ANOTHER HELPER

Our intimacy with Jesus is grounded in the intimacy of the trinity. We catch a glimpse of this spiritual intimacy in John 14:16 where Jesus promises us, "I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper." The Father's gift of a Helper for us comes at the request of the Son on our behalf. Jesus' request to the Father rises from an intimate conversation about us with the Father.

The verb translated "will ask" (ερωτησω) suggests an open dialogue between two people face to face. It meant to ask a question in a conversation. Another common word for "ask" (αιτεω) is used of making a request from an inferior to a superior.  When the disciples ask God for anything in prayer,αιτεω is used, but αιτεω is never used of Jesus' own requests to God. The word for Jesus' requests to the Father is either ερωταω or δεομαι. The word ερωταω indicates an intimate conversational setting (Colin Brown, NIDNT, 3: 856-857).

Jesus promises the disciples that in the near future (note future tense) He will have an intimate conversation with the Father. The topic of this conversation will be us! I take it that Jesus continues to have intimate conversations with the Father about us. The result of these intimate conversations is that we continue to enjoy the help we need with the problems we face in this life.

Jesus asks the Father to give us another (αλλον) Helper.  The word "another" (αλλον) indicates another helper who is different but not antithetical to the first helper. The new helper is an additional helper.  There are two Greek words for "another." The first word for "another" (ετερος) tends to distinguish two subjects. The second word for "another" (αλλος) tends to add two subjects. The second word is the word used here. Jesus requests more help, or additional help, for us.

Jesus, of course, is the first Helper. He has just pledged His help in verses 13-14. What we ask in His name, He pledges to do for us as long as it brings glory to the Father. Jesus is still our advocate or helper today.  "And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate (Helper - same word) with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (1 John 2:1). As if Jesus is not enough help for us, Jesus requests an additional helper. We are doubly helped by the Son and the Spirit as a gift from our Father rising out of His ongoing intimate conversations with the Son about us.

Thank you, Father, for your loving gift!
Thank you, Jesus, for your loving request!
Thank you, Spirit, for your loving help!