Private Ministry: The Work of the Holy Spirit (16:1-15)

Introduction:

The last time we were in the gospel of John, two weeks ago, Andrew John described for us the reality of The Hatred of the World from John 15:18-27. He declared how we are to Realize the Hate that the world has for Christ’s followers is to be expected because they first hated Christ, and the Reasons for the Hate is because we our Christ’s servants and keep his word which reveals to the world their sin so that their guilt is exposed. He then declared what our Respond to the Hate should be, and that is a lead into this morning’s message, the hope found in the promise of the Holy Spirit.

So, this morning Jesus will begin with that same theme of the world’s hatred, however, we will transition quickly into a supernatural realm of hope that will be provided through The Work of the Holy Spirit, in John 16:1-15.

Text: John 16:1-15

John 16:1–15 ESV

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away. 2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. 3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me. 4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. 5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless, 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. 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. 12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

Main Idea: Since Jesus provides hope in the coming of the Holy Spirit, we can be assured that he will guide us through every trial with divine wisdom and comfort.

I. Assurance Amidst Adversity (1-4)

1 “I have said all these things to you to keep you from falling away.

I have said (laleo [per, act, ind] - to speak in the past with ongoing affect) all these things - Jesus uses his words (now recorded in Scripture) as the means to keep you from falling away (scandalizo [aor, pas, sub] - to disbelieve permanently or finally, seen as a stumbling and falling down).

Our tendency is to cower and run at the first sign of opposition, however Jesus words and promises are the means by which we must stand. Jesus gives an example of what the disciples are to expect…

2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.

They will put you out of the synagogues. - to be excommunicated from the religious community of Israel, is to be excommunicated from Jewish life and to become associated with the gentiles.

The Jewish leaders have threatened this excommunication before (9:22; 12:42) and imposed it on the blind man who witnessed to the healing he received from Jesus (9:34). Later, as the gospel spreads, its messengers routinely seek out synagogues, but their witness often encounters rejection and they are frequently expelled from gatherings of Jews of the dispersion and Gentile proselytes.

hour. - On the idea of “hour” as the commencement of the expected latter-day tribulation here and in 16:4.

Whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God - implies a deep deception, ultimately inspired by Satan, who is a murderer and the father of lies (see 8:44). The apostle Paul himself, prior to his conversion, thought he was serving God by persecuting Christians (see Acts 8:1–3 [where Paul is called Saul]; Gal. 1:13–14; 1 Tim. 1:13).

Galatians 1:13–14 ESV

13 For you have heard of my former life in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it. 14 And I was advancing in Judaism beyond many of my own age among my people, so extremely zealous was I for the traditions of my fathers.

Note that this persecution and hatred is seen as coming from those who think they are part of God’s covenant people. Jesus gives the real reason behind this activity…

3 And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.

they have not known (ginosko [aor, act, ind]) the Father, nor me. - This has been an prevailing theme through John gospel with regard to Jesus and His relationship with His Father…for instance, back up in John 12:44-50…

John 12:44–50 ESV

44 And Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. 49 For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment—what to say and what to speak. 50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.”

…and then to the ultimate result of this lack of knowledge in John 15:23

John 15:23 ESV

23 Whoever hates me hates my Father also.

Jesus in his preparation of his disciples, does not mince words, but instead he says…

4 But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

But I have said these things to you, that when their hour comes you may remember that I told them to you. - Believers may think opposition means that God opposes them, but Jesus emphasizes that persecution is to be expected (see also v. 1).

“I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you. - While Jesus was with His disciples, He kept them and protected them, but something life altering is about to take place, as he describes next that they will…

II. Gain Through Departure (5-7)

5 But now I am going to him who sent me, and none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’

But now I am going to him who sent me - Once again, the fact of His departure is made clear.

none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going? - Although Peter has formally asked this and Thomas has practically done so (13:36; 14:5), their questions seem to be prompted by the prospect of Jesus’ departure rather than the desire to know Jesus’ destination.

the present tense of asks probably has the sense, “none of you at the present time are asking me” (this was some time after 13:36); 

Let there be no mistake, by this point in His discourse, grief has so overcome them that they can no longer even ask Jesus to bring clarity to their confusion (v. 6).

6 But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. - Jesus empathy for His disciples and to the extent of their grief gives His next statement that much more potency as he is about to transition from hopelessness and despair to hopefulness and joy…

7 Nevertheless, 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.

Nevertheless (alla [conjunction, logical contrastive] - in contrast to what was just said, there is something else greater coming), I tell (lego [pre, act, ind] - to express in words) you the truth (athetheia [noun] - an absolute statement that one can depend on for stability):

it is to your advantage (symphero [pre, act, ind] - that which is appropriate to provide a particular end) that I go away, - Jesus is communicating a truth that on the surface appears to be irrational as compared to what He has commanded them, and what he has commissioned them to do, and all this in conjunction with the state in which the disciples find themselves. Remember how Jesus introduces His disciples to this work and the necessity for him to depart in order for that work to happen back in John 14:12…

John 14:12 ESV

12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.

