If you give a man the Spirit...

An Upper Room Q & A

How many of us have read the best selling book… “If you give a mouse a cookie?”

What is this children’s book teaching us? One of the main principles it teaches is that we shouldn’t invite animals into our homes and feed them…. No, actually one of the lessons that the book is teaching children is that every action has its reaction or consequence. That lesson is embedded within the constant “if/then” statements presented throughout the book. (if you give a mouse a cookie…. if you give a moose a muffin… if you give a pig some bacon….? :-) No, that one doesn’t sound right…. tasty… but probably not right. :-)

Many times in our lives, these ‘if/then” statements are provoked by an anxious… not knowing what to do type of situation. “if this happens… then what do I do?”

This type of situation took place in the Upper room and John records it for us in the 14th chapter of his gospel. In this chapter, questions are asked from anxious hearts… and the answers given reveal the truth that we are in deep need of someone to comfort us and to help us!

While we are going be in John today, we will be taking a planned break this month from our regular study through the gospel of John to finish up our study through our church doctrinal statement we started earlier this year. During the month of September we’ll be going through a 4 week series titled “Faith Foundations”… discussing what we believe.

Today we are going to go through a brief study together about the Holy Spirit as Jesus poses the question: What happens, “If you give a man the Spirit…”? As he leads is disciples in an “Upper Room Q & A”.

When you carefully read through chapter 14 of John’s Gospel, you might notice that there is a series of at least 5 “if/then” statements that seem to frame much of the conversation. We will look at several of these statements today.

Jesus has just told the disciples that He is going away…. and they are a wreck. They are anxious… they don’t know what will happen.. they don’t know what to do…. Christ is leaving! One of them will betray Christ! Peter was just told that he will deny Christ 3 times that very evening!

— At this moment…. for the disciples…. their world must seem like it is falling apart!

As we walk through the passage today, Jesus, knowing the thoughts of his apprentices will comfort them by telling them more about what he will do….

Remember, Jesus, is leading his apprentices to a place of understanding and application….

By telling them all that He (Jesus) will do…. once he departs…. He is leading the disciples to ask the question….. “If you are leaving… then, how are you going to do these things?”

— By the end of the passage, Jesus will finally gives the answer.

Jesus, the master teacher, helps his students understand their need and the problem at hand…. and then once they understand their need… He provides the answer.

(God did the same thing with Adam in the Garden. God had all the animals march before Adam to help bring Adam to the conclusion that he was alone… and that he needed the woman that God would give to him.)

Usually, cultivating an understanding of the need… usually helps us to be much more appreciative of the answer when it is given.

[If you just gave a mouse some milk….. he would not every get to experience the longing that the cookie creates… and would not really appreciate the provision of milk.]

Jesus will masterfully lead his students… growing their expectations… and anticipations….. eventually getting them to understanding of the reality of the Person who would be sent to help and comfort them...

Jesus begins his lesson by helping them to understand that they are going to need someone to help them with both Revealing and Communicating:

As we go through the text today, at the end of each section we will see that as Jesus leads his disciples to a conclusion… you can almost hear a soft rhetorical question being verbalized in the minds of the disciples… “Yes, we need someone to help us, but... Who is it?”

I. Revealing and Communicating (5-14):

John 14:5–14 ESV

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves. “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. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

Both Thomas and Philip speak up and ask some good questions here.

The thoughts behind Thomas’ and Philips’ words may very well have been.... ‘Jesus, if we don’t know where you are going.. how can we follow you? Jesus… how can we trust that all of this is true? Just let us see God the Father and we’ll be able to believe everything!’

We need help Jesus! You say that you are leaving.... but, you have been the One who has revealed truth to us..... You have been the One who has communicated the truth of the Father to us.....

If you leave, who will help us to know the Father.... how will we be able to continue in our relationship with you and the Father… if you aren’t here?

Who is going to be the One, on whom we can depend to communicate with us and reveal truth to us? — Tell us Jesus???? Who!?!?

I can almost imagine Jesus smiling.... knowing that he had led them to that exact moment...and saying… Yes, that is a great question! I’m so glad that you asked!

