The Promise Of The Spirit Series

JOHN 14: 25-31

THE PROMISE OF THE SPIRIT

[Philippians 4: 6-7]

This section continues to prepare Jesus’ disciples for His departure and its consequences for them. The consequences of Jesus’ departure are not to be sorrowful but a release of blessings. For unless Jesus leaves the Spirit of God will not come to indwell true believers in Jesus.

This promise of the Paraclete brings further clarity to the role of the Spirit, since now He is described specifically as the “Holy Spirit.” The Holy Spirit is the interpreter of God to us and the One who brings God’s peace to us. Jesus’ parting words of the coming of the Spirit let us know He will be with us to lead, guide, and help us throughout our life. The disciples should thus rejoice at their coming blessing, not sorrow at their present loss.

I. THE TEACHING SPIRIT, 25-26.

II. THE SPIRIT OF PEACE, 27-28.

III. THE SPIRIT OF REJOICING, 29-31.

Jesus knew that He must be the One to disclose the teachings of this section on the work of the Spirit so that they would not be discounted by man as verse 25 infers. “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you.

What Jesus did and said in the days of His earthly ministry was only partially understood. Though they did not understand His teachings, it needed to be the Lord Jesus who revealed them. Three things were needed for the apostles to understand Jesus’ person, words, and mission. (1) He had to die for them. (2) He had to rise again to vindicate His claim and demonstrate His victory. (3) The Spirit had to come and interpret the meanings of Jesus’ words and deeds. [Walvoord & Zuck. The Bible Knowledge Commentary, 323.]

Jesus emphasizes the teaching and prompting role of the Spirit in verse 26. “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.

Jesus promised the disciples that the Holy Spirit would teach them & help them remember His teachings. [The context limits the “all things” to the interpretation and significance of His person and work.] The Spirit worked in their minds, reminding them of His teaching and giving them insight into its meaning (2:22; 7:39; 20:9).

The emphasizes is on the teaching and remembering role or function of the Spirit. [The concept of “remembering” occurs multiple times in John (2:17, 22; 12:16; 14:26; 15:20; 16:4, 21).] During the earthly ministry of Jesus, understanding was difficult. Jesus now promises that the Spirit-Paraclete will recall the things He has done and said and fix them in their minds and help them understand them.

[The Holy Spirit helped the disciples remember without taking away their individual perspective. We thus can be confident that the Gospels are accurate records of what Jesus taught and did (1 Cor. 2:10-14). [Application Bible, 1912]]

The Holy Spirit can help us in the same way. The Holy Spirit and the Word work together to give us correct meanings for what Jesus did in history and correct applications as to what we should believe and do today. As we study the Bible we can trust the Spirit to implant the truth in our heart and mind, convince us of God’s will and remind us when we stray from it. Alexander MacLaren said, “He who has the Holy Spirit in His heart and the Scripture in his hands has all he needs.”

Note that Jesus calls the Spirit Holy. The purity of God sets Him apart and He sets apart for God those who obey Him. Also note that the Father sent the Holy Spirit in Jesus’ name. The Spirit is God’s officially delegated representative who will act in Jesus’ behalf. He will make Christ real to His followers. [Expositor’s Bible Com. John, Tenney, 148] If Christ is not real enough to you, you need to being listening to the Spirit speak to you through His Word.

II. THE SPIRIT OF PEACE, 27-28.

Verse 27 tell us of Jesus’ gift of peace. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

In New Testament times the normal way to say good-bye was Peace (šālôm). In His death Jesus provided a legacy for His disciples: My peace I give you. They would have “peace with God” (Rom. 5:1) because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” (Phil. 4:7) would guard their lives. Jesus’ shalom brings an end to the brokenness and separation caused by sin. Nothing in the world can offer such a gift. The world false peace comes from blinding us to our peril or blinding us with our pride. It’s unable to give this shalom kind of peace that allows us to face the stark realities of life in calm assurance. Even the fear of death (Heb. 2:14-15) and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him and live in the fruit of the Spirit (20:19, 21, 26). Thus they need not be troubled ( John 11:33; 13:21; 14:1).