The Coming of the Spirit
Text: John 14:16-31
So if you remember from last time, Jesus has told His disciples that He was going away. He was going to go away and prepare a place for them, and that He would return later and they would all be together again… He also told them that while He was away, they were to continue the works… He even said that they would do greater works – but what would make that possible?
Well… if you look at John 14:12, 13, and 14 (READ John 14:12-14), you can see that these “greater works” are tied directly to praying in His Name. But it’s also tied directly to something else that we’re going to be looking at this morning.
So if you have your Bibles (and I hope you do), please open them up (if you haven’t already) to John 14, and follow along as I read to you – beginning in verse 16 down through verse 20.
(READ John 14:16-20)
So yes, Jesus was going to leave the disciples, but He was not going to leave them alone – or without help. He says that He is sending “Another Helper”, and this “Helper” would show them and teach them all the things they needed to know to be faithful followers of Jesus, and ultimately; get them to that place He was going way to prepare for them. But before any of that happens, Jesus want’s to tell His disciples a little bit about this “Helper”.
The first thing we see here is that the “Helper” is going to be sent to them by the Father. In other words, God is going to send this Helper.
Now that word “Helper” is the Greek word “Parakletos”, and it literally means “One who is called to your side.” Or, “One who comes alongside.” Jesus had lived alongside these disciples for 3 and ½ years. He had been with them in each and every situation they faced. In was there teaching them, training them, correcting them, working alongside them. But now He’s saying, “I’ve got to go away.” He has to complete His mission. He has to die on the cross for our sins and ascend to the Father, but they don’t have to be afraid, or fearful, or anxious because God is sending them One to come alongside them. A “Helper” who will help them, who will lead them, who will continue to teach them and strengthen them, and equip them for ministry.
And this wouldn’t be a temporary thing… the last part of verse 16 Jesus says, “He will be with you forever!”
You see, Jesus has to be the One to fulfill the mission. Because He is 100% God and 100% man. He has to fulfill the Law and all righteousness, but He also has to die for our sin. But this other “Helper” will be able to be with us always – FOREVER.
That’s what Jesus tells them. And then He tells them who this “Helper” is – It’s none other than the Holy Spirit Himself. In verse 17, Jesus calls Him the Spirit of Truth, but later on, in verse 26 He tells the disciples very plainly – The Father is sending the Holy Spirit.
Now just think about this for a second. If the disciples had just stopped and listened for a second… if they had been able to hear and comprehend what Jesus was saying, you would think that they would’ve been celebrating – right? Because Jesus is saying… The Father is going to send the Spirit of Truth – the Holy Spirit – the Third Person of the Trinity… and He dwells with you, but He will be IN YOU!
In other words, God the Holy Spirit is going to take up residence inside of you. He is not only going to be WITH you, but IN you.
Now catch this – Jesus says, “I’m going away, but don’t be troubled. The Father (that’s God the Father) is going to send the Holy Spirit – the Spirit of Truth, and He is going to come alongside you, and dwell within you, and be with you FOREVER. But I want you to notice what Jesus also says in verse 17, “The world CANNOT receive the Holy Spirit.”
And why is that? Because they do not believe.
Now just so you understand this – this giving of the Holy Spirit happens after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, and after the disciples have come to believe… we see it in John 20:22, which, Lord willing; we’ll get to one of these days…
But the thing is – they had to believe that Jesus died for their sin. They had to believe that He had been raised because they had been justified and God’s purpose was fulfilled… and at this time – in John 14 – they didn’t believe any of those things, because they hadn’t happened yet. So Jesus was telling them about something that was GOING to happen, but that hadn’t happened yet. And I know that sometimes it confuses people when they realize that the disciples aren’t saved at this point yet. They’re called, they’re elect, The Holy Spirit has come upon them, and empowered them, but at this point He isn’t indwelling them. At this point they haven’t been saved, and wouldn’t be saved until after the resurrection.
And that goes back to why – at this particular time… they couldn’t comprehend or even fathom what Jesus was telling them. Because if they had comprehended all of this they would be awestruck by it.
Think about it for a second… Not only would they have Jesus, seated at the right hand of God, making intercession for them, but also God the Holy Spirit indwelling them, encouraging them, strengthening them, supporting them, uplifting them, directing their path, and teaching them – in every situation…
The Spirit wouldn’t just come upon them and depart like we see happen in the Old Testament…
You know Samson wasn’t always super strong – it’s when the Holy Spirit came upon him… Prophets didn’t always prophesy – it’s when the Spirit moved them. But now – the Holy Spirit – Jesus says, will be with them, and in them FOREVER!
