OUR ADVANTAGE
John 16:7, 12-14 NKJV
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 depart, I will send Him to you.
12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. 14 He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.
Once again, we see John sharing words from Jesus that the other gospel writers omitted. That’s the beauty of the four gospels. Together, they give us a very complete picture of Jesus during His time on earth. In John chapter sixteen, Jesus is elaborating further on the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Verse seven is a profound thought. Jesus told the men who had been close to Him for three-plus years that He would be going away. But it was to their advantage that He was going. I am sure that statement was met with some level of confusion. How could it be to their advantage to have the Son of God no longer with them? Jesus further explains that if He did not go, then the Helper, the Holy Spirit, would not come to them. But because Jesus was going, then He would send the Holy Spirit to them.
At face value, it still appears to ring hollow. Jesus leaving was going to be an advantage to them. But no one knew the power and ability that the Holy Spirit would bring into the lives of the disciples better than Jesus. Jesus knew that the Holy Spirit living in them would be a marvelous thing. Jesus was in one place at one time when He was on the earth. He was not accessible to everyone all the time. But the Holy Spirit, the third person of the Godhead, would be there for each of them 24/7. That’s an advantage.
In verses 12-14, Jesus gives further insight as to the role and function of the Holy Spirit. He would be in them to guide them into all truth. Jesus still had things that needed to be said to His disciples, but they were not able to receive them at that time. But the Holy Spirit would take up the role of teaching and guiding. The Holy Spirit would relay to the disciples what Jesus was saying to them. And the Holy Spirit would show them things to come. When He was with them, Jesus taught and guided His disciples into the truth. When He was with them, Jesus showed them what was coming. Now, that role would be continued by the Holy Spirit to each of them. What an advantage.
APPLICATION
Jesus declared that the Holy Spirit would glorify Him. Notice that Jesus did not say that the Holy Spirit would make them weird. Some people are concerned that opening themselves up to the ministry of the Holy Spirit will make them act strangely. Nope, that’s not the role He fulfills. The Holy Spirit will glorify Jesus in our lives, not make us look ridiculous.
The Holy Spirit’s ministry today has not changed. It is still the same as when the disciples were fulfilling their assignment. The Holy Spirit is still in believers today to guide us into all truth and show us things to come. If the Holy Spirit was an advantage to the men who knew Jesus the best, how much more of an advantage to those of us who have not walked with Jesus physically?
PRAYER
Thank You, Lord, for sending the Holy Spirit into my life to guide me into all truth and show me things to come. Thank You that He is helping me glorify You in my life. Thank You, the advantage is mine!