In this passage, Jesus promises the disciples that the Holy Spirit will come and be with them forever. This promise is part of Jesus’ "Farewell Discourse” where Jesus gives comfort to the disciples and explains things to them before his arrest. This long speech by Jesus is meant to be a comfort as much for John’s community reading it years after the fact as it is for the disciples in their time. John’s community, like us, lives in a time without the same physical presence of Jesus that the disciples experienced, and therefore needs assurance that God is still with them. 

The Spirit is called the Advocate by Jesus in this passage. For what (or whom) is the Spirit advocating, and who is the Spirit advocating to? Traditionally, it has been understood that the Spirit advocates on our behalf before God, but I’d say it can go the other direction as well: The Spirit advocates God’s concerns to us. When we feel sympathy for those who are hurting or suffering, that is the Spirit advocating within us to act on their behalf. 

Since the Spirit is advocating on our behalf to God for our forgiveness, we can act in gratitude by listening to the Spirit advocating God’s concern that we follow God’s commandments to love God and love one another. This is why Jesus tells us to follow the commandments in this passage, as a sign of our love for Jesus and in gratitude for what he has done for us. As it says in verse 21, following the commandments will make Jesus more present to us, more “revealed” to us. In last week’s gospel, Phillip asked Jesus to see God and, in a way, this is an answer to this request. Do you want to better see and understand God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Then listen to the Trinity and follow the commandments! Then God will be revealed to us in glory.