In the name of Jesus Amen.
Introduction: In 1965 the English rock band The Beatles produced their fifth studio album. The title of the album, Help!, was not only a hit song, but six more of the fourteen tracks appeared as part of the soundtrack to the film by the same name. According to Wikipedia, “The song ‘Help!’ was written primarily by John Lennon. Although it was only written out of need for a title song, Lennon remained extremely proud of ‘Help!’ from the Beatles’ break-up to his death. He felt it was one of his ‘real’ songs, explaining in an interview: ‘The whole Beatle thing was just beyond comprehension. I was eating and drinking like a pig and I was … dissatisfied with myself … later, I knew I was really crying out for help.’” The lyrics included the following:
When I was younger, so much younger than today
I never needed anybody’s help in any way
Help me if you can, I’m feeling down
And I do appreciate you being ’round
Help me get my feet back on the ground
Won’t you please, please, help me?
In my experience, those particular lyrics resonate with many people, who find it hard to ask for help. Yet, at some point, because of lack of resources or even physical or mental ability, most of us ask for help.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17even the Spirit of truth…” (vv. 15-17a). Jesus, God’s Son, recognizes our need for help and so based on the Gospel we consider the theme: “Another Helper.”
The immediate context of the text is what is known as Jesus’ farewell discourse in St. John’s Gospel. These words were spoken in the upper room at the Passover observance. Jesus has already washed the disciples’ feet. Judas has already left the meal to betray Jesus. Jesus has told the remaining disciples that He is going to prepare a place for them, as we heard last Sunday. And now Jesus gives a description on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. And so, the Sixth Sunday of Easter is a “mini-Pentecost” before the Feast of Pentecost (in 2 weeks) as we hear of Christ, sending the Helper, or as it is in the Greek “the Paraclete” (paraklētos). The KJV translates paraklētos as “Comforter,” whereas the NIV translates “Counselor.” That’s not likely the best interpretation. To call the Holy Spirit a mere “counselor” may make one erroneously think of contemporary psychological counseling.
At any rate, a question is arguably inevitable: Jesus promises “another” Helper. If there is “another” then there must be an existing helper. Who, then, is that? 1 John 2:1 uses paraklētos to refer to Jesus: “we have a paraclete (here translated “advocate”) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” This is forensic language and spells out the legal connotation of “paraclete”: “We have one who speaks to the Father in our defense” (as translated by NIV). This role of Christ is described in Romans 8:34: “Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.” Again in St. Matthew 10:32 – So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven…” And again, in today’s Epistle: “Christ died … to bring you to God.” (1 Pet 3:18).
So, Jesus, and now also the Holy Spirit, are our advocates, helpers, counselors, comforters, defenders (whichever word you would prefer). Indeed, the Spirit’s role is spelled out by Jesus when He says: “The Holy Spirit … will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have said.” (14:26). Jesus also says the Spirit “will testify about me” (15:26) and “will guide you into all truth” (16:13). Likewise, the Divinely-inspired St. Paul writes in Romans 8: “…the Spirit himself intercedes for us …” (26b).
In the opening statement in our text, Jesus says: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments” (v 15). These are not the commandments of the Mosaic Law. These are precepts and principles that are now ours by virtue of our faith in Christ. The words of today’s Collect are helpful in explaining this: “by Your holy inspiration grant that we may think those things that are right and by Your merciful guiding accomplish them…” And also from the Hymn of the Day: “What I on earth have done and taught Guide all your life and teaching” (556:10).
When Jesus says that we “keep” these teachings that word in Greek means “to have watchful care,” to “cherish and protect that which is a treasure.” So that which we cherish is not merely a list of do’s and don’ts but it is the very Word of Christ Himself. And when Jesus speaks of love He uses only one of four Greek words for love. He doesn’t use philos (brotherly love), or eros (erotic love), or storge (familial love, not used in the Bible, but still in the Greek vocabulary of that time). Jesus specifically uses the word agape (selfless, unconditional love, often described as the purest form of love, God’s love for us).
Do you see the problem? We don’t cherish or treasure Christ’s Word as we should, and that makes our agape love for Christ weak at best, or nonexistent at worst. There is no question that we need “Another Helper.” Indeed, we need all the Divine assistance possible. In fact, without such help we will experience not only temporal death, but also eternal torment in hell. This is what we deserve because of this sin, all our other actual sins of omission and commission, and because we are “by nature, sinful and unclean.”
Christ’s enormous gift to His Church is the Holy Spirit … “another Helper,” who will be with us forever. He is our helper in the sense of an advocate, comforter or defender. Jesus says the Holy Spirit is the “Spirit of truth,” because He imparts true knowledge of God, which includes the redemptive work of Jesus. He reveals the truth of our salvation. Even the Athenian philosophers in today’s First Reading asked St. Paul to help them understand the new teaching he presented. While the world is incapable of receiving him, we followers of Jesus do receive Him. Jesus says: “You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you” (v 17).
Dwelling with us and in us the “Spirit of truth,” the “another Helper” brings us to the knowledge that the first Helper, Jesus Christ, obtains salvation for us. In the Epistle we heard: “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit …” (1 Peter 3:18). Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins (1 Jn 2:2).
Except for the indwelling Holy Spirit, we cannot comprehend how the Father makes salvation possible by sending Jesus to the cross. At the cross Christ carried all sin for all of humankind for all time. Jesus is your substitute … the innocent for the guilty. He suffered and died in your place to pay the penalty for your sins. He rose again from the dead – victorious over sin, Satan and death. And now forgiveness of sins and new life are available to you through faith in Jesus.
We have “another Helper” who imparts the gift of faith in us and manifests the truth to us. To accomplish this, He uses the Word of God in all its forms; the means of grace: The Word in Holy Scripture by which the “Spirit of truth” will declare God’s grace in Christ, and lead us to the proper worship of God “in Spirit and in truth” (St. John 4:24). The Word with water in Holy Baptism which really saves us (as today’s Epistle reading declares) “not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal to God for a good conscience, through the resurrection of Jesus Christ (1 Pet. 3:21) … the Word together with the pastor’s touch in Holy Absolution which brings the comfort and consolation of having the forgiveness of sins applied personally and individually as if by God Himself … the Word together with bread and wine in the Holy Supper which feeds and strengthens us with the true Body of Christ given for us and the true blood of Christ shed for us; bringing us the forgiveness of sins, and so also life and salvation.
Through the Word and Sacraments, the Holy Spirit calls and so enables us to repent and believe. He makes us contrite on account of sin. He gives us faith to believe the Gospel which tells us that “sin has been forgiven and grace has been obtained through Christ” (AC XII.5). When we repent then God forgives us of our sinful nature and all our actual sins. He forgives us for the sake of Christ Jesus and empowers us do to better than to keep sinning.
Conclusion: The movie Help! portrays the Beatles struggle to protect bandmate Ringo Starr from a sinister eastern cult and a pair of mad scientists, all of whom are obsessed with obtaining a ring sent to him by a fan. Today we have seen that we have the best and most dependable helpers in matters of rescue from sin and evil. Christ gives “Another Helper” who testifies to you about God (St. John 15:26), who reminds you of Jesus’ redeeming work and words, and who guides you into all truth (St. John 16:13) … real help and truth that will sustain you in time … real help and truth that will be fulfilled in eternity.
In the name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.
+ SDG +
