Known Day 5 Parakletos
1 Corinthians 13:8-13
Luke 4:16-21
John 14:16-17
1 John 2:1-2
Isaiah 11:1-2
“Yada, yada”
A Hebrew phrase meaning to know and be known on the deepest, most intimate levels.
Perhaps you’ve heard it colloquially as “etc, etc, etc,” or perhaps, closer to its true definition, you’ve heard it means “to be familiar with.”
But Truth?
It means to know God and be known by Him in the deepest of ways.
Nothing hidden. Nothing secret. All things known.
Wait, we might say. What about those times when we are deep in sin, or just stepping into the shallows of sin? What about when we feel impossibly far away from Him, separated by oceans of shame and fear?
Even in those moments, He knows us.
And perhaps more astonishingly, even in those moments, He loves us. (Romans 5:6-11)
Did you know your name is written in the palm of His hand? (Isaiah 49:16a)
Poet, warrior, and eventual king of Israel, David, even wrote about God knowing humankind as we are formed in our mothers’ wombs. (Psalm 139)
God knows us.
This Journey Theme is focusing on several traits, characteristics, and attributes of God as revealed through His names. Learning His names, characteristics, and attributes deepens our understanding and experience of knowing God and being known by Him.
Parakletos is a Greek word encompassing several attributes of God:
Comforter (John 14:15-17)
Counselor (Isaiah 9:6-7)
Advocate or Intercessor (1 John 2:1)
In one of Jesus’ last conversations with His disciples and followers, He promised to send a Comforter, and instructed them to wait in Jerusalem. (Luke 24:44-49) Acts 2 relates how, true to His word, the Comforter was faithful to come to the waiting disciples; He remains readily available to every believer today, as well!
Did you know this incredible encounter isn’t the first time God as Comforter is mentioned in Scripture? Upon hearing Jesus’ promise of the Comforter’s arrival, the disciples may have recalled Isaiah 61:1-2:
“The Spirit of the LORD God is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and freedom to the prisoners;
to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
and the day of our God’s vengeance;
to comfort all who mourn[.]”
In fact, Jesus read much of this passage aloud and proclaimed its fulfillment in His own self. (Luke 4:16-21) When we find ourselves adrift, grieving, or simply saddened, we can bring our hurt to the God of all comfort. (2 Corinthians 1:3) His comforting spirit will overshadow us, lifting our hearts and our spirits.
Just as Isaiah, an ancient prophet who spoke God’s word to the people of Israel, prophesied God’s nature as Comforter, he also declared God is our Counselor.
“For a child will be born for us,
A son will be given to us,
And the government will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.”
(Isaiah 9:6)
As we come to know the LORD our Counselor more deeply, we learn to recognize His guidance.
Sometimes, we might go to God with a question, a concern, a “what is my next step, Lord?” and something sinks into our spirits from Him. Perhaps a word or a phrase or the nudge to read a certain passage of Scripture.
Sometimes, we might also seek counsel from a trusted friend or mentor, always remembering to weigh their advice against the truth of God’s word in Scripture.
This is God the Counselor at work.
These nudges are holy.
Finally, God is our Advocate. Ever sin? Ever repent of that sin? When we repent (commit to changing our thinking and behavior) and ask for God’s forgiveness, God our Advocate works on our behalf:
“My little children, I am writing you these things so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father–Jesus Christ the righteous one. He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only ours, but also for those of the whole world.”
(1 John 2:1-2)
Jesus already paid our sin-price; the debt of sin to a perfectly righteous and holy God that should condemn us has been paid by God Himself, in Jesus.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus, because the law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”
(Romans 8:1)
Sisters, God is our Comforter, Counselor, and Advocate.
Today, as He perfectly fulfills each one of these characteristics, He is inviting us to know Him and be known by Him in a deep and intimate way.
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