The Helper

His Going Away

When He spoke to them of His going away, He understood their grief. He needed to get them to look beyond it. Here, in His presence, they couldn’t even formulate the question, “Where are you going?” So, Jesus says, “I am returning to He who sent Me. I know it brings you sorrow, but I must go. I have to go so I can send you the helper.”

The Spirit Works in the World

Jesus goes on to tell them that the Spirit will convict the world of sin, righteousness and judgement. And yes, the Spirit is indeed at work in the world as we in our day, witness His power to draw people out of the world into His kingdom, to convict us when we miss the mark, to show us in His absence, about righteousness, and to remind us that the ruler of this world has been judged.

The Spirit’s Work in Christ’s Followers

Still, beyond this powerful work in the world, the Spirit of God will work in the lives of Jesus’ followers. He will, first of all, as Jesus did, follow the Father’s instructions. He will guide them into “all truth”, “He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears, He will speak.” He will also show them things to come as in the case of Agabus in Acts 11. On this occasion, the Holy Spirit gave Agabus knowledge of a coming famine. As a result, the new church, sent aid. Then, above all, He glorifies Jesus. All the words of Jesus, He will declare to His followers.

So many unanswered questions, so many unknowns, but Jesus didn’t come just for this small group of 11 men, who through the power of the Helper would give all for Him. His work required returning to the Father and releasing the Holy Spirit. Jesus explained to them about what can happen with His going away, how the Spirit will work in the world and how the Spirit will work with them as Christ’s followers.

As Jesus lingered with his disciples in the final hours of His earthly life, He had much to relay. These men had come to know Jesus, anointed by God as His Son, their Lord and teacher. This relationship was about to change. The death and resurrection of Jesus would change His fleshly body into an immortal body. He would be returning to the Father. Although they loved and respected Him, they required further revelation. Jesus taught His disciples about this future change in relationship, to those that love Him, and to the world.

The Change in Relationship

Jesus taught them to obey His commands. Doing so demonstrated a relationship of love with God. In that relationship, Jesus would intercede and the Father, in response, would send another Helper. Jesus is leaving, but He is not leaving them as orphans, defenseless and alone. His own would know that God and Jesus are one. Because Jesus lives, they will live. As His own, His disciples would also be part of that union. God, in the plural, would come and make His home with those who love Him. “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.” He will be a part of them.

To Those that Love Him

Mystery surrounds the words Jesus spoke of His going away. Jesus has not yet been lifted up, nor resurrected. He teaches them that as they love Him, they will obey His commands. In that relationship of love, Jesus will ask the Father and He will send them a Helper. This Helper “may abide with you forever.” He is “the Spirit of truth. whom you know because He already lives with you and will live in you.” This time it is Judas (Son of James) who asks the question. “Lord, how is it that You will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”

To the World

How would it be possible for the disciples to see Him when He would not be visible to the world? It was an honest question. Jesus tells them It had to do with a loving relationship, loving Jesus and keeping His word. This loving relationship opened them to the love of the Father. However, the world, having rejected Jesus and His word, cannot receive the Spirit of truth. They don’t see nor do they know Him. They do not love Him, nor keep His words, the words received from the Father who sent Jesus. The natural man cannot understand. Faith comes by hearing. Without faith it is impossible to please Him. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are spiritually discerned.”

Jesus taught His disciples about this future change in relationship, to those that love Him, and to the world.

The Comforter