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Last week I introduced the Thursday of Jesus’ final week, which was a day of much needed fellowship with his disciples. We saw how Judas’ permanently broke fellowship with Jesus by carrying out satan’s orders to plot with Jesus’ enemies. Then we heard Jesus as he began his farewell discourse to the 11, emphasizing the need and way for them to have sustained fellowship with the Father, him, and one another. Then another indicator of fellowship with Christ is the shared hatred from the world. Whereas fellowship with the Father, Jesus, and brothers is characterized by obedience and love. But the fact that Jesus is leaving is heavy on the 11’s hearts. It’s hard to say goodbye to someone you love so dearly and who has benefited your life tremendously. Then to add that Jesus has given some heavy instructions on top of their heavy hearts. Jesus recognized this, and so he brought up another person who was vitally necessary for this circle of fellowship and them accomplishing all that he’s commanded, the Holy Spirit. Today we’re going to study what role the Holy Spirit would play in these 11 disciples lives after Jesus went back to his Father, and for application see what role he also plays in the life of all disciples. Then we will look at the purposes that Jesus says all these things to them and likewise make application to us.
Jesus knew they had little time, and two times in this conversation he acknowledges that he himself had been protecting them while he was with them. But after he left, then what? Following and connected to his statement that obedience shows love for him (), he says he will request the Father provide another helper. This indicates that Jesus himself was a helper to his disciples. Helper is synonymous with the word advocate, and it was someone called in to provide legal assistance. Generally and contextually, it is someone to provide support or backing. Jesus says it is the Spirit of Truth or the Holy Spirit (). Although Jesus’ visit was temporary, GOD arranged for the Spirit to be present with them forever. Since the world holds beliefs and values which are at odds with GOD, the Spirit’s presence can’t be with them. But for disciples of Christ through love and obedience, he will live inside of them.
Application: I thank GOD that after Jesus would leave the earth, he wouldn’t leave us to ourselves again. Just as the 11 received the promise of the Holy Spirit, we too received the same promise when we obeyed the good news of salvation through faith. Paul, in , says that we’ve been sealed with the Spirit and he is a guarantee for what GOD has promised. A seal signifies ownership and the full security or backing of the owner, and a guarantee is a down-payment which promises a thing will be paid in full. That means if the Holy Spirit dwells in us, that in itself promises that GOD will bring us salvation. Not only that, but he is a support system for our sustained relationship. One of the ways is that he will speak to GOD what we can’t even express ourselves ().
The second time Jesus mentions him is in ch 14, and begins unfolding what function the Holy Spirit will have in the lives of the 11. The first he mentions is teach. The next is reminding. That means the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives would serve as a teacher, and since it is sometimes easy for human minds to forget sometimes the most important things, he would help them remember all the teachings of Christ. Then in 15:26-27, Jesus says he himself would be a witness concerning the person and significance of Jesus, while the 11 would also be a witness because they had been with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. Then in 16:13-15, Jesus says he will guide them into all truth and reveal things to come. He will do this at the direction of Jesus himself. Why are these functions of the Holy Spirit so crucial? Jesus said if his commandments were kept, that signified love. How could his commandments be kept if they are forgotten. Thus the Holy Spirit is responsible for the apostles establishing proper teaching for the church/kingdom, and leaving us with what we call the New Testament.
Application: This functionality applied directly to the apostles because they were actual witnesses to Jesus’ life and ministry. However for us, it isn’t revealed directly as it was to them. Listen to Paul in , which is especially important for us because we’re not Jews, Paul says that the things unknown about the good news of Jesus were given to him by revelation. That is teachings that are revealed. Then he says he’s written about them, and when they READ them, they will understand what he understands. These things were revealed by the Holy Spirit. The things we read are the same things they were told by the Holy Spirit. Peter relays the same thing in , showing that all previous prophecy was communicated by the Holy Spirit. Then attests that the things that Paul had written were also GOD breathed scripture, . Thus, it is necessary that we read and study what the apostles wrote, because it is exactly what the Spirit revealed to them! But the there’s guidance. While they were guided into all truth and we have that written, the Spirit does still guide or lead us. Nothing he guides to will disagree with scripture, what he’s already revealed. Thus when we’re in a situation and trying to confirm the guidance of the Spirit, remember it will harmonize with GOD and Christ as revealed.
The last function Jesus mentions is conviction. That simply means to show someone their guilt and call them to repent. The Holy Spirit would and still does that to the world against GOD. Three things he convicts the world about: sin - GOD is displeased with all sins of the heart and flesh, but he takes unbelief in his son personal, because that is a blatant rejection of him; righteousness - Jesus’ resurrection and ascension to his Father is an express indication that he is GOD’s righteous one, this was the exact message from Peter and Stephen in and , but the worldly audience at that time rejected his righteousness; judgment - the Holy Spirit will show the world that their ruler has already been sentenced, which brings them the same sentence for continual submission to his rule, Jesus came to destroy the works of satan and disarm rulers in the spiritual realm.
Application: The Holy Spirit convicts the world by the message about Christ. The intent is to bring everyone to repentance. But there will be those, sadly who reject the message of Christ to their own destruction.
Jesus has communicated a lot to the 11 disciples. The words at this dinner table and as they’re leaving the table covers a great segment of John’s gospel. Jesus gives his purposes for saying all of these things. The first is that they don’t fall away, which means he wants them to endure the challenges that are coming (16:1-4). The next is remembrance, because his words are accurately true and serve as a foundation for their faith (16:4). Then Jesus wants them to have joy to the fullest, and speaks about how their present and imminent grief will under go a change unto joy (16:20-24). Lastly he wants them to be at peace, not that they will not deal with tribulation, but how to have joy in the midst of the tribulation, and that’s recognizing that he has gained the victory over the world.
Application: These words of sustained fellowship with the Father, Son, brothers, and Holy spirit are meant to give us endurance. We will be faced with all sorts of challenges, but having this circle of fellowship and the support from the Holy Spirit is to help us stand firm. Joy is a product of knowing and being guided by the Holy Spirit. Knowing that the Father and Son lives in us through the Holy Spirit should give us a joy that can never be taken away. Finally, Jesus’ peace is like none other. Jesus doesn’t promise that we won’t have problems, but all of this is to help us be calm in the midst of our problems. Why? Because peace with GOD surpasses all difficulty. For these temporary light-weight problems cannot measure up to what’s being reserved for us in heaven. Amen.