CH 22 The Comforter
The Gospel of John explains Jesus as the Son of God, as God the Son. But, a second further revelation to the believers is that of the work of the Holy Spirit. In John we learn much of the Spirit’s ministry to mankind from the lips of the Lord himself.
On the night Jesus was betrayed he sat at meal with his disciples. Chapters thirteen through seventeen tell of the intense drama of that meal. In these five chapters we realize much new information, revelation from the Prophet, that is not present in the other gospel accounts. We are much the richer secondary to the reporting of John. Included in the Teacher’s words & actions was an object lesson on the beauty of service as the Lord washed the disciple’s feet. He foretold of Judas’ betrayal as well as Peter’s denial followed by words about Heaven and the promise that believers, those that embrace, the Way, the Truth & the Life, will be there with him. Jesus spoke of the importance of staying attached to him, the True Vine, in order to produce fruit to the Father’s glory. He told his men that as they continued in his word, he would reveal new truths to them going forward, new revelations. This must-have encouraged them as the Savior also prophesied that all who follow him would run into persecution at one time or another for their faith. He spoke much of the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth which would come upon all believers to empower us in our journey and the Son of Man prayed to the Father for us all that we would live in unity as we wait for the consummation all things at the End of the Age.
In this chapter, we will focus on our Lord’s words about the Comforter which he spoke at that awesome dinner meeting.
I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you forever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it sees him not, neither knows him: But you know him; for he dwells with you, and shall be in you.
John 14:16-17
The context of these words is important. Jesus was making it clear to his men that he was going to leave them. He told them that they would sorrow like a woman in travail, like a woman giving birth, as they witnessed his murder, his sacrifice. But he also promised them that they would rejoice as that same woman does when she realized the birth of her child. They would have inexpressible joy upon his return to them, upon his resurrection from the dead! After finishing his mission, he told the disciples that he would ultimately go back to the Father. This would pave the way for the third person of the Trinity to join them. He was present with them previously, but after this, he would be in them. He would come upon them in new ways and with new power. Jesus noted that the worldlings would not understand this, that it would be like a foreign language to them, so not to be surprised when that occurred. This explains so much. The simplicity and beauty of the Gospel seems so clear to us who believe, yet to the unbelieving World, it is either a stumbling block or foolishness. This, according to our Lord, is because they are living without the connection to God, without the Comforter who only will come upon those who believe. It’s the classic Catch-22… Don’t’ have the Comforter, don’t understand. But need the Comforter to even begin to comprehend. Thank God, that he even gives us the faith to believe. As Paul preaches, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: It is the gift of God,” (Ephesians 2:8). Even the faith it takes to believe, comes from God. He does it all!
These things I have spoken unto you, being yet present with you. But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
John 14:25-26
This is huge! Jesus will not leave us alone. With Jesus present, the Kingdom of God was with us. But it was limited by space & time. It was only in one place, wherever the King was. But with our Lord’s return to the Father, the Almighty would send the Holy Spirit. And that Spirit would not be limited to just one place, for he would be wherever anyone who called upon the name of Jesus resided. The presence of the kingdom would now go across the globe!
And look at the wonderful work that the Spirit would do. He would teach us all things. Everything we need to know. And, he would cause us to remember what Jesus had previously taught. This explains the inspiration of the New Testament very well. Written shortly after the events, we can be sure that the words we have are from God, as they are empowered by the Spirit himself, (2 Timothy 3:16, Proverbs 30:5a).
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.
John 16:7
“It is for the best that I leave!” I doubt at the time that the disciples would agree. The task ahead, the road to travel, seemed so great. That small group of believers was the proverbial mustard seed that Jesus said would grow into a great tree. They were only one hundred twenty believers looking at telling the World about their Lord. But Jesus is teaching that with his return to the Father, the Spirit would come and the new day would begin. In retrospect, we know that is indeed what has occurred.
And when he is come…
John 16:8a
Notice, the Spirit is a “he.” The Holy Ghost is a person, just like the Father & the Son. He is not an ethereal entity, he is not a vague force. No, he is a person. Undoubtedly, not like we think of a person, limited to time and space as we are, but an individual nonetheless. Someone with a personality, a character, a will and an identity.
