17

These were very significant hours which the Lord Jesus spent with His disciples. He knew that He was on His way to Gethsemane. Then, to Calvary! He used every minute to carefully instruct these men whom He had called to Himself.

All of what He said is so wonderfully inspiring. This is especially true in those areas which reveal the wonder of our personal relationship to Him. His words are so challenging, and so humbling!

"I have called you friends!" "I have chosen you!" "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you!"

Yet, He also warned about being confronted by the exact opposites! "Hated!" "Rejected!" Being treated as: "Enemies!" This would be the inevitable reaction of the world to all who identified with Jesus. The reaction of all who hold to the attitudes, values and priorities of the world.

"Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his father. . . . A man's foes shall be they of his own household" (Matthew 10: 34, 35, 36).

"Men loved darkness rather than light" (John 3: 19). The inevitable division is the direct result of those who are determined to stay in the darkness attempting to extinguish the light!

The Lord Jesus continues to reveal this reality in the opening verses of chapter sixteen.

This is yet another wonderful expression of our Lord's great love and concern for His people. In inspiring grace He so patiently reveals all of the aspects of what it really does mean to be fully identified with Him. Including both the positive and the negatives realities.

"If the world hate you!"(ch. 15: 8). No Christian should ever be taken by surprise by the negative attitudes of the world. The Lord Jesus explicitly states that we must expect to be hated by the world. He was!

"And they will also revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely!" (Matthew 5: 11). So, do not be surprised when this actually happens! Do not allow yourself to be caught unprepared!

Why? Jesus said, So "that ye should not be offended!" As you discover just how totally accurate His warnings are, you will stand strong in Him. Be able to continue to press on victoriously.

The devil would like to catch us unprepared. Trip us up. Bring us down in defeat and self-pity. He must inevitably fail as we take the Word of our Lord seriously! "To be fore-warned is to be fore-armed!"

When we face this battle, we can do so, rejoicing that we are "counted worthy to suffer shame for His Name" (Acts 5: 41).

"They shall put you out of the synagogue: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service!"

In their missionary outreach, the apostles actually did use the synagogues as their starting point as they proclaimed the Gospel. Paul did so repeatedly in his missionary journeys. This was a strategy which proved to be quite effective in reaching people.

Yet, in most cases, this warning given by the Lord Jesus, was the inevitable experience of the apostles.

When Paul was in Corinth, "He reasoned in the synagogue every sabbath, and persuade the Jews and the Greeks" (Acts 18: 4). "And when they opposed themselves, and blasphemed, he shook his raiment, and said unto them, Your blood be upon your own heads" (verse 6).

Not only did the world opposed and reject. So did those who were so very religious in their self-righteousness. They did! They still do!

There are so many who have no trouble convincing themselves that their opposition to those who live for Jesus is actually their service to God! The Pharisees proudly boasted that their opposition to the Lord Jesus was an integral part of their faithful service to God! They were so totally blind to spiritual reality!

The Pharisees are still with us! So are the Sadducees. Even as their response to those who are identified with the Lord Jesus is the same as it always has been.

Expect it! Be ready to deal with it as we move on in our fellowship with the Lord.

"And these things will they do unto you, because they know not the Father, nor Me!"

"But all these things will they do unto you for My Name's sake, because they know not Him that sent Me!"

Whether it is the sinful, unbelieving world; or, the religious "Pharisees," the reason is exactly the same in both cases. Their attitudes and their actions so clearly reveal that they have absolutely no knowledge of either the Lord Jesus or His Father!

Is that too strong? The Lord Jesus confirms that the evidence is beyond argument. It is irrefutable!

This strong statement is a constant reminder to every Christian to continually evaluate our attitudes to others. How we need to make quite sure that we are always responding to others in Christ-like love!

"But these things have I told you, that when the time shall come, ye may remember that I told you of them."

In His words the Lord Jesus continues to confirm His assurance: "Having loved His own which were in the world, He loved them unto the end" (John 13: 1).

He continues to love: to the uttermost! To the full extent and the final expression of genuine love. It is when we are faced with opposition and rejection that we are so graciously reminded of the amazing reality and extent of His love for us.

Every dark moment will be penetrated by the light of His love. The darker the night, the brighter will be the radiance of the light of His unfailing love when, in His perfect will, it breaks through in great glory.