But Jesus further explains this using a couple of if/then statements one negative and one positive:

for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. - in the negative, Jesus says, if I do not go, then the Helper who is first introduced in chapter 14:15-25, will not come. “His coming is contingent on my going”, Jesus says. In fact, Jesus says now positively…

But if I go, I will send him to you. - in the positive, Jesus says, if I go away, then I will send him - the reason for His going is, as it were, to release, the Holy Spirit for His task. To pass the baton to Him for His commissioned work.

Important to note: The work of such a Helper is work carried out by a personal Being. The Old Testament reveals much about the Spirit’s activity in creation (Gen. 1:2; Ps. 33:6), revelation (Is. 61:1–3; Mic. 3:8), empowerment (Ex. 31:2–6; Judg. 15:14, 15; Is. 11:2), and inward renewal (Ps. 51:10–12; Ezek. 36:25–27). But it is the New Testament that reveals clearly that the Spirit as a distinct divine Person, coequal with the Father and the Son. The Spirit is said to speak (Acts 1:16; 8:29; 10:19; 13:2), teach (John 14:26), witness (John 15:26), search (1 Cor. 2:10), will (1 Cor. 12:11), and intercede (Rom. 8:26, 27). All these are the acts of an individual Person.

This work will be one that brings…

III. Conviction That Clarifies (8-11)

8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. - There are two ways of interpreting this phrase and both are true in the context:

First, the conviction that leads to the exposure of humanity’s inexcusable guilt and specifically the sin of rejecting the Son, as Jesus’ own presence has indicted unbelievers (15:22–24), and resulting judgment. 

Second, this gives hope that many who are in “the world” (and currently opposed to Jesus) will not be part of “the world” forever but will repent of their sins and believe in Christ and become righteousness.

John now itemizes each one of these for clarity…

9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me;

concerning sin. Unbelief is an especially serious sin, since it calls the God whose word is truth (17:17) a liar (1 John 5:10) and makes impossible being forgiven of other sins, since it entails standing aloof from God’s Son, who is the source of salvation (3:18).

1 John 5:10 ESV

10 Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son.

10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer;

concerning righteousness, - This is seen in the fact that Jesus will no longer be in the world to teach about true righteousness, and so the Holy Spirit will come to carry on that function, through illumination (v. 13) and through the words of believers who bear witness to the gospel.

because I go to the Father - Shows that Jesus in going to the Father, has fulfilled His commission and made righteousness available through his atoning sacrifice (not quite understood yet by his disciples), but will be applied through the work of the Holy Spirit.

11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.

concerning judgment. Satan and those over whom he rules will ultimately be condemned by divine justice. This verdict has already been rendered (12:31; Luke 10:18; Rev. 12:7–11).

Jesus now points one of the primary purposes of the Holy Spirit and that is to provide…

IV. Guidance Into All Truths (12-15)

12 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. - It is as if Jesus is say, “There are many more parts to this puzzle that will be made clear later, this is sufficient for now.” However,…

13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.

When the Spirit of truth comes - Not if but when, the Spirit of Truth comes, the one who alone will declare God’s truth since He Himself is God. What will He do?

he will guide (hodegeo [fut, act, ind] - used 3x in NT as a guide, Jn 16:13, Acts 8:31 “31 And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.” , Revelation 7:17 “17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”” )

into all the truth. is a promise especially directed toward these 11 disciples, and it finds particular fulfillment in the subsequent work of these disciples in personally writing or overseeing the writing of the books of the NT (see note on 14:26). The promise, like the other things that Jesus says in these chapters, also has a broader application to all believers as the Holy Spirit leads and guides them (see Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:18).

he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak- again we see he the oneness of the Godhead, there is one authority and one truth, mutually decalred by each member of the Godhead.

The activity of the Holy Spirit in declaring the things that are to come suggests that he knows the future, something that is true of God alone; this gives evidence of the full deity of the Holy Spirit. The word declare (Gk. anangellō) occurs over 40 times in the Septuagint translation of Isaiah, where declaring things to come is said to be the exclusive domain of God (Isa. 48:14) and where God challenges anyone to declare the things that are to come (Isa. 42:9; 44:7; 46:10; cf. 41:21–29, esp. vv. 22–23; 45:19).

14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

He will glorify me. Since the plan of redemption centers on Christ, this is the topic on which the Spirit will concentrate His teaching (15:26). Note that Jesus purpose was to glorify the Father and to fulfill His purpose, it is now the Spirit’s purpose to glorify the Son and fulfill His purpose.

15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. - We see here once again the beautiful mutual indwelling of the trinity. Jesus takes ownership of all that the Father gives Him and the Holy Spirit declares all that belongs to Jesus.

So What?

Do we realize that as a follower of Christ, we will experience opposition not only from the world, but also from within the covenant body of believers?

Do we understand that the coming of the Holy Spirit was the completion of Christ’s mission of antonement?

Do we realize that without the coming of the Holy Spirit, we would not have the scriptures, nor would we know God’s truth?

Only the Holy Spirit through the truth of God’s word can guide us through the fog of this life.

Finally, do we understand that as devoted, Spirit filled, followers of Christ that in our commission to do even greater works then Jesus did, we do so to bring glory to Jesus Christ first and foremost?