Jesus’ Last Words to His Disciples – The Promise of the Paraklete

March 22, 2017
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Text — John 14:15-30; 16:5-15

 

  1. Introduction
    1. During this Lenten Season we have been considering Jesus’ last words to his disciples.
    2. We have noted that there are at least four recurring themes running through this discourse.
      1. Believe or trust in him
      2. He is going to the Father:
        1. To prepare a place for us
        2. To Send the Holy Spirit
      3. Love
        1. We love him, he loves us, the Father loves him and us
        2. Love for one another is the mark of discipleship
      4. Ask anything of the Father in his name
    3. Today we take up the topic of the promise of the Holy Spirit
      1. If you will note, there are two significant sections of the final discourse that addresses this subject. We will consider them both together so that we will have a broader view of the mission of the Holy Spirit.
  2. The Promise of the Holy Spirit Verses 14: 15-31
    1. Verse 15 The first thing we note about this passage is that the gift of the Holy Spirit is dependent upon obedience to Christ
      1. If we love him, we will obey him and he in turn will send the Holy Spirit to us
        1. He repeats this 3 times: v. 15, v. 21, and v. 23
        2. Threefold repetition in Scripture signifies extreme importance.
      2. Verse 24 The world cannot accept him because they do not love him and they will not obey him.
    2. The second thing to note is that Christ will give us another
      1. Parakletos – called to one’s side, i.e. to aid. It was used in a court of justice to denote a legal assistant, counsel for the defense, and advocate; then generally one who pleads another’s cause, and intercessor. In the widest sense, it signifies a succourer, comforter. Christ was this to his disciples, by the implication of his word, “another comforter,” the Holy Spirit.
      2. NIV – Counselor
      3. NRSV – Advocate
      4. KJV – Comforter
      5. NKJV – Helper
      6. Verse 16 – the Spirit of truth.
    3. Thirdly, notice why the comforter will come and how he will comfort us:
      1. Verse 16 – Christ is leaving and going back to the Father. Normally this means a permanent separation, but Jesus is going to send a paraklete in his place.
        1. Christ has been with them as counselor. The Spirit of truth will be in them doing the same thing.
        2. Verse 26 He will guide them into all truth
        3. Verse 27 He is the source of Christ’s peace and the gift of peace to the disciples.
      2. Notice the presence of the Trinity
        1. Note the language: v. 18 & 19, “. . . he lives with you and will be in you. . . I will come to you.
        2. Then in v. 20: “On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”
        3. Here we have an unmistakable statement of the Trinity being with us. The primary actor is the Holy Spirit. He not only represents the Trinity, He is God!
  3. The Work of the Holy Spirit verses 16:5-15
    1. Verses 5-7 When I go, he will come.
    2. Verse 8 To convict the world of guilt (expose the sin of the world)
      1. Note that the NT usually speaks of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer, but here we see he is also working in the world.
    3. Verse 9 Sin
      1. Their sin is their unbelief
      2. Also, unbelief is a classic example of sin
    4. Verse 10 righteousness
      1. No one but the Holy Spirit can reveal that a righteous status before God does not depend upon good works, but upon Christ’s death on the cross
    5. Verse 11 Judgment
      1. Jesus is speaking of the defeat of Satan, which is a form of judgment, not simply a victory. More than power is in question. (NIV Study Bible notes)
    6. Verse 13 Will guide you into all truth (note repetition of 14:25).
  4. The Day of Pentecost – Acts 2
    1. The Holy Spirit has been sent to every believer