…he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: Of sin, because they believe not on me; of righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
John 16:8b-11
Jesus here explains the three-fold ministry of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit will act as the conscience for the World. It will be the referee separating truth from error. He will be the umpire calling the motions of the world as either right of wrong, as true or false. We see that sin is something he will call out. And specifically, it is the sin of not believing upon the Savior. You see, the Prince of this World wants all to feel that sin is passe’. That it is not really a thing. The Holy Spirit will not allow that. All people have sinned, the Bible teaches. Everyone needs a Redeemer. The Spirit will make it his top priority to keep front and center a person’s need to repent, to turn from sin and to turn to Jesus for grace & forgiveness. It’s the only way!
Secondly, he will speak of righteousness because Jesus went to the Father. You see, when Adam & Eve were created, many Bible teachers believe that after a period of testing, if you will, in the Garden of Eden, had they not sinned they would have been transported up into Heaven. Jesus modeled this on the Mount of Transfiguration. After living a perfect human life for over thirty years, he climbed Mount Hebron and glowed like the sun. He heard his Father’s blessing and could have left for heaven at that moment showing that it was possible to live without sinning. But thankfully for us, he chose to stay and to later to climb Mount Calvary to atone for our sins. The Spirit will speak of righteousness by preaching that Jesus is the Way, the Truth & the Life. He is the path to the Father. It is not all roads lead to Chicago as the Devil would like us to believe. No, some roads lead to Timbuktu. Other roads lead to oblivion. The Spirit will clearly spell that out, whether it is politically correct or not!
Thirdly, the Holy Ghost will testify of Satan’s judgment. He will announce to the believers that the hordes of Hell no longer have dominion over us. You see, after Adam sinned, as caretaker of this planet, he gave the title deed over to Satan. Our Adversary became the god of this World. Thus, when Jesus came on the scene four thousand years later, Satan was in the position to offer our Lord all of the kingdoms of the world in exchange for his worship. This would have made no sense if Satan was not the owner. Jesus of course, did not accept, but instead went to the Cross to buy back the planet. The Devil did not understand the implications of the Jesus’ sacrifice as 1st Corinthians 2:6-8 teaches. Indeed, Satan believed he had won by killing our Lord. How insanely furious he must have been, when three days later, the new owner of the planet returned to life. The Spirit will constantly remind us that we are more than conquerors through Christ. That greater is he that is in us, than he that is in the world. That the former prince of the world has been judged and is found wanting!
I have yet many things to say unto you, but you cannot bear them now.
John 16:12
Jesus came speaking a message of repentance, for the Kingdom of God has come. But he did not speak in much detail of the time after his rejection. He did not really reveal much of the Age of Grace that we are now living in. The time between his two advents was hid in God as Ephesians 3:9 teaches. There are many mysteries which the Spirit subsequently made known to our early brothers of the New Testament, which we are aware of and living in today.
Examples of previously unknown truths, mysteries in the New Testament which the Spirit revealed, are many. We are now cognizant through Paul of the mystery that blindness would in part happen to the Jews until the fullness of the Gentiles be come in (Romans 11:25). The Holy Ghost revealed in much greater detail the event we now understand as the Rapture. Paul called that a mystery in 1st Corinthians 15:51-54. The truth, the mystery, that the Gentiles would be fellow-heirs and of the same body, and partakers of God’s promises in Christ was revealed in the epistles of Ephesians & Colossians. (Ephesians 3:1-11 & Colossians 1:26-27). The mystery of iniquity is found in 2nd Thessalonians 2:7. This is the revelation that when the Holy Spirit leaves the planet at the time of the departure of the saints, the Wicked One, also called the Antichrist, will be revealed to the fooled of the World as a great leader. As a messiah figure. The mystery of the seven prophetic churches was given to the believers from the Spirit’s inspiration to John, (Revelation 1:20). Lastly, John, also spoke of the mystery of a world-wide false religion based in Rome found in Revelation 17:5, 9 & 18.