It is so important that we remember: He does know everything which will be demanded of us long before we must face it. He knows the cost. The sacrifice. Even as He has already provided the grace which we will need to faithfully persevere.

"And these things I said not unto you at the beginning, because I was with you."

He had no need to warn them earlier. Not because they would not have to face very real opposition and rejection. He knew that they would have to face it.

He said this because, until this moment, He had been personally present with them. He Himself had personally dealt with each incident as it arose.

He had been there to calm their fears. He had answered all of the questions which caused them perplexity. Even as He had personally stood between them and those who would oppose them.

Because He Himself was there, His personal presence was all that they needed.

But, soon, He would be gone. Then, when He was gone, they would have to learn to rest in confident faith on His Word of promise. They needed to begin to understand how different things would become.

He wanted them to grasp the vital reality. When, by faith, they confidently rested in His Word, things would not really be that different!

He has not. He will not. He has given us that absolute Word of unshakable assurance. Faith confidently stands unmoved on His Word of promise.

"But now I go My way to Him that sent Me; and none of you asketh Me, Whither goest Thou?"

In chapter thirteen we have the following statement which the Lord Jesus made to His disciples: "Little children, yet a little while I am with you. Ye shall seek Me: and as I said unto the Jews, whither I go, ye cannot come; so now I say to you" (verse 33).

In response to those words, Peter asked, "Lord, whither goest Thou?" (verse 36). Superficially this appears to contradict the statement which the Lord Jesus makes here. Actually, it does not. The words may be same, but the intent is quite different.

The disciples' interest, particularly Peter's, was not focused on the Lord and where He was going. Or why He was going. Rather Peter's interest and concern were quite self-centered.

As we have seen earlier, the Lord Jesus had to deal with the specific problem which was so evident in Peter's question. Peter was making a strong self-confident assertion! He was insisting, Lord, I know better! I can go with you wherever you are going!

That very self-confident self-interest so clearly emphasizes the complete accuracy of the words of the Lord Jesus. "None of you is really interested in knowing where I am going!" They were only thinking of themselves.

It is so essential that we grasp the impact of this comment. Otherwise we will miss the full significance of the statement which follows.

"I go My way to Him that sent Me!" Think! What impact should that statement have had on the disciples when they first heard it? What impact should it have on us today? On our lives and our service?

He knew immediately the impact which His Words were having on them. He was fully aware of the many thoughts which were troubling the minds of His disciples. The turmoil of heart which they felt.

He had reminded them, and us, that there would be real opposition and rejection. It was inevitable that such a reminder would have a marked effect. Plus the statement that those involved would profess that they were offering God service by doing all they did!

Added to that was the distress aroused by the reminder that He was about to leave them! He would not be with them as they were compelled to go out and face all of these negative developments. It was in that way they interpreted all He was saying to them.

"Sorrow has filled your hearts!" He knew! He felt the sorrow! He was personally touched by its intensity.

He wanted them to know that He knew! He not only knew, He cared! He was deeply moved! In love and grace He spoke to answer the need!

He always knows! There is nothing which can ever trouble the heart of His people but He feels it. Nothing ever disturbs their peace but He reaches out in grace to comfort and encourage. He never overlooks anyone who is troubled and disturbed.

He knew the disturbance of their hearts. He moved to assure them: God had already provided for their need!

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send Him unto you!"

"Nevertheless I tell you the truth!" The Lord Jesus addressed the disciples in this way to emphasize the crucial truth of what He is about to say. He knew how essential it was for them to hear and understand His Word.

Make sure that you really do get this! They, like us, so often heard Him speak but really did not hear His Word. They listened to Him speak the words but they failed to really take in the message He sought to convey.

As on so many other occasions, their thoughts were preoccupied with those things which were "more important" to them! That was according to their opinion!

By contrast, His estimate, which was always absolutely accurate, was that His Words were of far great important to them. And, to us.

"It is expedient for you that I go away." It really is of the greatest importance to you that I do leave you. It is in your most vital interests for this to take place!

They had not seen their relationship to Him that way. They refused to even consider such a possibility. He knew that they needed to completely change their view of these issues. His emphatic statement was aimed at getting their attention.

This problem is still so common today. Far too many Christians have conditioned their minds, intentionally or otherwise, to "hear" what they want to hear. This is yet one more reason why our minds need to be thoroughly renewed. Then we will hear what our Lord is actually saying to us.

