We continue our study of the Gospel of John. Picking up at Chapter 16, verse 1, we see that John has recorded the words of Jesus. It was moments away from the time Jesus would be taken, prisoner, and the plan of salvation would begin. He said unto His Disciples:
“All this I have told you so that you will not fall away. They will put you out of the synagogue; in fact, the time is coming when anyone who kills you will think they are offering a service to God. They will do such things because they have not known the Father or Me. I have told you this so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you about them.”
John 16: 1-4 Please continue to read John 16: 5-15 from the Word.
Things were about to happen to the disciples, that they could not imagine. Even though Jesus had told the disciples previously He would be arrested, would be killed, and on the third day would arise, and defeat death, they were not ready for what was to come. They knew there was a difference in the way Jesus was teaching them, and the way they had been taught as they grew up, but this was a life and death difference. Jesus was a radical Teacher, departing from the Law to this thing called “grace”, and a personal one on one relationship with God, and the Religious Leaders wanted Him dead. He was considered to be teaching blasphemy, and this called for death to the offender and all who followed Him. Jesus told His disciples the problem is this: “They do not know the Father or Me.” John 16:3 They just knew “religion”, and what they had been taught. This is why when the Lord was on the cross, He said, “Father forgive them for they know not what they do.” Luke 23:34
Here, The Lord was telling His disciples what was about to happen to Him, and them. But, He was also telling them of the One who would come to be with them, and the world, when He left. He said the Advocate, the Spirit of Truth, is coming, and He will guide you into all the Truth. The Word tells us that “Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Him.” John 14:6 Jesus was telling them The Advocate was going to be sent after He departed, and He would guide them, and all who believed to Truth. He would show them Truth, and Eternal life is in Christ. Jesus said The Holy Spirit would glorify Him, and would say what He had been saying, for it is truth. Jesus said, “All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from Me what He will make known to you.” John 16:15.
The Lord Jesus speaks to us every day in many ways through the Holy Spirit. Let us always be open, and aware of His presence so that we hear Him, and are pulled back to Truth in the Spirit if we are not seeing it. In the world it is easy to be pulled away; in The Spirit of Truth, we see the Way, we hear the Lord, we will not fall away. ?