As those anxious thoughts hang in the air.... Jesus doesn’t directly answer them… but asks a series of his own questions that seem to be designed to challenge the disciples to reflect back on the truths that had been earlier communicated and revealed by Christ…

‘Guys,… I know you’re anxious… I know that you are confused.... but think back to all that I revealed to you about how the Father and I are One.... about how all that I have done and will do is in 100% agreement with the Father and under the direct authority of the Father… remember back to all the works you have seen me do..... they are the proof that everything I taught you… everything I revealed to you… everything I communicated to you is true!… Don’t be anxious..... don’t let your souls be in turmoil over this news.... let your faith in God the Father and your faith in Jesus the Son… be identical...”

Just a few days ago… the disciples would have charged into hell with a water gun.... because they knew that Jesus was there with them.... But, now he is talking about leaving. What were they going to do without him? Who was going to take Jesus’ place?

With that thought hanging heavy on the disciples minds.... Jesus tells them… in verse 12,

John 14:12 ESV

“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.

‘Guys, not only am I charging you to love like I love… and serve like I serve.... you are going to do the works that I did… and because I am leaving and going to be with the Father, you guys are going to be able to go on and do even greater things that I did!’ It’s going to be amazing!

Jesus again says that He is leaving… and reveals to the disciples that they are going to basically continue the ministry that Jesus started without him.

Then to top it off, Jesus reveals a profound truth in the form of an “if/then” statement in verse 14,

John 14:14 ESV

If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.

As you know, when an “If/then” statement is made, the results of the statement are somewhat conditional. If you do this… then, this will happen.

“If you ask me anything in my name,...... then, I will do it”. Pretty amazing truth!

In the context of this event… what reality... to what understanding is Jesus leading his disciples?

John does not record any response to this statement. But, knowing Peter, I can imagine him standing up and saying.... Lord.... how can we ask you for help if you are not here? How are we going to communicate with you, if we don’t know where you are? Who is going to help us?

Again, if that happened… I’m sure Jesus smiled… and thought.. Yes, Peter… great question! Keep asking.... keep seeing your need for someone to come as a helper… revealing truth to you.... enabling communication with me!

In this section, Jesus was communicating the reality that anyone who would call themselves a follower of Christ would need help. The conversation based around the statements made in verses 7 and 14, reveal that the “someone” who would come, would help the believers to continue in their ability to know Christ… and the Father, and that “someone” who would come would enable all believers everywhere to be able to personally communicate with Christ.

When Jesus would leave.... believers would not stop knowing Him… or stop communicating with him. That is why he said that anything they would ask in Jesus’ name would be done. But, in order to do this they needed a way of communication.... any believers who lived and ministered after Jesus’ departure would need a way to communicate with Him…

The question hanging heavy on the heart of each disciple is: Who in the world would be able to help do all of that?

So far in this Upper room Q & A, the conversation has left the disciples anxious.... nervous.... a little confused.... but, through their questions… they are expressing their heart felt hunger for what they would need.... once Christ would complete His earthly ministry.

Like Adam standing in the garden watching the animals parade before him… , the disciples are beginning to realize that something is missing.... they are beginning to realize that they have a need that must be met in order for them to be able to do all that Jesus is asking of them.

The disciples are expressing the reality that, when Jesus leaves.... they are going to need someone to help them… someone to reveal truth to them… and to help them to communicate with Christ.

As John records the process of Jesus exposing the disciples need for someone to help them… we hear the quite rhetorical question being asked.... “Yes, we need someone to help… but who is it?”

Jesus isn’t finished exposing their needs. As we continue reading through the text, Jesus will lead the disciples to the moment when they will realize that they not only need someone to help them by revealing truth and in their communication with Christ, but they are also in need of someone to help with Knowing and Embracing:

II. Knowing and Embracing (15-24)

There are 2 more “if/then” statements in this section that are being used to further help the disciples.

The first is found in verse 15:

John 14:15 ESV

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments.

“If you love me.... then you will keep my commandments”. — Who in the world can keep all of the commandments perfectly? No one! So, how in the world will we be able to love Christ… if we are unable to keep all of His commandments without fault?” — We are going to definitely need someone to help us!”

As the reality of the need grows.... Jesus uses this opportunity to give the disciples a little bit more information to help answer that rhetorical question being asked… “who is it?”

Look in verse 16-17,

John 14:16–17 ESV

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

What truths are communicated about this “helper” that the Father will give to the believer?

Requested by Jesus and sent by the Father...