In the Father's perfect plan, a specific sequence is required. "If I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you."

The Lord Jesus knew that there was only one way they could fulfill the mission they were given in the will of God. That is, as they were filled with the Holy Spirit. Even as He Himself was anointed and filled with the Holy Spirit. By that anointing and infilling He faithfully fulfilled every aspect of His Father's will for His life and service.

The Holy Spirit could only come on the disciples after the Lord Jesus had returned to the Father,

The Lord Jesus had referred to the coming of the Comforter several times prior to this point. Yet this is the first time He revealed that it was His return in glory to the Father which would precede as well as actually initiate the coming to the Holy Spirit.

He had assured them, "I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter." He "shall be in you!" (John 14: 16, 17).

"But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in My Name, He shall teach you." (14: 26).

"But when the Comforter is come whom I will send unto you from the Father, He shall testify of Me" (15: 26).

In each of these cases the Lord Jesus revealed further aspects of this vital ministry of the Holy Spirit. Now, that it will be His exaltation to the Father's right hand in glory which will guarantee the coming of the Holy Spirit to fill and empower the disciples.

Remember the earlier witness of John: "For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified" (John 7: 39).

Also, this comforting assurance is directly related to what He had just said about rejection and opposition. They would not have to face any of that alone. The Holy Spirit would always share that with them as He would be in them.

"And when He is come, He will reprove the word of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement."

In the face of all of the hatred and the resentment of the world, the Holy Spirit comes to personally confront that world as the most dynamically effective witness. "He shall testify of Me!" (John 15: 26).

Remember this fact: "When He is come" He comes to be: "in you!" It is as He come to be "in you" that He will reprove the world! In the will of the Father you have been the chosen instruments through whom He will have such a powerful and effective impact on the world.

"Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you" (Acts 1: 8). He will come upon you to be in you so as to express Himself and His witness so powerfully to the world.

This is the same world which the Lord Jesus said will hate you! That very same world will be left with no choice but to have to face the confrontation of the Holy Spirit in you! This fact is equally true of those who will "put you out of the synagogues," convincing themselves that they are doing service to God by those actions!

No wonder the reaction to genuine Christian witness can become so excessive. It is reaction to the Holy Spirit filling you and witnessing through you.

The Holy Spirit in you demands of the world that they answer to Him. That they answer to His reproof of them, their lives and their attitudes. To His compelling conviction of their sin. Of righteousness. Of judgement.

In this spiritual reality the Holy Spirit totally identifies the Christian with the Lord Jesus and His life and ministry. His testimony in Nazareth was:

"The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach" (Luke 4: 18).

The Lord Jesus was hated because of the impact of the light of His witness on those who "loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil" (John 3: 19).

In their utterly perverse reasoning those concerned were able to convince themselves that they were doing God service by crucifying Him!

If they responded to the witness of the light of His life in that way, what must we expect? The Lord in His love has given us clear and sufficient warning.

The Holy Spirit comes in the perfect plan of God to faithfully pursue this essential work. It is God's will that He fill us and then witness through us as He reproves and convicts.

The Holy Spirit reveals and exalts Jesus. The result is always twofold. Some believe! Others respond in rejection and hatred.

Every aspect of the Holy Spirit's ministry in reproving and convicting the world is centered on the person of the Lord Jesus Christ. In fact, everything He does focuses on the Lord Jesus and His commitment to glorify Him.

"Of sin!" This reference takes us back to: "If I had not come, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin" (John 15: 22).

The light radiated from His personal presence, His Word, and His actions. It was this light which penetrated and exposed the hearts, the thoughts and the motives of every person, revealing all their sin.

The Holy Spirit continues to apply that same searching light to fully expose the true condition of all who choose to remain in their sin rather than come to the Savior!

The Holy Spirit seeks to continue to use our lives and witness as His instruments through which the Light of Jesus radiates today. This dazzling glory of the Lord Jesus continues to fully expose the exceeding sinfulness of sin.

He insists on applying this impact on the world which hates us because it hated Jesus. To leave all men without any excuse. Even those self-righteous Pharisees who pretend that they are serving God by opposing the Spirit's witness through us.

Paul speaks of those who "have a zeal for God" (Romans 10: 2). Yet he goes on to reveal that it is "not according to knowledge"! They think that they are doing God service!

Yet, "they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God" (Verse 3).

But, Jesus came! He is: The righteousness of God! His perfect righteousness fully exposed the selfserving counterfeit which had been so proudly paraded. They hated Him for doing that to them. They still hate His true people because His righteousness in them still has the same effect.

Yet, He who is the radiant example of true righteousness would so soon go to the Father. Men would see Him no more. Yet that fact would not bring to a close the striking impact of His righteousness.

The indwelling Holy Spirit would reveal the righteousness of Christ in and through His people. The light of that witness would continue to effectively convict the world, and the Pharisee, of their total failure to be righteous before God. Parading the utter emptiness of their self-serving self-justifications.

The Holy Spirit will convincingly convict the world: "Of judgement, because the prince of this world is judged!"

Just a brief time prior to this the Lord Jesus had triumphantly announced: "Now is the judgement of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out!" (John 12: 31).

In His death on the cross of Calvary the Lord Jesus effectively claims and proclaims the most glorious victory! The prince of this world has been judged, once and for all. The verdict is in!

"Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil!" (Hebrews 2: 14).

This reality is actually accomplished! "Destroy!" The one who had usurped the right to rule, "the prince of this world," had been forced to face the judgement bar! There he has been tried, found guilty, sentenced, and condemned! "Destroyed!"

The Holy Spirit comes to confront the world with the reality. All who willfully choose to be allied with the devil will inevitably share his fate. They reject and hate both the Lord Jesus and His people - now. They persecute. Many choosing to pretend that in doing so that are offering God service!

But, the eternal reality has already been decided. The Holy Spirit proclaims the verdict. He fills the true people of God to victoriously and convincingly convict the world of judgement. The judgement which is totally inevitable and inescapable.

There was so much more which He knew they needed to know. Aspects of the truth He had shared with them. Things which would be so important to them in the challenges which were ahead. Yet He knew that they were not ready to receive it all. Not yet.

The problem was in the disciples themselves. They had been revealing their immaturity by their self-centeredness. Their attitudes revealed how much they were still motivated by self-serving priorities and values.

Would the Lord have to make such a comment about us today? How we need to constantly make sure that in all things we are keeping ourselves open to the Lord. To His desire to teach us. Watching to ensure that there is nothing which would compel Him to speak about us in that way.

"Howbeit when He, the Spirit of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall hear, that shall He speak: and He will show you things to come."

Once again the Lord emphasizes it is in the best interests of the disciples that He return to the Father. He would then send the Holy Spirit to fill them, as the Father promised.

The aspects of the truth which they, as yet, were not ready to receive, the Holy Spirit would reveal to them. Doing so, when He knew that they were mature enough to receive them.

This is central to the Holy Spirit's ministry in us. To continually and progressively guide us, step by step, into all of the fullness of the truth.

The Lord Jesus assured the disciples that the Holy Spirit would open their understanding. He would enable them to see and know all He sought to teach them.

This He continues to do in all who will receive Him and willingly cooperate with Him. As we grow, becoming more spiritually mature, we will be able to receive deeper and fuller understanding of the truth. He identifies this maturity, and leads us into a richer knowledge and fuller comprehension.

The focus of this ministry of the Holy Spirit is not to draw attention to Himself. It is to speak the Word of the Lord. In exactly the same way the Lord Jesus came to speak the Word of the Father as He heard the Father speaking.

The result for the disciple, the Christian, will be a closer, deeper relationship with the Lord Jesus. A more complete personal knowledge of Him and His love. A more intense, vital love for Him and His Word.

"He shall glorify Me: for He shall receiveof Mine, and shall show it unto you."

Too often today, when people speak about the Holy Spirit and all they claim they can seeing Him doing, there is a most vital emphasis which is lacking. What we see and hear is a focus which is on the person who professes to have received the Spirit and what they are doing. Especially the spiritual "gift" which they are exercising. Which is the evidence of their "power"!

This suggests that the goal intentionally or otherwise, is to glorify the servant! The glory of the Lord is relegated to a lesser place.

"He shall glorify Me!" The Holy Spirit comes to exalt, honor, and glorify the Lord Jesus. He fills the Christian: to glorify Jesus! He gives spiritual gifts: to glorify Jesus! He works in power through the believer: To glorify Jesus!

Jesus said, "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Me!" (John 12: 32).

The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus. Glorifying Him in all His amazing grace and love. Revealing the radiant glory of His Person and personality. All He is!

He glorifies His atoning, sacrificial death on the cross. His resurrection in power. His exaltation in glory and sovereignty.

"He shall receive of Mine, and shall show it unto you!" Central to all the Holy Spirit "receives" is Jesus! His concentration is to be on this one message.

Inspired by the Holy Spirit Paul witnessed, "For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified!" (1 Corinthians 2: 2).

Every spiritual reality is centered in Jesus. The great depths of spiritual truth in Him into which the Holy Spirit is seeking to lead us. Riches of fellowship He seeks to reveal. So that we will: "Know

Invite the Holy Spirit to take each facet of the truth in Jesus and reveal it to us. He will, as He is able to fill us and teach us. He will glorify Jesus: to us! In us! Through us! As we let Him.

"All things that the Father hath are mine: therefore said I, that He shall take of Mine, and shall show it unto you."

"For I have not spoken of Myself: but the Father which sent Me, He gave Me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak" (John 12: 49).

For the Lord Jesus, everything had its source in: The Father! This included every Word which He spoke. Everything He did. Not one single Word or act found its source of authority in Him: all flowed through Him from the Father, to us.

In all areas of His life and ministry the Lord Jesus witnessed: to the Father. He glorified the Father. In every way He was utterly identified with the Father, His Word, and His will! "We are ONE!" (John 17: 22).

The effect of this dynamic emphasis flows both ways! The Son is able to rightfully claim as His own all that is the Father's! The Father freely and fully witnesses to this exciting reality.

This fact had the most exciting implications for the disciples to whom the Lord Jesus spoke. Even as it continues to have equally exciting implications for every believer today. Especially to those who are committed to respond to the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Desiring to be taught by Him.

Notice the exciting progression in His statement. First, "All that the Father hath is Mine!" Then, I want you to believe that the Holy Spirit is seeking to take all that is Mine! All that the Father has is His! Revealing all that is Mine to you!

All He is! All He has! All that He had accomplished! All of the victories which He has won. All of the abundance of life and blessing which is found in Him. All!

Why? Because His relationship with His Father is the example of the relationship He seeks to develop with His disciples. All! When, All that the Father has is His, He inspires us to believe: All He has is for us!

He said, "Abide in Me, and I in you!" (John 15: 4). Which is: I want you to experience all it means for you as a Christian to abide in all that I am! Not part, but: all! What it can mean for you to have all that there is of Me abiding in you!

The Holy Spirit comes to reveal all that this means to us. The amazing potential is far beyond the ability of our minds to comprehend. It is not beyond the reach of our experience as the Holy Spirit is permitted to have His way!

"For me to live is CHRIST!" (Philippians 1: 21). All of Him! Not just a part, but the whole! All He is! "Christ, who is our life!"(cOLOSSIANS 3: 4). He is our: Life abundant!

As the Holy Spirit is able to progressively continue His mission, He will reveal all this and so much more to us. The potential results will increasingly amaze our finite minds. Even as He inspires our faith!

Yet, this is the will of the Lord. His invitation and challenge to us are real. The Lord Jesus is so deeply concerned that His people really do take His Word seriously today!

Think of it! The world rejects us! Hates us! Even, persecutes us. Some can even imagine that they are doing God service by killing His people!

The Lord Jesus revealed the astonishing glory of His answer to this attitude of the world. His answer is the personal presence and ministry of the Holy Spirit.

On the one side, those who reject Jesus and His people. The Holy Spirit comes to effectively reprove and convict! He uses the very rejected people of God to make that conviction decisively effective.

On the other side: for the true people of God, the Holy Spirit reveals Jesus in all His radiant glory. Enabling us to see the amazing potential of our new life: In Him in all His fullness! That, in Him, we share in an exciting glory which is so infinitely greater than any cost or sacrifice which may confront us.

The inspiration is: allow the Holy Spirit to so fill us, that He will enable us to see Jesus! Jesus central to everything that may ever touch us or our lives. Jesus, willingly sharing all of the fullness of His personal glory with His people.

"The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us!" (Romans 8: 18).