When Jesus was discussing His departure with His disciples, he made a promise to them. It’s a promise to us as well. First He said in John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled…” Then, in John 14:16, He told them that the Father would send someone to them who would fill the void of His absence. He would petition the Father, and the Father would “give you another Helper, who will abide with you forever.” Jesus did not want his disciples to despair because He was leaving them. He assured them that He would come and take them to be with Him. In the meantime, the Father is sending “another” helper. This helper will stay with you forever.
The preciousness of this promise comes home as we understand the meaning of the Greek word translated “another.” In Greek, there are two words that are translated as “another.” One of those words is “heteros.” It means another of a different kind. If I had a pen that didn’t write, I’d ask for “another” pen of a different kind. I would want one that worked instead of one that didn’t. When heteros is used, it always refers to another of a different kind. I want a different one because the one I have doesn’t function as it should. The other word is “allos.” It, too, is translated as “another.” It means another of the same kind. If I had a pen that worked well and asked for “another” one, I’d want one of the same kind. As Jack Hayford observes, “Jesus’ use of allos for sending another Comforter equals ‘one besides Me and in addition to Me but one just like Me. He will do in My absence what I would do if I were physically present with you.’ The Spirit’s coming assures continuity with what Jesus did and taught. ‘Continuity of what Jesus did and taught!’ No wonder Luke presents Acts as a continuation through the Holy Spirit’s fullness ‘of all that Jesus began both to do and teach’ (1:1).”
The three persons of the Godhead, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are of the very same essence. They are all involved in the redemptive work of man. When Jesus was baptized, God spoke from Heaven, saying that He was “well-pleased” with the Son, and the Spirit joined them in the form of a dove. They are of the same kind. All three are consistent in all they do and all they say. Jesus said he speaks only what the Father tells Him. The Holy Spirit does nothing outside the will of the Father and the Son. The essential oneness, likeness, retains the idea of “one” God, yet is revealed to us in three persons. When Paul closes his second letter to the Corinthians, he does so with a blessing from this consistent, triune God. He says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).