v. 7 I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. Jesus told the disciples he was leaving them. He knew his plan was to rise from the dead and return to the Father. From heaven he planned to send the Holy Spirit to fill the church, and to fill the lives of believers. Jesus said it was good that He go away so He could send His Spirit, the Counselor. When Jesus walked the earth, he could be in one place at one time. He was limited by a human body. In the presence of the Holy Spirit, the presence of Jesus is no longer limited to one location on earth at a time. The Spirit of God can make the presence of Jesus real to me as I type this, but also real to you as you read it. He can be with us in worship on Sunday, and at home with each of us on Sunday afternoon. He can be with us in America at the same time He is in the midst of His church on the far side of the world from us. When Jesus was on earth, he could walk beside his disciples. Now through the Spirit, Jesus can live inside his disciples. Yes, it was good for Jesus to go away. For now we have another counselor with us – His Spirit.
v. 8 When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgment: v. 9 in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; v10 in regards to righteousness because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; v. 11 and in regard to judgment , because the prince of this world now stands condemned. When the Spirit comes, part of his role is like a prosecuting attorney who seeks to prove his case. He will convict men of sin because they do not believe in Jesus. Rejection of Jesus is the ultimate sin. When we deny the one who gave his life for us, this is the ultimate rejection of God. There is no forgiveness for rejecting the one who offers forgiveness. The Spirit convicts the world of righteousness as well. Righteousness can only be found in and through Jesus Christ. The world has no righteousness of its own. Isaiah tells us that our good works are like filthy rags before the Lord. Our only righteousness can come through the person of Jesus. The Spirit also convicts the world of judgment. According to Jesus, judgment is real. Hell is not a figment of man’s imagination according to Jesus. It is a place of judgment reserved for those who rebel against the living God.
v. 13 But when he the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will bring glory to me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you. Again we see the Spirit is meant to be our personal guide that Jesus has sent to us. The Spirit is a total team player who is seeking the glory of Jesus in our lives and in the world. Any true revelation from the Spirit will always be in line with God’s Word and with the person and work of Jesus. Any Spirit filled church or person is going to be consumed with the work of Jesus in the lives of people.
v. 33 I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world. The world does not give peace. The world gives trouble. Jesus gives peace even when the world gives trouble. Jesus has overcome the world. One day he will set us free completely from the trouble of this world, but for now He helps us walk in victory as we walk in the world. Claim his victory and his peace.
Just wanted to let you know how much this study has meant to me. Working 2 jobs it is hard to find a Bible study I can attend on a regular basis, so this has been wonderful. I love your insight, as well as reading comments from others. I know it is alot of work for you, but I hope you will consider continuing this beyond the 21 chapters in John. It has been a blessing!
Come Holy Spirit… Jesus continues to comfort the disciples. He tells them in the future, things are going to be tough. A time is coming when they will be outcasts of the synagogue. “But an hour is coming for everyone who kills you will think he is doing a service to God”. We remember Paul and how zealous he was for his “religion”, rounding up those of “the way” and being a part of their killing. Oh, the things we do in the name of religion. Jesus protected the disciples while he was with them. Now he’s going back to the Father, so he prepares them for things yet to come. Jesus lets his disciples know that if he doesn’t go, he’s hindering a greater benefit. He is localized now, but when he goes he will gain omnipresence. The disciples do more “works of God” when Jesus is absent than when he was with them.
The Holy Spirit is here because Jesus is not. The judgment is that the world rejected Jesus. Now the Holy Spirit convicts the world (not the believer) of their sin of unbelief. The Holy Spirit continuously reveals the righteousness of Christ to the believer. He completes our understanding and leads us completely to all truth. The Holy Spirit never speaks of himself. His sole commitment is to glorify the Lord Jesus – not people or personalities. In John 14:26, the Holy Spirit “brings all things to our remembrance”. In John 15:26, the Holy Spirit testifies presently about Jesus. In John 16:13, the Holy Spirit “guides us into all truth”. Those are “things to come”. The purpose of the Holy Spirit for the believer is to glorify Christ forever and ever, while we are in this body. No more and no less! Just the righteousness of the Lamb of God – The I Am – The Messiah – Jesus, the Christ. The Holy Spirit testifys that the Son has set us free. Two thousand years ago, God punished sin. His Son, Jesus, became sin who had no sin; so we became the righteousness of God. Jesus took our sin and we get His righteousness. It’s comforting to know that the Comforter says, “we are His beloved – we are His children”.
So here we are in two places…. In Christ, and in the world. In Christ, we have comfort, assurance, peace, love and forgiveness. In the world, we let our light shine. We gladly let the world eat of our fruit. We show them in love, that there is a better way; an easier life; and an abundant life. There will be persecution, but we do not fear. Christ in us has overcome the world. We continue to run the race and keep the faith!!