The Comforter

April 4 The Comforter John 16:1-15

“That same Spirit led them into all truth… Whoever thinks that anything ought to be added to their doctrine, as if it were imperfect and incomplete, not only accuses the apostles of dishonesty, but blasphemes against the Spirit.” John Calvin “Commentary on John” Vol. 5:119

Most of those who came together to form the early Church did so from a Jewish background. Within a few years they were facing persecution. Some were evicted from their synagogues; others faced more severe trials, including martyrdom. Jesus warned His followers about what was going to happen and encouraged them to stand firm. They were to remain connected to the True Vine, abiding in Him.

It was, strangely, to the advantage of His followers that Jesus should leave. In the first place, it would make it less likely that they would be caught up in His fate. In the second place, they would benefit because only when Jesus left would the Holy Spirit come. This was the Counselor, of whom Jesus had spoken previously. The Holy Spirit would convict the world of its guilt “with regard to sin and righteousness and judgment.” To convict is to bring that which has been hidden into the light. Jesus gave warning that one of the primary functions of the coming Holy Spirit would be to convict sinners by persuading them of their fallen state. The Spirit would convict people: of their sin of not believing in Jesus; of their unrighteousness in standing by as the Son of righteousness was put to death; and, of judgment since, along with the devil, the prince of this world, they had been judged.

In addition, the Spirit would reveal many things that, at that time, they could not bear or understand. The Spirit would explain the significance of the Cross to them and help them to recognize the truth of God’s self-revelation. In all this, the Spirit would glorify the Son by expounding His nature and ministry, just as Jesus had glorified the Father by explaining the Gospel of God’s grace. The Spirit would, therefore, be taking what the Father had given to the Son and explaining its significance to followers of Jesus. In this way, the things that had previously been hidden would become known to them and they could, in turn, pass them on to the next generation. So, the Holy Spirit would be their teacher, working in their minds to enable them to perceive, accept, and teach the truth as it is found in Jesus Christ..

In response to some of the excesses that have elevated the person and work of the Holy Spirit, almost at the expense of Jesus, some Christians have ignored the third person the Trinity. For some people, the Holy Spirit has become little more than an abstract power, devoid of any sense of personality. This is unfortunate. Clearly, Jesus valued the work of the Spirit in convicting of sin and teaching about salvation. That He spent precious time, just before His death, to teach His disciples about the coming of the Comforter, should persuade us to take the Holy Spirit seriously.

The Holy Spirit is not interested in self-promotion. He does not advance His own cause. Like John the Baptist, the Spirit is content to point beyond Himself to Christ. In His ministries of convicting and converting, the Holy Spirit is always most concerned to give the glory to Christ.

For further reading: Psalm 31