It was Jesus’ final night with the disciples. How could He prepare them for all that would come? How could they face losing Him? How could they go on without Him? I think of times when I’ve had to leave my family because of work. The separation will be difficult, but you try to reassure each other. I’ve been with many families as a loved one faced their final hours. There are affirmations of love and gratefulness. But I’ve never heard anything like what Jesus told His disciples. He didn’t just tell them that His departure would be hard, but they should try and make the best of it. He said that it was better for them that He was leaving.
In John 16:7, Jesus said, “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.” Do you know why it is to your advantage that Jesus went away? Not understanding the answer to this question is at the heart of much frustration and defeat in the Christian life. Last week, we looked at who the Holy Spirit is. This week, we consider how He came when Jesus left.
Jesus’ ministry on this earth was amazing if you could be a part of it.
There’s no question that witnessing Jesus’ life and ministry would have been amazing. His miracles were stunning. His teaching came with authority. And He embodied all of those teachings as a perfect example of sinless love and grace. But Jesus could only be in one place at one time. That meant that He was constantly being mobbed by crowds trying to get close to Him. People fought for His attention and struggled to get time with Him. After Jesus returned to the Father, on the Day of Pentecost, He sent the Holy Spirit. He’s the “Helper” that Jesus promised in John 16:7. Since then, everyone who repents of their sin and puts their faith in Jesus Christ receives the Holy Spirit. The ministry that Jesus once did in Galilee and Jerusalem and elsewhere, He now does by the Holy Spirit who is with us. Now, He is present all over the world in the lives of believers. Jesus’ ministry is no longer limited by His physical body or His time.
Jesus’ power was amazing to witness, but what we need is God’s power within us.
Paul said in Romans 8:9, “You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.” He was describing an important difference between Jesus’ ministry on this earth and how the Holy Spirit works in our lives. You could see Jesus’ miracles and hear His teaching, but what we really need is God’s power within us. We don’t just need more information; we need the strength to change. The Holy Spirit is that power within us. Imagine having Jesus in your head and His power in your heart. That is what the Holy Spirit does for us. God has come into our lives and literally dwells within us. God is working to lead and guide and purify us from the inside out.
When people put their faith in Jesus, they often experience the Holy Spirit before they’re aware that it’s Him. He’s the One who stirs our hearts toward God. He’s the One who makes obedience attractive. He’s the One who reminds us of God’s will. He’s the One who convicts us when we’ve sinned. He’s the One who nudges us to change. He’s the One who enables us to do things we were incapable of before. He’s the One we’ve needed to live life the way it was intended to live. If you’re a believer in Christ, you’re not alone anymore. God is with you. And you can draw upon His strength, comfort, guidance and help. Next time, we’ll look in more detail at what He does in our lives.
In awe of Him,
Paul