The Coming Of The Comforter.

THE COMING OF THE COMFORTER.

John 15:26-27.

As we enter this part of our text, it is well to note, first, the certainty of the event: “When the Comforter IS COME” (John 15:26a).

But when did the disciples receive the Holy Spirit? It may appear at first glance in John’s Gospel that He came upon them when Jesus ‘breathed on them’ during one of His post-resurrection appearances (cf. John 20:22). However, Luke’s Gospel records the same conversation in a slightly different way: ‘And you are witnesses of these things. Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but tarry in Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high’ (cf. Luke 24:48-49).

In other words, the “coming” of the Holy Spirit corresponds with the Day of Pentecost in Acts 2:1-4.

Second, Jesus names the Comforter, “the Spirit of Truth” (John 15:26b).

Jesus says, ‘When He, the Spirit of truth is come, He will guide you into all the truth’ (cf. John 16:13). Now this is tantamount to saying that He will point the disciples to Jesus, for Jesus has already said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except by Me’ (cf. John 14:6).

Third - as well as being “sent” by the Father, and by Jesus, the Holy Spirit “proceeds (goes forth) from the Father” (John 15:26c) under the power of His own volition, His own sovereign free-will.

Fourth, the Holy Spirit comes to testify of Jesus (John 15:26d). The Holy Spirit does not point to Himself, but away from Himself to Jesus. As should we.

Fifth, it is at this point that we see the disciples’ responsibility to bear witness (John 15:27a).

Primarily, this no doubt applies specifically to those who were still present with Jesus at this stage of the Upper Room discourse. This would be the apostolic party, which Judas had already left. They are the ones who had been “with Me from the beginning” (John 15:27b).

Secondarily, this applies to successive generations of the church, each with a duty to tell forth to their own generation ‘the wonderful works of God’ (cf. Acts 2:11). A mission which began in Jerusalem and is continuing even now ‘to the ends of the earth’ (cf. Acts 1:8).

‘Let us always be ready to give an account of the hope that is within us’ (cf. 1 Peter 3:15), ‘in season and out of season’ (cf. 2 Timothy 4:2) - knowing that the Holy Spirit testifies of Jesus (John 15:26d) with us, and through us (John 15:27a). And to God alone be the glory. Amen.