The Helper
Notes
Transcript
ME
We just past May 4th and for some of us out there it’s a significant day. No, it’s not in the Christian calendar. It’s from a long long ago in the galaxy far far away. It comes from the phrase which every Jedi says to his apprentice, “may the force/fourth be with you.” I was surprise how many pastors on my instagram dress themselves in the orange x-wing suit. Others gave their toddler a lightsaber. It’s interesting how Star Wars spans the secular and sacred.
WE
The force is this impersonal flow of energy which channels and links Jedis past and present together. It’s Obi-Wan reminding young Luke Skywalker, to “use the force Luke.” It’s Yoda lifting up the x-wing starfighter when Luke says it’s impossible. Sometimes we treat the Holy Spirit very similarly. There are some similarities such as the Spirit abides in us, the force is with us. The force allows a Jedi to raise objects, change people minds. He does give us power to do God’s work. But that’s where the similarities end. There is no light or dark side of the Spirit, unlike the force. The Spirit also is a person, but we are not a part of it. The Spirit is God, and we can be filled with Him, but never become a part of him. So how are we as Christians to relate to this friend, advocate, counselor, this helper? How does he help us in our daily walk, in the choices we make, in the actions we take?
GOD
We have been going through this Post-easter series looking at the implications of the resurrection, and specifically in the gospel of John, what Jesus said prior to his suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection reveals God’s plan for us as we continue our faith journey. Tim last week talked about the vital passage in John 15 about the vine and branches. The key is to abide in Jesus’ word and do it, and believe who he says he is, as we said before a key theme of the Gospel of John. That Jesus is the son of God and that in him there’s life.
I suppose I could have chosen John 14 or even the end of John 15 where the Helper, the Spirit of Truth is introduced. All of these are the same way of saying who the central focus is on. The Holy Spirit. Yet, as you shall see, this too is not entirely true. The Spirit tends to shy away from the spotlight.
So with that in mind, turn with me or open in your bible app to John, chapter 16:5-15. And here’s the BIG IDEA: Jesus will not leave us his believers on our own but will send the Spirit of truth to testify to his identity.
5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
Jesus begins saying to his disciples aboout his identity and departure. His identity is to return to the one who sent him, God the Father. There’s an awkward moment here where in appearance Jesus seemed to contradict what the Gospel of John says when he says no one is asking him “where are you going?” I can at least remember one time someone did ask. Thomas asked:
5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?”
So Thomas asked, did Jesus forget?
And looking back, Peter also asked:
36 Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going you cannot follow me now, but you will follow afterward.”
In fact, at the beginning of their journey together, when John the baptist pointed out Jesus as the lamb of God, his two disciples (one of which is Andrew) asked Jesus:
38 Jesus turned and saw them following and said to them, “What are you seeking?” And they said to him, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 He said to them, “Come and you will see.” So they came and saw where he was staying, and they stayed with him that day, for it was about the tenth hour.
So the origin and destination of Jesus has always been an important theme. So why does Jesus say no one asked? Because it’s not so much what words were said but how it was said. In all these cases, there’s no serious inquiry to know who Jesus is and where is he going. If they knew then they would believe he was the son of God. Somehow this fact seems to escape them.
What’s more, Jesus also know his departure has brought serious concern and worries and genuine emotions in their relationship. All this talk of death and betrayal and suffering is enough to cause their sorrow to reach its fullness. Jesus understands. There’s fear what’s going to happen to them? Their cause? Their future? Although the disciples seem rather dense from our perspective as they are portrayed in the Gospels, they truly loved their teacher and master. Later on, Jesus will mention about the nature of this sorrow in verses 20-22:
20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
Almost a 180, Jesus predicts while there will truly be a time of sorrow and sadness as they mourn the lost of their slain rabbi, and the Roman government and Chief Priest, sadduccees and pharisees and the all too gullible people of Jerusalem will celebrate the death of this friend of sinner and tax collectors, blasphemer and insurrectionist. But that will not be the end of the story. Because they will see him again? How?