In the Bible, a mystery means that God is revealing a truth, that up until that point in time was unknown to man, or sometimes even by angels. It doesn’t mean that it is a new truth that God has come up with, but it is an aspect of God’s plan that previously was not known. Mysteries are much like the truths children learn as they grow and mature. Just because I didn’t understand physics or romance as a boy didn’t mean that those things were not an entity. They were just a mystery to me. What about art history or quantum theory? They exist, but they still are a mystery to me! Same for those without the Spirit. Each of the mysteries listed above are far outside of the mind of those who do not call Jesus, Lord.
Jesus is clearly teaching that there would be things to come that the Spirit would uncover that they were unable to bear at that moment in time. In retrospect, we can revel in the gravity of these words from our Lord to his disciples.
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: For he will not speak of himself…He shall glorify me: For he shall receive of mine, and show it to you.
John 16:13a, 14
Jesus is the Way, the Truth & the Life. The Spirit will not speak of himself, he will illuminate, he will magnify Jesus. When a work of the Spirit is active, our Lord is the focal point, not the Spirit himself. In Old Testament typology, pictures of the Holy Ghost were always portrayed in humility. Examples you can check are many. Ezra, Nehemiah, Caleb, the unnamed servant of Abraham who was sent out to find a bride for Isaac, come to mind. All of these Holy Spirit types glorified another, not themselves. Holy Spirit movements, Holy Ghost revivals, are always subject to suspicion, as the Spirit doesn’t speak of himself. When believers conjure up Holy Spirit meetings, I always wonder if that is the best.
…and he will show you things to come.
John 16:13b
The prophets of old had the Spirit come upon them as they predicted the future. So it is also in our dispensation. Prophecy was given to the believers via the Spirit. We have learned of the Rapture, the Tribulation time frame, the Antichrist and of the 2nd Coming by the Spirit’s inspiration. And the wonderful thing is, since so much prophecy of the Lord’s dealings in the World has already come to pass, the promises that are still in the future, we can trust as also going to occur. God is faithful, and his Word is always fulfilled.
As we mentioned at the outset, John’s gospel revealed the work of the Spirit to a much greater degree than was previously known. Let’s look at some of the other examples of this which we discover from his wonderful account.
Then answered the Jews and said unto him, what sign do you show unto us, seeing that you do these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Then said the Jews, forty and six years was this temple in building, and will you rear it up in three days? But he spoke of the temple of his body. When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the word which Jesus had said.
John 2:18-22
How did they remember the words Jesus spoke? Why the Spirit brought it unto their remembrance. Notice also that Jesus did not correct the Jews concerning their wrong understanding of his words to them. They believed he was talking about the actual Temple while in reality the Savior spoke of his body which would be given for the sins of the world. Jesus sort of left it out there, trusting that the Spirit would indeed do his work and bring revelation of the correct meaning to the disciples at the proper time.
Reading through the gospels we see this phenomenon often. That is, an action of Jesus not really making sense to his men at the time, but in retrospect, when it was recorded later, the Spirit’s editing is clearly seen. Confusion turned to explanation. And often that explanation included a prophetic fulfillment of Jesus which the disciples were unaware of at the time, but later, given the spiritual illumination, were able to point out the connections Jesus made for all of us which have followed.
This is a good word for me. I don’t have to always explain everything when I perceive that I am being misunderstood. I should take the que from my Lord and trust he will by his spirit illuminate others as he sees fit. Living this way is like a cool breeze. Far less stressful. The tricky part though, is doing it. It’s not natural. But with practice it can become a habit. And you know what they say about habits. If you sow a habit, it will become a character.
Jesus answered and said unto her (the woman at Jacob’s well of Samaria), if you knew the gift of God, and who it is that says unto you, give me a drink; you would have asked of him, and he would have given you living water. The woman said unto him, sir, you have nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: From where then have you this living water? Are you greater than our father Jacob, which gave us this well, and drank of it himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, whosoever drinks of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
John 4: 10-14 (italics added)
Living water is a metaphor of the Spirit which Jesus gives to all who ask for it. It is much more than mere water which we need to live our temporary lives. It is spiritual drink that imparts eternal life. Like water to the physical, the living water is the essence of eternal & spiritual life. And it will be like a well of spring water. An endless supply from the fountain of life!
