Blessed Departure

We often get the idea that the disciples and other first century Jews had a great advantage over us today; they got to walk and talk with Jesus while He was here on earth in the flesh. However, Jesus contradicts that thought in the great final teaching discourse He delivered to the disciples on the night before His crucifixion. Jesus plainly taught His disciples that they would be much better off when He left them physically.

In John 14:12, Jesus said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father.” (NASU)

Jesus went on to say in John 14:16-17, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.” (NASU) Jesus was letting His disciples know that even though He would not continue to be physically with them, the Holy Spirit would be with them forever. Furthermore, shockingly, the Holy Spirit would be in them.

Jesus continued, “These things I have spoken to you while abiding with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.” (John 14:25-26 NASU)

Thus, while Jesus was with them physically, He was teaching them and they would forget much. However, the Holy Spirit would be in them continuing to teach them while at the same time causing them to remember what Jesus had already taught them.

A few paragraphs later, Jesus further explained how it would be possible for the disciples to do these greater works mentioned in John 14:12. Jesus said, “But now I am going to Him who sent Me; and none of you asks Me, ‘Where are You going?’ But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” (John 16:5-7 NASU)

It is a beautiful truth but still difficult to understand. Jesus departure from earth would be gain for the disciples. Their relationship with Him had been an intimate one. They had known Him personally, walked with Him, talked with Him, ate with Him, etc. However, that relationship was destined to become infinitely more intimate.

The Holy Spirit taking up residence inside each disciple is a very difficult thing to believe and impossible to understand.

No longer would they go to a place (the Temple) where God dwelt; from Pentecost forward God would dwell in them.

God, in the flesh, walking alongside a person is clear and easy to understand. God, in spirit form, abiding in a person is not so easy to understand.

God in the flesh giving verbal instruction is easy to understand. God in spirit form communicating with us in the depths of our own spirit is mysterious and beautiful. It must be known by experience.

This is walking by faith. This seems to be a great weakness in the 21st century, American church. We have failed to understand what a responsibility and privilege we have in the Holy Spirit living within us. This is the secret to enjoying God’s presence and fulfilling our mission.

You can email Pastor Ellison at [email protected].