Our first point:
I. The Helper vindicates Jesus’ work by convicting the world and its demonic powers (7-11).
I. The Helper vindicates Jesus’ work by convicting the world and its demonic powers (7-11).
7 Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he will convict 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 longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
From a human standpoint, what could be worse for a movement then the death of its founder. But Jesus is no ordinary founder of a movement, and his death is no mere end to three years of living a new way of being God’s people. His death, his going away is a good thing! How so? Because for one it accomplishes salvation of the world. It glorifies the Father. There’s no need for the Helper while Jesus is with them. Because as we will see, the Helper doesn’t say anything new or bring about a different truth or perspective from Jesus. Everything the Helper says comes from Jesus. But more on that later.
But first, why is he called a Helper? Sounds kind of weak, right? And in fact, other translations have a variety of meaning for this greek word parakletos:
NIV, REB, NRSV Advocate, NJB Paraclete, CSB counselor, ESV, NASB Helper, MSG Friend
NIV, REB, NRSV Advocate, NJB Paraclete, CSB counselor, ESV, NASB Helper, MSG Friend
The word original means a person who acts as a spokesperson or representative of someone else's policy, purpose, or cause, especially before a judge in a court of law.
So naturally, the image would be the Helper, the Holy Spirit, brings before God the Father accusations against the world. That would seem to square better with the CSB translation counselor or NIV, REB, or NRSV translation of advocate. In both cases, he acts on his client’s, those victimized by the world’s behalf. But perhaps helper, or even Eugene Peterson’s use of friend (see John 15:14) brings about an added dimension. We have pretty much established the relationship Jesus has with the Helper is community and partnership, and Jesus sees his disciples as his friends and kin. Perhaps this is what John is trying to capture not only a functional relationship but an intimate relationship. Some prefer to just use the word paraclete which is an english transliteration of parakletos, much like baptism from the word baptizo instead of trying to find an English equivalent, because of the unique multi-faceted nature of the Spirit.
The great benefit of the Helper’s arrival, is his threefold function as outlined in verses 8-11. His task is to convict the world in three areas: sin, righteousness and judgment.
Sin and Judgment I believe are straightforward enough. The world has sinned against God ultimately because they do not believe Jesus is who he says he was. All throughout the gospel of John, people either come very close to believing him, secretly follow, or rejected his teaching from the get-go. But no one can accuse Jesus of not declaring who he is. His seven “I am” statements all point to the very fact he’s the son of God, and that in him there is life. And his corresponding deeds or signs, confirm his identity. The world just doesn’t want to believe it, because the world likes to continue to do what it does, to pillage, to play power and politics, to exploit the vulnerable, to prop up their pride and religiosity.
But Jesus also knows there’s a greater cosmic reality behind these strongholds of oppression and evil. The ruler of this world has his grips on the world until now, bringing destruction and chaos, luring God’s people away from the worship of God to false gods, which are ultimately manifestation of his own desire to be worshipped. But Jesus has in his mission on earth begun to chip away territories of demonic powers from the blind, the lame, the mute, the demon possessed. And by his atoning death, death itself will be defeated. And the ultimate vindication, not only of God raising his son from the dead, but the prince of the world Satan will be judged and convicted for the evil he and his minions perpetrated. This is inaugurated by Jesus’ conquering evil, sin and death on the cross!
We come to the more perplexing middle one? Why does convicting the world of righteousness mean “because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer?”
The world is convicted of being unrighteous because it accuses Jesus as a blasphemer, a liar, and demon-possessed (or works with a demon, take your pick). But Jesus going to the Father by being raised from the dead and ascended into heaven vindicates him of all these accusations the world convicts him of. Now the tables have turned. Jesus is the righteous one. The world stands condemned.
But just as the tables turned against the world, it is so that the world’s condemnation would lead to it’s repentance. Korea is not only the home of BTS, Twice, and Descendants of the Sun, it has the largest population of Christians in the world. How did it happen? Well, according to a short 33 page book I read a while ago called How the Spirit Fire Swept through Korea by Jonathan Goforth. God happened! Jesus happened. The Spirit happened! It began in 1903 and lasted well after1907. In 1904 alone, 10,000 Koreans became Christian. By 1907, 15,000 Presbyterians gathered in worship on the last day of universal prayer, but nothing happened. Thinking God has passed on, an Elder confessed up and admitted to have taken $100 from a widow’s estate. He promises to give back the $100 the following morning. Then I will let Goforth describes what happens next:
“Instantly it was realized that the barrier had fallen, and that God, the Holy One, had come. Conviction of sin swept the audience. The service commence at seven o’clock Sunday evening, and did not end until two o’clock Monday morning, yet during all that time dozens were standing weeping, awaiting their turn to confess. Day after day the people assembled now, and always it was manifest that the Refiner was in His temple. Let man say what he will, these confessions were controlled by a power not human. Either the devil or the Holy Spirit caused them.”