Take note also, Jesus clearly implies to the woman that one must ask him for the living water.
Ask and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. For everyone that asks, receives: and he that seeks, finds; and to him that knocks, it shall be opened. If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent? Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: How much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Luke 11:9-13
Like Jesus’ words to the woman at Jacob’s well, this contrast parable that ends with these words clearly teach that we must ask for the Spirit’s filling. The empowerment is not a loose cannon, but it is a powerful weapon for good, given to those who desire to be used by God in the world. It doesn’t come upon us by accident, but by conscious and simple request.
Soon thereafter, Jesus not only shared living water, but living bread. Let’s listen;
The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven…Truly, truly I say unto you, he that believes on me has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which comes down from heaven, that a man may eat, thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: If any man eats of this bread, he shall live forever: And the bread that I shall give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, how can this man give us his flesh to eat? Then Jesus said unto them, truly, truly I say unto you, except you eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoso eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, has eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eats my flesh, and drinks my blood, dwells in me, and I in him. As the living Father has sent me, and I live by the Father: So he that eats me, even he shall live by me. This is that bread which came down from heaven: Not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: He that eats of this bread shall live forever. These things said he in the synagogue, as he taught in Capernaum. Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, this is a hard saying; who can hear (understand) it? When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, does this offend you? What and if you shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? It is the spirit that quickens; the flesh profits nothing: The words that I speak unto you are spirit, and they are life…From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. John 6:41, 47-63, & 66 (italics added)
After these spiritual words were spoken, words of spirit & life, many disciples left, they went back to their lives and no longer followed him. What did Jesus do? Clearly, he did not chase after them. We didn’t see him running after his followers saying “Wait, you misunderstood me! Eating my flesh & drinking my blood is a metaphor, it’s not literal. It’s about taking into yourselves my very life. Please come back!” No, this is not what the Lord did. He was relaxed, again trusting that the Spirit would reveal the appropriate meaning of his vivid word picture at the right time. As he said… “it is the Spirit that quickens.”
This is another application for us who want to be used by our Lord too. I want to share truth and trust the Father, through the Spirit to draw people to himself. We are witnesses, not defense attorneys! All we need to do is speak the Word, and the Spirit will make the application in people’s hearts. We plant & water, but he gives the increase!
In the last day, that great day of the feast (the eighth day of the Feast of Tabernacles) …
John 7:37a (italics added)
Understand, the Feast of Tabernacles was the greatest of the three major feasts on the Jewish calendar. It occurred in September or early October and celebrated the wilderness wanderings of the Jews in the days of Moses, commorating God’s deliverance and provision. But it also looked forward to that future liberation at the hands of Messiah. During their time in the wilderness, perhaps the greatest miracle, among a multitude of signs, was when Moses was instructed to smite the Rock and out gushed forth water which satisfied the thirst of the people. In Jesus’ day the priests had a ritual which illustrated this beautifully. For the first seven days of the Feast, they would proceed down from the Temple Mount with much pomp and ceremony to the Pool of Siloam (Siloam means Sent One). There, the High Priest would gather up water in a golden pitcher from the Pool and bring it up to the Mount where, in front of all of the worshipers who were sitting in the open square, he would pour it out as an offering, thanking God for his past provisions. But on the eighth day, the great day, the High Priest would bring an empty pitcher, he would pour it, with nothing present, and pronounce their hope and belief in the future provision which would be ushered in by Messiah. The people wound then recite a promise found in Isaiah’s words to them. “Thus saith the Lord that made thee, and formed thee from the womb, which will help thee: Fear not, O Jacob, my servant, and thou Jesurun (another name for Israel), whom I have chosen. For I will pour water upon him that is thirsty, and floods upon the dry ground: I will pour my spirit upon thy seed, and my blessing upon thine offspring,” (Isaiah 44:2-3, italics added).
With this background, what happened next is awesome!
