to God, and that’s all that matters.”
Third: Who Receives This Comfort?
Now, let’s be clear about who can expect this comfort. You can’t pick and choose which parts of God’s gifts you want. Some people want forgiveness but don’t want to change their lives. Some want heaven but don’t want holiness. It doesn’t work that way – God’s gifts come as a package deal.
You can’t have true comfort without first experiencing conviction of sin. The Holy Spirit first shows us our guilt and need for Jesus before He comforts us. Have you felt this conviction? Has your soul been humbled before Jesus? Are you looking to His sacrifice alone for your salvation?
If not, you shouldn’t claim His comfort yet. The Holy Spirit convinces us of our sin before He comforts us. You need His complete work in your life, not just the comfortable parts.
Conclusion
As you leave today, ask yourself: Do you know this Comforter? If not, remember this: if you don’t know Him as Comforter now, you’ll meet Him as Judge later. This isn’t a truth we can afford to ignore – we’re not guaranteed tomorrow.
But here’s the wonderful news: Anyone who believes in Jesus will be saved. Your sins, no matter how terrible, are no barrier. Your guilt, no matter how great, is no obstacle. Whether you feel like the worst sinner alive – if you believe in Jesus tonight, every sin will be forgiven, every crime erased, every wrong made right. You’ll be saved through Jesus Christ and stand secure in heaven.
That’s the glorious good news. May God help you trust in it today.
May these words find their home in your heart through the work of the true Teacher – God Himself.
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