“Instantly it was realized that the barrier had fallen, and that God, the Holy One, had come. Conviction of sin swept the audience. The service commence at seven o’clock Sunday evening, and did not end until two o’clock Monday morning, yet during all that time dozens were standing weeping, awaiting their turn to confess. Day after day the people assembled now, and always it was manifest that the Refiner was in His temple. Let man say what he will, these confessions were controlled by a power not human. Either the devil or the Holy Spirit caused them.”
The book goes on to list out many transformations, I will just highlight a few: a wife admitted to commit adultery, though knowing her husband is present and has the right to kill her. Instead the husband went and kneel next to her as she received forgiveness. “Many came to mock but in fear, began to pray.” The leader of a robber band came to listen to God’s word out of curiosity and was saved and convicted, turned himself in. The magistrate tells him since no one accused you, there’s no law to condemn you, and dismissed him.
The Helper still continues to this day to convict each wayward heart of their sin, vindicates Jesus as the righteous King, and break every stronghold of Satan’s work. While revivals are impressive, each person who turns to Jesus is precious in his sight.
Then Jesus goes on, our second point:
II. The Helper will give the words and reveal the truth for Jesus’ mission (12-15).
II. The Helper will give the words and reveal the truth for Jesus’ mission (12-15).
12 “I still have 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.
From verse 12-13, the Helper takes on his other name which first appeared in John 14, the Spirit of Truth. Despite a lot of teachings throughout his ministry, Jesus still says there are many things to say, but the disciples can’t bear them. They can’t bear them because they are limited in their understanding. They are too preoccupied with sorrow and the present moment. They are too preoccupied with what’s going to happen to them. And the reality is Jesus did say ALOT even within John 13-17. But it takes on greater and deeper meaning because suppose it is not merely a matter of comprehension or time, but what Jesus had said reveals already the truth they need, and it’s not so much more quantity, but diving deeper and deeper into the nuances and facets of truth. That is why they need a guide into all the truth. Here, Jesus tells of the intimate relationship between him and the Spirit, which we alluded to earlier. He only speaks what he hears, but he will also flesh out the implications of Jesus’ teaching into the foundation truths of the witnessing church. And taking verse 15 together, it reaffirms that the Father, Son and Spirit are united in their purpose and mission. What you hear from the Son comes from the Father will be revealed in the Spirit. The Father is revealed by the Son and testified by the Spirit. They depend on one another and have absolute agreement in all truth.
This second point is not nearly as needed in unpacking and explanation, but it’s implication is huge. Everytime you read the Bible the Spirit pledges to be your tour guide, librarian and boxing coach!
As a tour guide, he keeps you curious about the terrain you read, highlight new sight and insights even if it isn’t the first time you visit the same page.
As a librarian, he helps you to connect what you read before from another section and helps you to see it’s related to your section from N.T. to O.T., and O.T. to N.T.
As a boxing coach he trains you regularly and helps you to persevere in not giving up.
I have a habit of trying to read a different English translation of the Bible each year. And I would have days if not weeks where I just read 6 or 7 chapters according to the bible plan and highlight a lot and get nothing. Then I read it for a third or fifth time later on and suddenly in the same verse something resonates with my soul. Now the LORD knows I am pretty consistent with reading it daily, but to read it soulfully, spiritually, meditatively, is not something I can claim. I need to read qualitatively, spending time with God undisturbed and uninterrupted. I also need to be available and out and about (which is hard in a pandemic) because that’s usually when his word resonates in my heart as he calls me to meet a need. Maybe one of the reason those aha moments for me is so few and far in between is because I have so few encounters with people, places and things these days. If the Spirit’s work in bringing to us all truth is for the sake of his mission, then it’s when we are on mission where we most likely will hear from him. I long for the day very soon when I would be out and about and a story, a teaching, or a parable of Jesus will come to mind.
WE
Praise God for His Spirit, our Helper! He truly has not left us as orphans to navigate life on our own. Let us lean into him, as he leans onto Jesus, who hears what the Father says and does what he wills to glorify our triune God.
Amen.