… Jesus stood and cried, saying, if any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink. He that believes on me, as the scripture has said, * out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. (But this spoke he of the Spirit, which they that believe on him should receive: For the Holy Ghost was not yet given; because that Jesus was not yet glorified.)
John 7:37b-42 (* Proverbs 14:27, Isaiah 58:10-11)
The audacity of this scene. It’s completely quiet, very somber. The people had just recited Isaiah’s words, everyone is waiting for the High Priest to pronounce that future blessing of Messiah. You could hear a pin drop. Then suddenly, from the middle of the sitting crowd, stands up the True High Priest, rises up one who screams at the top of his lungs what you have just read. Imagine the power and the presence that Jesus possessed at that moment. All were stunned! All were flabbergasted. The very picture this ceremony was illustrating was taken to a new level. It indeed was fulfilled at that very moment. The Rock that was smitten in the Exodus account, releasing water for the people was picturing the true Rock of Ages, being smitten and thereby releasing the torrents of living water, forever quenching the believer’s thirst. Indeed, on the eighth day, (eight being the number of new beginnings in the Bible) Messiah pronounced their provision, an endowment based upon belief in him!
Shortly after the Lord was glorified, these words were fulfilled actively;
And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the house where they were sitting…And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost…And there was dwelling in Jerusalem, Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven. Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language. And they were all amazed and marveled, saying one to another, behold, are not all these which speak Galileans? And how hear we every man in our own tongue, wherein we were born?...we do hear them speak in our own tongues the wonderful works of God. And they were all amazed, and were in doubt, saying one to another, what does this mean? Others mocking said, these men are full of new wine. But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, you men of Judea, and all that dwell in Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: For these are not drunken as you suppose, see it is but the third hour of the day (9 am). But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel: And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour my spirit upon all flesh: And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams…And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Acts 2:1-17, 21 (excerpts, italics added)
Peter then boldly preached the Gospel in the power of the Spirit and three thousand Jews were saved! Joel’s words concerning the outpouring of the Spirit (Joel 2:28-32) were set in motion upon that day just as Jesus said would occur.
Lastly, in considering our Comforter, greetings of Paul to the believers in Corinth give a wonderful amplification of the Spirit’s working in our lives to encourage others.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort: Who comforts us in all of our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.
2nd Corinthians 1:3-4
We are able to comfort one another even when we have not experienced the same trials as others because we have seen the Comforter’s work in our lives in the tribulations we have endured, and thus can leverage those experiences of God ‘s faithfulness in order to help others. This is important to remember in regards to ministry. Don’t believe the lie that you cannot help another who is going through a trial that you have never experienced. Our Adversary wants us to sit on the sidelines feeling inadequate when this promise says otherwise. Just because I have never had a miscarriage, for instance, does not disqualify me from ministering to a sister undergoing this pain as God has worked mercy into my life via other challenges I have experienced. This work of the Spirit dares us all to live in the present and to operate in the here & now, knowing we are indeed up to any opportunity for ministry we may face.
So let us thank the Father & the Son for sending the Comforter. With his work in our world, we are more than conquerors, separating truth from error, showing the way of salvation, pronouncing the judgment of evil and telling of things to come while we wait patiently, yet expectantly, for the return of our wonderful Savior, Jesus Christ.
Summary:
Jesus told his disciples that after he left, he would send the Comforter to those who believe in him. The Holy Spirit would bring to remembrance things he had said.
The Holy Ghost has a three-fold ministry. To reprove the World for the sin of not believing in Jesus, to demonstrate the righteousness of the Lord in living a beautiful life and telling of the judgment of Satan.
The Comforter speaks of Jesus & of things to come in the future.
The “living water” passages of John 4 & 7 are metaphors of the Holy Spirit.
The Comforter empowers believers to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8) & a comfort during trials to others.
For Further Study:
What happened to Satan’s control over you and the World when the Comforter judged him?
What are some of the truths the Spirit has revealed to us which Jesus was unable to tell his disciples when he was with them?
Do you think the words of Paul & John concerning the Rapture & the End Times are inspired?
Why did Jesus not feel the need to correct listeners who misunderstood him?
How does a believer become empowered by the Spirit?