The Holy Spirit

This is the second time Jesus has talked about the coming Holy Spirit during The Upper Room Discourse (Jesus’ commencement speech to the disciples) in John 13-16.

The first time (John 14:15-31), Jesus explains the Holy Spirit is the “counselor”. In the section in John 14 prior to this one, the disciples are worried about how to live after Jesus dies for sin, rises from death, and ascends to rule in Heaven. Jesus says, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth – He guides them (in the way, the truth, and the life – all, remember, found in Jesus). The purpose of the Spirit is to glorify Jesus and the Father – to lead us to worship and belief and obedience concentration. Obedience is a joy. Why would we not obey the very One who created us and knows our best? Why do we let the world choose our way, truth, and life so much? We must open wide our lives to the Holy Spirit.

Jesus pauses from this heavy subject to move on to another: the disciples must ABIDE in God (the Vine) … because it is their source of nourishment, life, and growth. Oh yeah, things are also going to get really difficult: the world will hate the disciples because disciples obey to become Christlike – well, Christ died – Christianity isn’t “lifestyles of the rich and famous.”

More Holy Spirit time – because the disciples are really sweating now! In the safe upper room during that feast, Judas betrayed Jesus and Peter was rebuked by Jesus for denial. Now, they will be hated and persecuted. Who wants to sign up, right?! Real believers do! Committment.

We are not the prosecutors in the court room – the Holy Spirit is the prosecutor (John 16:5-11). Christians should not pass judgment or accuse (both of these are reserved for the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). Christians are witnesses testifying to the life of Christ that He lived and that Christians live following His way, truth, and life.

The Holy Spirit is a well of gathered revelation from the Father from which we drink, find eternal nourishment, and make our communal home as a Christian people. Check this out. John 14:26 refers to the Holy Spirit, “Who will remind you of everything I have said to you.” This is gathered revelation in the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). John 16:13 says, “He will guide you into all truth.” This is the Holy Spirit inspiring the New Testament letter writers so that the Church may be “guided” as the progression of the Gospel message travels and is established through local churches. The end of John 16:13 says, “And what is yet to come.” This is the book of Revelation.

For the redeemed-by-Christ man, the indwelling Holy Spirit is our Counselor, comforter, encourager, reminder, and revealer (and this is just what is said in these passages!). Don’t let the Evil One trick you into thinking the Bible is a book. It’s the gathered “reminder” from the Holy Spirit. Don’t let the Evil One trick you into thinking you are the prosecutor who judges – you are witnesses who are to testify of Christ and Christ in you.

The Father’s mission has been to associate Himself with mankind who fell inextricably unto sin. For millennia, He has been speaking and those Word’s are recorded for us to feast on, apply, and share. He sent Jesus to be human so we could be saved by faith in Him alone. Jesus sent the Spirit to confirm and activate our faith so we become Christlike and can boldly, with His empowerment, share with the world.

This is how the disciple’s grief turns to joy.

Amen.