Another Helper (to come along side… comforter/ encourager.... ) — The word “another” describes the understanding of someone else… but with the same characteristics as Jesus. Yes, “another” helper would come… but in many ways when He came… he would be exactly like Jesus.

The word “helper” used here comes from a verb that means to comfort, encourage or exhort. In general it can refer to anyone offering any kind of aid. Many of the Greek writers of the day used this word in a legal sense.... a legal advisor, proxy, advocate, someone who comes forward on the behalf of or as a representative of someone else.

Christ was leaving.... and by the use of this word it would have been fairly clear that when He said the “helper” would come.... it meant that this “helper” would come to comfort, help, and encourage on behalf of… standing in the place of Jesus. Later in John 15:26, Jesus will reveal more specifically that the Helper… the comforter… would come to bear witness about Christ.

Spirit of Truth - This title emphasizes the reality that the Holy Spirit is actively involved in the work of revealing spiritual truths to the believers. … The Holy Spirit was the One who had revealed the truth to the prophets and writers of the OT and now He would also be the One who would reveal to the apostles the inspired truth that we now have recorded in the NT.

Only believers are able to receive, recognize or know…

He is a Person (use of the pronoun “him” not “it”).

He dwells (abides) with you and in you forever! — Once the believer receives this “helper”, He will be in you and with you forever!

In verse 18, Jesus goes on to reassure his disciples that He is not going to leave them all alone and helpless like a group of orphans… no, He will send this helper… who will enable them to truly love him… to be able to keep his commandments of radical love and sacrificial service.

Still not understanding the whole picture Judas (not Iscariot) asks Jesus a question for clarification in verse 22,

John 14:22 ESV

Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Jesus, how is it that we are going to see this “Helper”, but everyone else isn’t? That sounds odd… we don’t understand.

Acknowledging the disciples lack of understanding.... Jesus provides more insight to this part of the conversation as He answers with another “if/then” statement in verse 23:

John 14:23 ESV

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.

Apprentices… anyone who loves me… anyone who responds in faith to the gospel… embraces me as Savior and Submits to me as Lord.... will be able to keep my word… do you know how? Because the Father will enable them to do so… by sending a part of Himself to be with them.... literally making a residence inside them… being knit together with their soul.

Those who embrace the Lord.... have a wonderful gift provided for them.... direct access to God through this “helper”.

But, sadly verse 24 goes on to verbalize the negative side of that “if/then” statement...

‘If someone does not love me… will not be able to keep my words… and therefore will not be given the Helper....’ — If someone does not love me… responding in faith to the gospel, embracing me as Savior… submitting to me as Lord… then my Father will not dwell with him… that person will not have any part of God knit together with their soul....

That is a heavy and sobering truth....

Those who reject Christ.... will not be helped.... and must face the consequences of their rebellious rejection of Jesus.

Again, as that weighty truth resonates in the minds and hearts of the disciples.... that rhetorical question comes back.... “Who is it?… Yes, we understand that need the “Helper” to come and help us… but who is it?”

Finally, as the tension comes to a climax… Jesus comforts his disciples as they realize that they also need someone to come and help them with Teaching and Comforting:

III. Teaching and Comforting (25-31)

This time as that rhetorical question is asked… “who is it?” Jesus will give a clear answer…

Look with me at verses 25-29,

John 14:25–29 ESV

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still 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 have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I will come to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe.

Now, Jesus further explains who this “helper” is. The Helper.... the divine person that God the Father will send in Jesus’ name is none other than the Holy Spirit Himself!

The one whom Jesus has been referring to… the someone that would help the believer to understand God’s revelation… the someone whom the believer would need to help them to communicate with Christ… the someone whom the believer would need to rely on to help them to obey and live out the commands of Christ.... the someone whom the believer would have to be equipped by to be able to know God better and embrace Christ more fully..... the very Someone whom Christ would send.... to teach, help remember, sustain, bring peace.... and be a constant source of comfort..... is no one less than one of the members of the very God-head itself. The Holy Spirit!

Let that sink in....

The very same Holy Spirit that temporarily empowered people like Joshua as he led the nation of Israel into the Promised land, the Judges as they led God’s people from rebellion back to relationship, Samson as he repented of his sins and finally became the judge he had been born to be… as he crushed the Philistines with the push of two pillars, Samuel as he calls the nation to follow after God as their king.. and then later anoints David who would be a king after God’s heart. The very same Spirit that impressed on King Cyrus’ heart to send the captive and enslaved Israelites back to their promised land.... that very same Spirit that guided, comforted, and inspired the writings of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Ezekiel, and all the minor prophets..... the very Same Holy Spirit hat came upon Mary, enabling the immaculate conception of Christ.... is the very Same Holy Spirit that Jesus is promising will come to be with, comfort, empower, equip, and indwell each and every born again believer!

