The Goodness of the Holy Spirit
Opening Prayer
Lord, give me the Advocate to be with me forever—Your Spirit of truth to live with and in me (16,17).
Read John 16:4b–15
4 I have told you this, so that when their time comes you will remember that I warned you about them. I did not tell you this from the beginning because I was with you, 5 but now I am going to him who sent me. None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things. 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 about sin, because people do not believe in me; 10 about righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; 11 and about judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned.
12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the 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. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Research says most of us feel guilty most of the time. Could that be a good thing?Another wave of sorrow seems to overwhelm the disciples at the thought of Jesus leaving them (5,6). But, he says, there is a good reason for his departure (7). It is only if Jesus goes away—dies on the cross—that we can be indwelt by the Holy Spirit.
And the goodness of the Holy Spirit is that he shows us that without Jesus, we have a problem. Jesus summarizes that in verse 8, and then repeats it at more length in verses 9–11. The Spirit is gracious in showing us our sin, God’s righteousness, and the reality of judgment.
This is a severe mercy that drives us to the cross.
But the Spirit doesn’t stop after giving us the bad news. He also shows us Jesus. So in verse 13 he will help the disciples understand “what is
yet to come.” The reason they fail to grasp so much of what Jesus is saying is because they haven’t seen the cross: it’s also yet to come.
But the Spirit will point them to the cross, and show them more about Jesus than they’ve yet known (14,15). And we enjoy the fruit of that as we read about Jesus in his Word.
Apply
Have you allowed God’s Spirit to convict your heart of sin? To show you Christ’s mercy? Embrace the Spirit’s work in your life.
Closing prayer
Thank You, God, for Your Spirit. Point out my sin, and lead me to the cross where that sin was fully paid for.
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