Zach was about to graduate from high school. It was hard because his mom had died two years previously. And then just a couple days before the graduation service, his dad died unexpectedly. Zach went to his graduation without any parents there to congratulate him. 

As he was waiting to receive his diploma, he noticed that when each of his classmates received their diploma, they gave the principal something. They were handing the principal money. So he dug into his pockets, grabbed some cash, and handed it to the principal, only to find out later that his classmates were giving the principal money for him. They wanted Zach to know he wasn’t alone as he was grieving. They wanted him to know they had his back. 

That’s exactly the promise Jesus gave his disciples when he promised them an Advocate: “Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7).

The Advocate he’s referring to is the Holy Spirit, who filled the hearts of thousands of new believers on Pentecost when the apostle Peter stood up and told the crowd to “listen carefully.” Peter went on to tell them of a Savior they had killed but who forgave them and whose resurrection guaranteed all who believe in Jesus will one day overcome every hurt, trouble, and temptation. 

The Advocate makes his way to your heart whenever you open the Word of God and listen carefully to the message of God’s love you find in it.