A Helping Companion

Melissa Logsdon – April 15, 2025 1 Comment

This week, we look back to the final week of events leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. Jesus’ earthly ministry is coming to an end. But, instead of fretting about this, Jesus looked through this time of suffering and trials with his eyes fixed on his coming ascension, the beginning of his heavenly ministry. And while Jesus could see the hope, he knew that the coming days would shake his disciples to their core. And so, he encourages them with these words:  

“I won’t leave you as orphans. I will come to you. Soon the world will no longer see me, but you will see me. Because I live, you will live too.” -John 14:18-19 CEB

Jesus knows his ascension as King, his position of intercession, and the Spirit being sent to be a constant companion will be much more beneficial to his disciples. So, Jesus takes many opportunities to try to encourage them with this hope.

“I will ask the Father, and he will send another Companion, who will be with you forever. This Companion is the Spirit of Truth, whom the world can’t receive because it neither sees him nor recognizes him. You know him, because he lives with you and will be with you.” -John 14:16-17 CEB

In the gospel of Luke, Jesus directs the disciples to pray for the Spirit.

In Luke 11, the famous “Our Father” or “Lord’s” prayer is recorded. It’s also recorded in the gospel of Matthew. Even though the words of the prayer are pretty similar in both gospels, the context around the prayer differs from one author to the other. This makes sense given each author has a unique focus to their work.

In Matthew we see a glimpse of what the kingdom of God looks like. This prayer is set within cautions on how to rightly live out their faith; to not be showy in their care for the poor, prayers, and fastings. 

In Luke we have part 1 of the story that continues in the book of Acts, which gives us a window into the working of the Holy Spirit in the disciples’ obedience of continuing what Jesus modeled. I had never noticed it before, but in Luke, this prayer is placed within the context of the promised Spirit’s help.

[Jesus] was praying in a certain place, and after he had finished, one of his disciples said to him, “Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” So he said to them, “When you pray, say: 

Father, may your name be revered as holy. 

May your kingdom come.

Give us each day our daily bread. 

And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. 

And do not bring us to the time of trial.”

And he said to them, “Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say to him, ‘Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, for a friend of mine has arrived, and I have nothing to set before him.’ And he answers from within, ‘Do not bother me; the door has already been locked, and my children are with me in bed; I cannot get up and give you anything.’ I tell you, even though he will not get up and give him anything out of friendship, at least because of his persistence he will get up and give him whatever he needs. 

“So I say to you, Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asked for a fish, would give a snake instead of a fish? Or if the child asked for an egg, would give a scorpion? If you, then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” – Luke 11:1-13 NRSVUE

To me, this has become very eye opening: seeing the asking of the Spirit within the context of the example of how to pray. I’ve always been confused before how we go from talking about what to pray and the assurance that God will answer our prayers to the giving of the Spirit. I was like, “wait, what? I didn’t think I was asking for the Spirit, I thought I was just asking for my daily needs to be met.” 

Shifting to read the prayer with the giving of the Spirit let’s me see the Spirit being the activator for this prayer being answered in my life: The Spirit bringing God’s Kingdom, The Spirit giving me what I need for today, The Spirit helping me live in right relationship with God and others. The Spirit helping me in times of trial.

As we reflect on the events of this passion week, may we see how everything Jesus did was to show his love for God and for his people. And as we remember the trials and suffering Jesus endured, may we be reminded that Jesus can relate to our suffering and has provided a support for us to endure. With God’s Spirit empowering Jesus, Jesus was able to obediently follow the leading of God, no matter what that meant for him. And that same Spirit has been made possible for all of Jesus’ followers to receive!

-Melissa Logsdon, NCF Associate Pastor