Jesus Strengthens His Disciples

GOLDEN TEXT: “When 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.” —John 16:13

JOHN 16:1-13

IN TODAY’S lesson we find Jesus still in the “upper room” with his disciples, preparing them further for the time, rapidly approaching, when he would no longer be with them in person, and when they would have the responsibility of being his representatives, his ambassadors. In the event there still lingered in their minds the thought that soon they would be exalted to reign with him in his kingdom, he warned that instead of being honored and exercising power, they would be hated and persecuted, some of them unto death.

He realized the great sense of loss they would experience when he departed, so he assured them of a compensating portion which would be theirs: that he would send the Holy Spirit to enlighten and comfort them. Because of the traditional misconception of what the Holy Spirit really is, the translators of the King James Version improperly used personal pronouns when translating Jesus’ promise.

The proof of this is found in the record of the fulfillment of Jesus’ promise, which fulfillment came at Pentecost. It is in the second chapter of Acts, verse 4, and says that “they were all filled with the Holy Spirit (mistranslated Ghost).” Surely they could not be filled with a person!

In verses 16 and 17 Peter reveals that what was witnessed at Pentecost was in fulfillment of the prophecy of Joel 2:28-32, which foretold that the Lord would “pour out” his Holy Spirit upon his servants and handmaidens. It would be difficult to understand how a person could be “poured out.”

In verse 33 Peter identifies the Pentecostal experiences with Jesus’ own promise to send the Holy Spirit, saying, “He hath shed forth this [not him], which ye do now see and hear.” A person could not properly be said to be “shed forth.”

All these expressions are proper and understandable when we recognize that the Holy Spirit is the holy power, or influence of God, sent forth by him to accomplish whatever purpose he may desire. In the case of Jesus’ promise, the mission of God’s holy power was to enlighten the minds and hearts of the waiting disciples, and empower them to be effective ambassadors for Christ in an antagonistic world.

This mighty and holy power of God in their lives accomplished all that Jesus promised. It was a definite witness to them that he had returned to his Father, and from his exalted position in heaven was guiding and blessing them as they went forth proclaiming the Gospel.

It was also an enlightening influence recalling the wonderful teachings of Jesus, and placing them in their proper perspective in the divine plan. It enabled them to understand clearly that it was necessary for Jesus to die to take the sinner’s place in death; and it also revealed plainly to them that they had the opportunity to suffer and die with Jesus, and if faithful in this, they would live and reign with him.

Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would reveal things to come, and it did. Under its enlightening influence, the apostles foresaw the great apostasy that would develop in the church, and were able to forecast the development of the Antichrist. They also perceived clearly the larger work of the Messiah when he returned to set up his kingdom—that glorious work of “restitution” which had been spoken by all God’s holy prophets.

The marginal translation of verse 8 declares that the Holy Spirit would “convince the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.” It is through the church, beginning at Pentecost, that the testimony of the Holy Spirit reaches the world. The church is bidden to go into all the world and preach the Gospel, and her testimony is that all who do not “believe” are yet in their sins. She also testifies that righteousness is available only because Jesus returned to the Father and appeared in his presence on behalf of believers, presenting the merit of his shed blood on the antitypical mercy seat.

The church also, by the authority of the Holy Spirit, testifies concerning an opportunity for trial, or “judgment” which is open to all, because the “prince of this world,” judged and found wanting, loses his rulership of death over the people, being made powerless by the crucified and resurrected Jesus.

The only ones in the world who are thus “convinced” during the present age, are those who believe and accept the call to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. But the testimony of the Holy Spirit through the church continues into the age to come, when the world as a whole will be enlightened and learn righteousness, and when Satan, his judgment having gone against him, will actually be bound.

QUESTIONS

What did Jesus promise to his disciples as a compensating portion which would take the place of his personal presence with them?

How do we know from the record of the Pentecostal experience that the Holy Spirit is not a person, but the power of God?

How does the Holy Spirit convince the world of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment?

When will this prophecy have its complete fulfillment?

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