With you and within you
Love and obedience will be a recurring emphasis in what Jesus teaches them that night, because these are key to living in union with him (14:21; 14:23; 15:10). The ministry of the disciples will not just be a matter of doing marvellous works or proclaiming the good news – they are also called to live according to his teaching.
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In all of these things, the Spirit will be their helper (16 “Counsellor”. The Greek word is paracletos which means someone who comes alongside to help). This is the first of five references to the Holy Spirit in this long section of teaching (14:15-17; 14:26; 15:26; 16:7-11; 16:12-15). Jesus is going to ask the Father to send them the Spirit, and because of that they need not be worried that he is going away, for the Spirit is “another” Helper who will be to them (and to us) all that Jesus had been and more besides.
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So followers of Jesus are never alone, for his Spirit is always with us (16), and even lives within us in an intimate relationship that the people of this world cannot know (17). It’s through the ministry of the Spirit that his followers can continue to know Jesus and proclaim that he is the truth (14:6), helped by “the Spirit of truth” within them (17).