Enter your e-mail address below to get Musing Upchurch sent directly to your in-box!

Past Ponderings

Sunday, July 26, 2015

PONDERING... Our Advantage (John 16:4-15)


Our Advantage
GIST- Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to us for our advantage. Do we realize this blessing?
Scripture- John 16:4-15 (Key found in verse 7)

4  But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. "I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.
-Reminder, Jesus is warning the disciples about what life will be like. There will be great blessing when you follow Christ, but also persecution and hatred toward God and, by association, them. That is, what He has been conveying in this discourse as a whole. I do not believe He is claiming to have concealed this from the disciples from the beginning. There is evidence contrary to this in the gospels. Rather, He had not explained in this detail or with this clear association things were to come, at least not in this concentrated format. There was no need to tell them what they could plainly see. Following Jesus would have been miraculous, but not cushy.

5  But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, 'Where are you going?'
-Here, He again explains His ultimate destination and character. He, being God, is returning to the state from which He came. Furthermore, when He says that they "do not ask where He is going". He does not mean ever (see chapter 14), but at this moment as things are sinking in. Why? See the next verse.

6  But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart.
-They are very upset (sorrow has filled their heart). Notice, that Jesus acknowledges their sorrow, but does not reproach them for it. Their reaction is natural and without inherit sin. He doesn't say 'suck it up' or 'I'll give you something to cry about'. Instead, He does what He always does, and what we should do, He feeds emotions truth. Are you joyful? Go to the Bible and remember the truth about joy. Remember the source. Are you struggling with temptation? Go to the Bible. See the release that has been purchased at such a great price and the prescription for escape. Are you sorrowful? Look at what Jesus tells His sorrowful disciples in the next verse (which I believe is the key to understanding this portion of the discourse).

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 go, I will send him to you.
-The word translated advantage here literally means... Advantage :), or for profit or benefit. An advantage is anything that foresees success or a positive outcome. Here, in the midst of their great sorrow, Jesus reminds them of their great blessing. This blessing is the same blessing that we too enjoy, but far too often ignore. He would leave, referring to His death and resurrection,  but He would send the Holy Spirit in His place. This, He said, would be better for us. Why? Because God the Holy Spirit is not limited by the physical restraints of the incarnation (a human body). He is omnipresent (everywhere at all times). I heard a pastor say once (It might have been Sproul or Begg) that in the past people would travel miles for a chance to be near to God. When His presence dwelled on the temple, pilgrimages were made to be near to Him. It was a great honor. It was a privilege. It separated Israel from the rest of the world. But now, we have the blessing of God indwelling all believers, and it means nothing to us. We aren't excited by the presence of God. This is sad, and convicting, and must change.  
-(Side Note: The fact that Jesus sends the Holy Spirit does not imply that He had not always been actively working in the world. He was present at creation and omnipresent throughout time. Pentecost signified an outpouring of the Spirit, but not the creation of the Spirit...who is God. This article might help: http://www.desiringgod.org/sermons/how-believers-experienced-the-spirit-before-pentecost)

8  And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:
-This further illustrates why the Holy Spirit is advantageous. He convicts us about these things: sin, righteousness, and judgment. We, and the contextual audience, get these wrong. The Holy Spirit shows us that. Where are we wrong? He explains that in the next few lines.

9  concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;
-First, He convicts us of sin. We believe that we are either sinless or able to overcome our sinfulness by our goodness. This is wrong. Look at His evidence here: we do not believe in Jesus. In regards to sin, not believing in Jesus is not believing that He came to be the sacrifice and salvation that we need. Praise the Lord that He convicts the world of sin. This means He is the one that calls the lost to be saved!

10  concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;
-Next, He convicts us of righteousness. We are not self-righteous. In fact, we're not even close (Romans 3:10). Furthermore, though many are quick to affirm that Jesus is good, fewer will acknowledge that He is perfectly righteous, and even less that He is righteousness. At the time this was spoken, and still today, most believed that through careful moral action they could be righteous, or at least, good enough (see... every other belief system). We can't. He can. Look again at the evidence He provides. HE, Jesus, was going to the Father. Who sees God? The pure in heart (Matthew 5:8)! Jesus was getting to the crux of righteousness--hearts not hands.

11  concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
-So far we have these convictions: 1- we are sinners. 2- Jesus is holy. Lastly, the Holy Spirit convicts us of judgment. The current audience was about to cast ultimate judgement on Jesus. We do the same in our disbelief.  Yet, He was the judge evidenced by the judgment of Satan(remember from previous lessons that Satan is called the ruler of this world not because of actual authority, but due to mass appeal) and those who follow the world/sin. This conviction brings hope- we are saved by the one who controls the world. We are sinners standing  before the Holy God who is responsible for judging the world. Yet, this same God is the one who died for our sinfulness.

12  "I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.
-Matthew Henry made this observation. The things that Jesus had to say, but did not were "not which should have been said, but which he could and would have said". This is a good observation because there are differing takes on this verse as to what specifically He did not say, and why specifically the disciples could not bear them. What is clear, however, is that 1- what He did not say was not something about Salvation that we needed to hear, but He never got around to; 2-nor is it anything that would not later be revealed by the Holy Spirit (see next verses). Therefore, in the Scripture we have the full revelation God intended for us. Furthermore, why the disciples could not bear to hear these truths now could be for a number of reasons, emotional and intellectual. Commentators point out that they were not only deeply troubled, but also still distinctly Jewish in their thoughts and expectations. Some of the truths He would reveal (specifically as regards the changes in Old Testament practices) would have been very difficult for them to understand before the resurrection. This may be true. It could just as easily be that they were just too upset to take in much more that evening.  

13  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
-The Holy Spirit, again being to our advantage, will guide to all truth. This refers, I believe, to two separate truths. 1-The disciples were specifically guided to the truths they would later record in the New Testament...as I alluded to above. 2-We are not given new revelation in this manner, but still are guided in the understanding of His Word and its practical out working in our day to day lives. (This great blessing should not be ignored nor neglected).
-The truth that will be revealed is not new or different truth. It is the same truth Jesus spoke of....from the same source. The trinity is God and works in perfect union. The Holy Spirit does not come proclaiming Himself, but pointing back to the work of Jesus. God's plan of redemption...of which He is part.
-The things to come portion is tricky. This could be referring to prophecy, like those seen in the New Testament, or to explanation by means of revelation of the things that were to come immediately (I.e. Jesus' death and resurrection). Since both of these occurred, however, there is no need to wonder.

14  He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
-Jesus is glorified when He is proclaimed. When He is proclaimed, our salvation is spoken of. I can't help but be amazed (and pray that this sinks into me and you both at more than an intellectual level) when I am reminded that Jesus' glory, the revelation of His character, has been linked and wrapped around His desire to save us. This is what the Holy Spirit proclaims.  

15  All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
-Final reminder of the authority of the Holy Spirit AND the blessing. God is directly revealing Himself to us. 

Concluding Thoughts:
Jesus tells His disciples that it is to their advantage that He go away. We don't often feel advantaged because we forget or ignore the gift that we have been given in God the Holy Spirit. 

No comments:

Post a Comment