“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 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 16.12-15
Imagine a beautiful dance. The couple moves seamlessly together. Flowing without fault or fall. Twirling around the dance floor as if one. Now consider the Trinity — Father, Son and Holy Spirit. All persons of the Godhead. Working in unmitigated conjunction together to accomplish one purpose — the will of God.
When one reads the last several entries I have written in John 14-16, we discover Jesus sticking with a common theme — his leaving and the Advocate coming. Several times in these chapters, including in this passage, Jesus speaks to his having to go away from earth. He has to accomplish his mission of becoming the lamb of God for the world. And yet, he is sending someone in his place to make known his mysteries, make disciples and fulfill the will of the Father.
Jesus begins by saying, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear.” Did he say everything he wanted to say? I think he must. If not before his death then afterward to his disciples and to those to whom he appeared. Yet if for some reason he did not, he says “when he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth.” So who is receiving the truth today? If Christians are opposing one another, which one is correct?
The Holy Spirit speaks not on his own, Jesus says, but only what he hears and he will tell us what we need to hear. So are we listening? Are we hearing the Spirit? And the purpose of the Spirit is to glorify the Son, just as the Son is to glorify the Father. In addition, all that belongs to the Father, Jesus affirms, is his. Which is why Jesus says, “the Spirit will receive from me what is made known to you.”
This passage, as well as others, should make us more attentive to the role of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Jesus left this world and his replacement was this Spirit of Truth. Let us call upon this Spirit today that we might in sync with the Lord, giving praise to the Father, and living for the glory of the Son.
“O Lord God, help us to hear you clearly. Help the church to be in unity when it comes to reading your word, obeying your commands, and listening to your Spirit. I pray that we might be all that you have called us to be. Thank you for loving me and for guiding me completely. Even when I am uncertain of the next steps, you direct my path. I glorify your name today Jesus and call upon your Spirit to guide me. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen