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2. The Holy Trinity descends on believers by the Comforter (John 14:12–25)
JOHN 14:15
15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
Evangelism renders thanks for Calvary. He who does not evangelize does not know Christ’s liberty. If you find that prayers and witness are fruitless, examine yourself whether you are abiding in Christ’s love, or are your sins preventing that blessing. Confess your lack before Jesus so that the stream of blessing may not be cut off from others. The Lord has given us numerous commandments: Love your enemies, watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect; come unto me all you who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. These imperatives are summed up in the golden text: love one another as I have loved you. His commandments are not heavy burdens, but a help to living and a bridge to faith and love.
Whoever experiences Jesus’ ransom cannot live for himself but serves Christ the Savior.
JOHN 14:16-17
16 I will pray to the Father, and he will give you another Counselor, that he may be with you forever,- 17 the Spirit of truth, whom the world can’t receive; for it doesn’t see him, neither knows him. You know him, for he lives with you, and will be in you.
He who tries to live up to Jesus’ commands on his own will fail in despair. For that reason, Jesus interceded with God to send the Comforter, the Holy Spirit. He has several functions here. He is the Spirit of truth who shows us the extent of our sins. Then he portrays to us Jesus crucified before us, assuring us that this is the divine Son who pardons our sins. He makes us righteous before God by grace. This blessed Spirit gives us the second birth. He opens our mouths to call God our Father. Then we feel sure that we are truly the children of God by the Spirit of adoption. Lastly, he becomes our advocate defending us. He stands beside us and keeps us firm in the face of Satan’s whispers, assuring us that salvation is complete. We cannot find certainty in our trials or satisfaction in this world except through the Comforter whom Jesus has sent us.
No man possesses the Spirit by nature, neither a genius or a poet or a seer. This Spirit is supernatural, and comes on those who believe in Christ’s blood. He who does not love Jesus or accept him does not have the Spirit indwelling him. But he who loves Jesus and accepts his salvation experiences joy in practice. With the Holy Spirit in our hearts we experience God’s power in the midst of weakness. Jesus assures you that this Comforter will not forsake you in death or at the judgment, for he is life eternal.
JOHN 14:18-20
18 I will not leave you orphans. I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while, and the world will see me no more; but you will see me. Because I live, you will live also. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.
When the betrayer went out, Jesus informed the disciples that he was to leave them soon, and they would not be able to follow. But he added that he would return to them in person. He was aware of their fears, and his saying has two meanings: Firstly, the coming of the Holy Spirit, since the Lord is this Spirit. Secondly, his coming in glory at the end of time. For these two reasons, he had to leave them and go to his Father. Without this farewell, the Holy Spirit would not have come to us.
This Spirit is he who opens eyes and hearts instantly. We are aware that Jesus did not rest in the grave as others do, but that he is alive, present with the Father. His life is the foundation of the cosmos and of our salvation. Because he defeated death, he gives us life, so that we too may overcome death by faith and live in Christ’s righteousness. Our religion is one of life full of hope.
The comforting genuine Spirit is God’s Spirit who comes to dwell in us, and convince us that the Son is in the Father and the Father in the Son in perfect union. This spiritual knowledge of the Holy Trinity is not like the study of mathematics, but becomes incarnate in the believer, that we might be united with God as Jesus is. These mysteries in the Spirit lie beyond our grasp as humans.
Jesus does not say that he wishes to dwell in you separately, "but I dwell in you together". The Christian is not only on his own the temple of the Spirit; he is rather like a stone set in this divine mansion. All believers share in this spiritual indwelling. This promise is given in the plural, "You are in me and I in you". The fellowship of saints is where Jesus reveals himself. Do you notice that the Lord concludes this promise with a charge " Love one another as I have loved you"? It is not I alone that am bound to Christ, but all of us will be filled unto the fullness of God.
PRAYER: We bow before you, Holy Lamb of God; by your death we have received eternal life. Forgive our little faith, our ignorance, so that no barrier may rise between you and us. May we see you in all our trials, and live in that lofty awareness. We thank you that our Comforter has come, the Spirit of truth who will keep us together for ever.
QUESTION:
- What are the attributes that Jesus applies to the Holy Spirit?