Swaying her head to and fro with pleasure, thirteen-year-old Lucy played a complex piece by Chopin for a televised piano competition, hitting each note perfectly. What made her performance remarkable was both the sensitivity with which she played and the fact that she is blind and has significant learning disabilities. The judges watched open-mouthed in admiration, wondering aloud how she learnt to play. Unable to read music, Lucy puts her fingers over her teacher’s hands, following his movements and listening carefully while he plays.
Jesus wanted His disciples to learn from Him, following His teaching even after He was no longer with them physically (John 14:24). Jesus spoke the words of the Father and then after His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit would continue the divine teaching. This beautiful chain of intimacy and imitation now flows from God the Holy Trinity to us. As Jesus promised, the Spirit “will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you” (v. 26).
The way Lucy learnt the piano necessitated an intimate connection with her teacher, with her trusting him implicitly. In a similar but deeper way, we can lean on the Holy Spirit to work within us, following His movements and learning as we do. Rather than striving on our own, the Spirit will be our Advocate (v. 26), reminding and helping us. Let’s make space to listen to the Holy Spirit’s leading today.
By Tanya Marlow
REFLECT & PRAY
As you sit with the image of the Holy Spirit as a gentle Teacher, ask yourself how this encourages you. What difference does it make to remember that the Holy Spirit works in us as well as with us?
Loving Father, thank You that You did not leave us alone but gave us the Spirit as a Teacher. Please help me to learn from You and live in Your ways.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
In John 13–17, commonly known as the Upper Room Discourse because Jesus spoke these words in the upper room where the Last Supper was held (see Mark 14:12–15), Christ gave us His final and most profound thoughts just before His crucifixion. In addition, John 14 and 16 contain His most comprehensive teaching on the Holy Spirit. Jesus assured His disciples that when He returned to the Father (13:3, 33; 16:28 ), He wouldn’t abandon them (14:18). He promised His peace (14:27) and continued presence and asked the Father to give them “another advocate” (Greek paraklētos)—the “Spirit of truth,” the “Holy Spirit” (vv. 16–17, 26). Paraklētos means “one who helps, enables, or comforts another person.” This word is difficult to define and various translations use different words: “Helper,” “Counselor,” “Comforter,” “Companion,” and “Friend.”
K. T. Sim
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