The Holy Spirit that was active in the Old Testament and New Testament… is the very same Holy Spirit that can be active in your life.... if you are a child of God… if you have embraced Christ as your Savior and submitted to Him as Lord.

As Jesus reveals this truth about the Helper being the Holy Spirit, He gives the disciples more details about what the Holy Spirit would do.... when He is sent.

He will Teach them all things:

He will help them to remember all that Jesus had said/ taught.

Later in John 16:8, Jesus shares that when the Holy Spirit came, He would not only teach them all things and bring to remembrance all that He had taught, but the Holy Spirit would convict of sin, confirm in the believers heart that they belong to Christ… and convince the believer of the truths of Christ.

Jesus statement here in John 14:27 assures us that the Holy Spirit would also be the bringer and sustainer of peace. Not just any peace… but the peace of Christ… a kind of lasting, never giving up, never surrendering kind of peace… that can’t come through any other source.... The peace that only comes through a relationship with Christ.

Application/ Conclusion:

We have only really scratched the surface on a study of the Holy Spirit. There are many more questions that should be answered and many more discussions that we would need to have in order to say that have really studied Pneumatology… the study of the Holy Spirit. But, we’ll leave that to another time.

As we reflect on the passage we studied today, how could we boil down all that we studied into one sentence? — Try to make your own summary statement. Its a good habit to get into when studying the Bible on your own… Making a summary statement helps you to really think through the main truths of the passage.

Main Idea:

The Holy Spirit empowers, enables, and equips the believer to know God, live for Christ, and grow in our obedience to the Word of God.

Our Response:

When we believe in Christ, embrace Him as our Savior and Submit to Him as our Lord (or in other words… “If you give a man the Spirit).... then the Holy Spirit will indwell us, enabling us to know Him, communicate with Him, live for Him, be changed into His image, ... equipping us with spiritual gifts, enabling us to be adopted into His family, and gives us an assurance that cannot be taken away… and gain us entrance into the presence of God the Father Himself.

In WWII, during a battle that took place in the Pacific, a sailor on a US Submarine came down with acute appendicitis. The nearest surgeon was thousands of miles away. Pharmacist Mate Wheller Lipes watched as the seaman’s temperature rose to 106 degrees. The only hope for the man was an operation.

Lipes told him, “I’ve watched doctors do it, I think I could do the operation. What do you say?” The sailor consented and in a small wardroom, the patient was stretched out on a table beneath a floodlight. The mate and assisting officers, dressed in reversed pajama tops, masked their faces with gauze. The crew did all they could to keep the ship steady. The cook boiled water for sterilizing the instruments. A tea strainer was used as an antiseptic cone. A broken handled scalpel was the operating instrument. Alcohol drained from the torpedoes was the antiseptic. Bent tablespoons served to keep the muscles open. After cutting through layers of muscle, the mate took twenty minutes to find the appendix. Two and a half hours later, the last catgut stitch was sewed just as the last drop of ether gave out. Thirteen days later the patient was back at work.

That was an especially magnificent act, because the surgery was not done by a trained surgeon in a modern operating room, but by a relatively untrained man under the most difficult conditions… improvising with broken tools. That man was not a surgeon… but he did the work of a surgeon.

Believers… you are not Christ… yet we are called to continue the work of Christ. And because the Holy Spirit indwells us, we are enabled to do the same works as Jesus — and there is a sense in which they are greater than his works, because we are broken instruments… fallen and flawed human beings… redeemed by Christ… being used as instruments of Christ in the world today.

We are broken and weak… But, in Christ’s hands.... empowered by His Spirit… we are enabled to do great things for Christ.

What is the Holy Spirit, our Helper and Comforter like? He is like Jesus. He comes alongside us, encourages us and exhorts us. He picks us up and gives us lasting peace.

The peace of Christ.... that is the solution for troubled hearts today.

“If you give a man the Spirit… the Holy Spirit.... then, He will have Peace.... the lasting peace that only comes through a relationship with Christ.