The Spirit of Truth
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John 16:5-16
5. But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, `Where are you going?' 6. But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts. 7. Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8. And when he comes, he will convince the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9. concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10. concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no more; 11. concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12. "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 16. "A little while, and you will see me no more; again a little while, and you will see me."
The disciples, by this point in the conversation, were more concerned about themselves—and what would happen to them than they were curious about where Jesus might be going! They’re sad, of course, because they’ll miss him, but a million things must be running through their minds. . . what will we do now? How will we know what to say to people? How will we know where to go? How will we live without our beloved friend and teacher? Jesus reassures them that he must go in order to send another – in the form of man, Jesus cannot live forever. Even as the resurrected Christ He no longer has a “logical” place in this world. He will belong in heaven then, having fulfilled his mission and purpose here on earth.
But the one who will come after him will live with and within us forever! The many things the apostles couldn’t bear were, I think, the revelations and clarity and joy and confidence that comes through the Holy Spirit! With the spirit’s indwelling, we become like Christ! And we are (as Christians) unstoppable! But only the Holy Spirit can reveal to us fully and completely that we are sinners—at a very deep and yet ethereal level of understanding. And only through Christ’s death – and not our good works – are we saved.
That was – and is – a lot to grasp! How would these common, ordinary, flawed men obtain knowledge of a heavenly, angelic, spiritual realm? How would they ever find the words and the courage and the wisdom. Jesus told them—through the Holy Spirit. They had no way of imagining that their deeds and their capturing of their adventures in writing would allow us to see salvation through their eyes—up close and personal—in person and in truth! How exciting and yet how daunting and scary!
After all this time, tagging along after Jesus. . . obedient, but certainly not proactive. Sincere, but certainly not strong. Loving, but certainly not ready to transform that love into “The Great Commission.” Nor are we—without the saving grace of Jesus Christ who sent us the Holy Spirit.
So we must call upon the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily lives. The Holy Spirit will empower us to get out of bed on the mornings we anticipate a challenging day ahead. The Holy Spirit will enable us to be a witness to the world—even when we don’t think we’re being heard. The Holy Spirit lifts us up to a higher place in the world – and protects us – like the full armor of God. The Holy Spirit is strong, and good, and powerful and is ready, willing and able, for us to access that strength, goodness and power! Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Especially the blessings of His Son AND The Holy Spirit!
I hope you spend today accessing and spreading the Spirit of Truth throughout your world and thanking God for His two greatest gifts to us.
Mary