Cool right? Now let’s go on here…
Verse 21 “Whoever has My commandments and keeps them, he it is wo loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him, and manifest Myself to him.”
Now make sure you understand what Jesus is saying here. He’s not saying you keep yourself saved… some people wrongly take that from this verse. They think, “I’ve got to keep Jesus’ commandments in order to keep myself saved.” That’s not what Jesus is saying.
He’s saying, “This is how you know you love Me, you obey My commandments… you keep them. You make a practice out of righteousness” (John explains this later on in his letters)… You keep the commands of Jesus, not to keep yourself saved, you keep them because you love Jesus. And because you love Jesus, you keep His commandments.
In other words, the evidence of being saved by the grace of God, through faith in Jesus Christ is a loving obedience on the part of the person who is saved. Not a perfect obedience… we’re still going to struggle with sin, but a practice of obedience, born out of love.
You see – that’s one of the big differences between Christianity and all other world religions. In other religions, they serve their so called “gods” out of fear, or duty… but for us, we serve our God because we love Him, we love our Father, and He loves us… and because we know He is good and that He loves us, we know that His commands to us are for our good, and our benefit, and right, and true. They aren’t burdensome, or restrictive… I mean, they’re restrictive if you want to live in sin and be immoral and wicked… yeah… but if you want to live righteously, and in holiness, God’s commands aren’t restrictive at all – they’re prescriptive – I guess you could say.
And that’s one of the big issues in our world today isn’t it?
You’ve got these people who want to live in sin, who want to practice immorality and wickedness. They love darkness rather than light, and want to remain in darkness, but at the same time, they want to have some kind of assurance that they’ll be given eternal life and peace with God. And when churches, and church leaders, and denominations tell them that such is possible, what they’re actually doing is condemning them to an eternity in hell. An eternity of God’s wrath and judgment.
To affirm someone in their sin, or their sinful lifestyle is the most unloving thing a person can do.
Now look at verse 22 (READ)
This is Thaddaeus by the way… Not Judas Iscariot who has already left to go betray Jesus, but Judas Thaddaeus… usually just called Thaddaeus. And he’s still confused about all of this. He’s starting to question the Messiah role of Jesus. “How can you be the Savior to us without manifesting yourself to the world?” “How can you be our Messiah, without manifesting yourself to the world?”
What he’s really asking is – “How can you deliver us, and save us from Rome, without doing it publicly and openly, and visibly?”
And Jesus brings it right back to loving God, and the abiding presence of God in the heart and life of the believer. In verse 27 we see that it’s this abiding presence that gives us peace. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” Again, we see the concern Jesus has for these disciples.
What is this peace?
Well, first of all its peace WITH God. It’s the kind of peace that Jesus Himself has with the Father… that comes from being without sin… being righteous and holy. Now, we’re not sinless. The reason Jesus came was because we were sinners in need of forgiveness and reconciliation. So he died as our substitute. And when we are bought to faith, His righteousness becomes ours, our sins were laid upon Him, and we are declared not guilty before God. And being that God sees us in Christ – without sin, without guilt, we have peace with Him.
But secondly; it’s peace IN God. So we have peace WITH GOD, and peace IN GOD.
Jesus says, “Let your hearts not be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” And it’s so interesting, that word for “afraid” is the Greek word “deiliao” – It’s the only time it’s used in the New Testament. And it literally means, “Don’t be a coward.” “Don’t shrink away.” We as Christians are to be bold as lions. We are to be unashamed of the Gospel. We are to shout it from the rooftops! On the street corners! At the football games, in our class rooms, in our work places!
There’s a saying that comes from Christians in Africa that goes like this, “If God is not finished with me, I cannot die.”
So Jesus looks at His disciples and He says to them, “Don’t be afraid, don’t be anxious, don’t be cowards. I told you I’m going away… but I also said I’m coming back.”
AND HE IS COMING BACK!
Soon and very soon, we are going to see the King!
But until that day – we can have peace. Peace WITH GOD, and peace IN GOD. Knowing who we are and Whose we are. And notice, Jesus doesn’t withhold the truth from them… In verse 30 He tells them, the “ruler of this world is coming.” That’s Satan… Jesus says, “Satan is coming, but he has no claim on Me.”
So again, Satan is coming, Jesus is going to die on the cross, but Satan has no claim on Jesus.
And I you’re in Christ, you can have peace, knowing that Satan has no claim on you either. Your sins have been forgive, you’ve been washed whiter than snow. You are declared Not Guilty before God, and made righteous by the blood of Jesus Christ.
CLOSING
